health & wellness
sierra leone communinty in minnesota
Tobacco Prevention
and Control Advocacy
First Annual “Escape the Vape” Youth Leadership Summit
The first annual “Escape the Vape” youth leadership summit was held on August 4, 2022, at the McNamara Alumni Center on 200 SE Oak St in Minneapolis.
Escape the Vape is a collaborative effort between the Minnesota Department of Health, CCF Advertising, Tobacco-Free Alliance, Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, Medtronic, MN Youth Council, and Allina Health’s Change to Chill program. The goal of this collaboration is to help undo the harm that vaping products are doing to teenagers.
https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/escape-the-vape/home
SLCM youth, youth from other West African communities, and youth from all over Minnesota convened at this first annual event to conduct youth-driven discussions and networking focused on preventing and reducing the use of vaping products among teens and young people.
Two of our youth members will be participating members of a statewide Youth Advisory Council that will, in 2023, provide leadership and partnership to MDH, SLCM, and other youth groups working together on e-cigarette prevention and cessation.
Working to Create Tobacco-Free Communities
SLCM, in collaboration with other tobacco control groups and the West African community is working on a medium term project to reduce the use of tobacco within our communities through data collection, education, outreach, and advocacy with community leaders.
A Tobacco Leadership Advisory group has been formed to work with and help guide the SLCM leadership. We are still looking for more leaders to join this group. The group meets every other month, and attendees are paid a $100 stipend for attendance.
The purpose of the advisory group of community leaders is to leverage our cultural connections to be cultural advisors and partners as we engage the community and policy makers.
Table Events – Hosted by Youth and Adults
The SLCM and West African community youth provide tobacco and vaping information to multiple generations through various social media, personal interactions, and Table Hosting at cultural gatherings and local community events held by municipalities and social organizations.
about our
Professional Nurses at Work
Within the Sierra Leone community, the Sierra Leone Nurses Association conducts Health and Wellness programs including an annual Wellness Fair, A Seniors Day Program, and Preventive Care sessions. Our nurses work with professionals in other immigrant and communities, addressing issues such as HIV, malaria, mental health, and health disparities. Please visit SLNA here.
Public health Organizational Membership
Members of SLCM expand their health equity activities through membership in public health organization. Board member Jonathan Rose participates as a member of the Measurement and Reporting Committee, and the Risk Adjustment Committee of Minnesota Community Measurement (MCMM), a data-collection and reporting organization that provides valuable data-based information on the quality of health care, health disparities, and preventive care.
Board member Kumba Kanu is a leader within the West African HIV Taskforce. Other SLCM leaders participate in the state of Minnesota’s Malaria Community Advisory Board.
Other Tobacco Links and Resources on commercial tobacco control:
MDH: Commercial Tobacco Control: https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/tobacco/index.html
Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota (ANSR). https://www.ansrmn.org/
Center for Disease Control (CDC). Tobacco Use.
CDC: African American people and Commercial Tobacco:
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/health-equity/african-american/index.html
Minnesotans for a Smoke-free generation: https://www.smokefreegenmn.org/
MDH: Quitting Commercial Tobacco: