From Gold Beach to Pendleton and all points between, people in Oregon are standing up to Big Tobacco. From a community member talking with their mayor, to a family committing to shop in stores that don’t sell tobacco, to a teacher working on a tobacco-free school policy, every action makes a difference.
Vanessa Serrato
In Klamath Falls, Vanessa Serrato, owner of Mexico Video Market, is committed to maintaining a smoke-free business by refusing to sell tobacco products.
MIDGE PURCELL
Midge Purcell of the Urban League of Portland works with the Oregon Health Equity Alliance to pass policies that keep tobacco products away from youth and raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.
Zack Mohamed
Zack Mohamed is educating the community and its leaders about tobacco retail licensing to protect the immigrant and refugee community in Portland from the influence of Big Tobacco.
Will Robbins
Will Robbins, a former smoker from Warm Springs, explains how his difficult journey to quit smoking was worth it in the end, and offers advice for smokers who are ready to quit.
Mackie Begay
Mackie Begay helped make the Simnasho Pow Wow healthier and commercial tobacco-free.
Linda Roman
Linda works to protect the Latino community in Oregon from Big Tobacco
Think Again Parents
Think Again Parents’ (TAPS) mission is to reduce substance abuse among young people. TAPS encourages policy changes that will protect young people from the dangers of tobacco.
Taylor Johnson
Taylor Johnson, a student at Mountain View High School in Bend, is fighting to protect her community by encouraging her generation to live tobacco-free.
Scott Kalama
Hear how the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs are protecting their community from the influence of Big Tobacco by making the Simnasho Pow Wow their first commercial tobacco-free event.
Randy Olano
Randy Olano, Owner of Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Bend, has never sold tobacco in the 44 years he’s been in business. Olano is passionate about making a difference in his community by providing safer, healthier options for customers.
Police Chief Michael Grover
Retired Cottage Grove Police Chief Michael Grover knows that kids need protection from tobacco marketing. Sweet, fruity flavors that cover up tobacco’s naturally harsh taste can hook impressionable young people on a deadly product for life.
Scarpelli’s Short Stop
Scarpelli’s Short Stop, a grocery store in Cottage Grove, refuses to display any tobacco advertising. Their customers appreciate that kids and families can shop without being bombarded with tobacco advertising.
Leodis V. MCDANIEL High school
The Leodis V. McDaniel High School Rebels for a Cause host “The Great American Smokeout” to talk with their peers about the dangers of tobacco marketing. The Rebels are fighting to protect kids in their community from developing a deadly addiction.
La Amistad
Los dueños de La Amistad, una tienda de comestibles en el norte de Portland, venden productos saludables en vez de productos de tabaco para poner un buen ejemplo en su comunidad y proteger a los jóvenes de las tácticas de esta industria.
Dr. Ewanchyna
In 2009, all Samaritan Health Services campuses became tobacco-free. Dr. Kevin Ewanchyna explains how smoking in the workplace doesn’t just affect smokers, but also puts others at risk of breathing secondhand smoke.
Art Johnson
Art Johnson, an attorney in Eugene, helps clients with lawsuits against Big Tobacco. He puts tobacco companies on notice that the public is aware the industry is profiting from the sale of addictive and deadly products.
Tim Murphy
Tim Murphy and his team at Bridgeway Recovery Services decided to make their facility tobacco-free. They’ve found that providing a smoke-free environment helps clients recover from drug and alcohol addictions.
Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services
When Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services decided to make all units tobacco-free, the positive effect on residents was astounding.
Tessa Scheller
Tessa Scheller is an advocate for creating a smoke-free environment at Clatsop Community College. By choosing to be smoke-free, students will model healthy behaviors and enter the workforce as healthy workers.
Steve Campbell
Steve Campbell, director of Public Safety and Community Services in Happy Valley, explains why creating tobacco-free public parks is an instrumental part of keeping the community healthy.
Dee Simmons
Dee Simmons of Bridgeway Recovery Services knows her employer’s tobacco-free policy is making clients’ lives healthier. Because that’s what it did for her.
