El Bethel FACT 2023-2024 Recap

The El Bethel FACT group got up to a lot of great work during the 2023-2024 year. Below are several highlights from the group, from meeting with Senator Tammy Baldwin, to advocating for 10 years of No Menthol Sunday.

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No Menthol Sunday 2024 Balloon Release

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On May 19^th, 2024, No Menthol Sunday celebrated 10 years of advocacy, awareness, and education to our church members about smoking, vaping and the role menthol plays with the scent and flavors of tobacco. We know corporate tobacco are targeting Black, Hispanic, and Latino communities with their marketing and flavoring tricks, and they have been for years. El Bethel FACT members celebrated by holding a 100-balloon release in the church parking lot. For every one balloon represented 10 people who lost their lives to smoking related deaths.  EL Bethel FACT youth released 100 balloons representing 89,000 people who died from smoking related deaths. The youth also wrote on the back of fans and some balloons the type of chemicals used in creating vapes and tobacco.

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University of Madison-Wisconsin Visit with ElBethel Fact Group

On August 7^th, EL Bethel FACT was invited to visit and tour the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where we were provided with lunch and a presentation by Adrian Johnson (Psychologist UWM) Cochair of the Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network who works with Pastor Theresa Boyd. Adrians talking points were the struggles youth face with the hard target marketing in black communities and the misinformation being told about vaping & E-cigarettes. After the presentation we were taken on a tour of the University.

The impact of this school tour and presentation to our youth was great. Our youth were engaged during the presentation. Our FACT group spoke on ways they advocate to family/friends about vaping. One way they spoke of is teaching the chants to family letting them hear and sing about what the tobacco industry is doing.

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Legislative Visit with El Bethel Fact Group

On Sunday September 1st, EL Bethel Church was blessed to have U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin in our presence for our whole church service. Senator Baldwin shared with us her background as her mother was a single parent and the struggles they faced as a family regarding lack of insurance and resources. US Senator Baldwin expressed her initiatives that she is looking to change in office are healthcare disparities for maternal black mothers and lower cost for medications like insulin & asthma.

Our FACT youth were impacted by seeing & hearing that Tammy Baldwin is fighting for them to have a healthy youthful life.

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School Your community With El Bethel FACT Group

EL Bethel Fact Group attended Black Lives/Black Lungs: Journey of a Stolen Leaf. This event was held by Wisconsin African American Tobacco Prevention Network Menthol Subcommittee. This event was October 16^{th, 2023,} 2023 in Milwaukee WI at Victory Manor. During this event we were blessed to see the screening of Black Lives/Black Lungs: Journey of a Stolen Leaf by Lincoln Mondy. It explores the history of the tobacco industry and how it was built on the backs of slavery. We also had a panel discussion with former, current and e-cigarette smokers as guests.

This event was an eye opener to the tactics of the tobacco industry to lure us into a harmful and dangerous habit. Included in this photo from left to right, Alfredia Ellis (EL Bethel Girl Scout Troop Leader), Taccarra Whiteside (Parent), Dr. Marica Tipton, Pastor Dr. Steven Tipton, Terrance Kellogg Jr (El Bethel FACT Member), Riley Whiteside (El Bethel FACT Member), and Quanda Mobley (FACT Advisor).

Check out Black Lives/Black Lungs: Journey of a Stolen Leaf here Black Lives/Black Lungs II: The Journey of a Stolen Leaf | truth (thetruth.com)