Felicity Haywood
Madras Truck Stop refused to put up tobacco ads in their store, especially when they found out the tobacco industry wanted them placed at kid eye-level.
George Wilson
Tillamook pharmacist George Wilson took tobacco products off his shelves decades ago. He couldn’t justify selling medicine alongside products that he knew would make his community sick.
FORMER Pendleton Mayor & Police Chief
Community efforts in Pendleton resulted in a city ordinance that prevents the free sampling of tobacco, making the city safer and healthier for children.
Mindy Sloper
Mindy Sloper, co-owner of the Powell Butte Country Store, cares about the impact tobacco advertising has on the area’s children. She chose to forgo tobacco displays in her establishment, despite the enticement offered by Big Tobacco.
Tammy Baney
As of 2013, all properties in Deschutes County were deemed tobacco-free. This had a stunning impact on the community as a whole, as well as setting a great example for the area’s young people.
Ashley Huckaby May
When the Hood River Chamber of Commerce announced its events would be tobacco-free, local favorites like Blossom Fest and Harvest Fest became healthier for thousands of visitors each year.
Lori Stirn
Setting a good example for Hood River kids is important to Lori Stirn, former district director of Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation. That’s why she fully supported the organization’s tobacco-free policy at all associated properties.
Dr. Richard Kincade
“Part of the issues related to tobacco are addressed specifically by changing policy … even at a business or organizational level.”
Paula Staight
After an in-school survey at the University of Oregon showed that a whopping three-fourths of students supported the creation of a smoke-free campus, students and staff joined forces to create a tobacco-free campus in 2012.
Cathy Putnam
One year after purchasing Carlson’s Umatilla Drug, Cathy Putnam removed her entire stock of tobacco products—and she hasn’t sold any since.
David Meriwether and Karen Joplin
County leaders voted in 2013 to make all county properties tobacco-free. “In Hood River County, there is a lot of interest and focus on health and fitness—and this is just an extension of that.”
Tim Josi
Taking note of the dangerous effects tobacco can cause to smokers and non-smokers alike, former Tillamook County Commissioner Tim Josi has been instrumental in creating smoke-free properties both at home and in the workplace.
Nikki Messenger
It started at a new playground for kids and soon spread. Now all the parks in Roseburg are smoke-free because a community came together to make a positive change for everyone.
Dr. Ralph Shirtcliff
At Redmond’s Advantage Dental, staff work to prevent oral disease by educating patients about the harmful effects of tobacco. The team focuses on prevention-based medical care, and patients are already seeing the positive results.
Erik Vidstrand and Sue Van Brocklin
Sue and Erik discuss the benefit of making Portland parks tobacco-free.
Dr. Jim Rickards
With help from Dr. Jim Rickards, the Yamhill Community Care Organization (CCO) adopted a tobacco-free workplace policy. The policy is an important part of the CCO’s efforts to promote and support tobacco-free, healthy living.
Scott Lee
Scott Lee, a former Clatsop County commissioner, explains why it’s important to raise awareness about Big Tobacco marketing its products to youth.
Health Media Club
Hood River High School students in the school’s Health Media Club have spent time in convenience stores and know how Big Tobacco is targeting them.
Gerardo Bobadilla
In Hood River, store owner Gerardo Bobadilla believes in helping his community by providing the goods they need to enjoy productive lives. That’s why he refuses to sell tobacco.
Gary Dallas
General Manager Gary Dallas explains that the owners of McIsaac’s avoid the use of tobacco advertising because they feel it sends the wrong message to customers.
Gus Gates
The Policy Manager for Surfrider Foundation advocates for smoke-free parks and beaches.
Dr. Robert Dannenhoffer
Harvard Medical Park models healthy behavior for the Roseburg community by being tobacco-free. With 25% of Douglas County adults using tobacco, small changes can have big impacts on community members’ health.
Principal Iton Udosenata and Triston
Principal Iton Udosenata of Cottage Grove High School and Triston, a student, explain how Big Tobacco uses sweet flavors and easy access to make its products appealing to teens in their community.
