SOL Team Speaks Up at State Capitol to Protect Black Communities
by Pleshette Robertson, Community Engagement Coordinator @ The SOL Project
The SOL Team joined community partners, the Greater Sacramento Smoke & Tobacco Free Coalition, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), and local community leaders at I&E Days at the California State Capitol on May 11-12, 2026 to speak with lawmakers about the dangers of menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.
The group met with Senator Angelique Ashby (District 8), Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen (District 10), Senator Roger Niello (District 6), and members of the California Legislative Black Caucus.
The team shared important information about how tobacco companies continue to target Black communities and youth with flavored tobacco and vape products. Leaders explained that many flavored vapes are designed to look like games, pens, flash drives, lip gloss, and other items that can attract young people.
The SOL Team also spoke about the importance of smoke-free apartments, condos, and shared housing. Smoke and vape air can travel through walls, vents, and hallways, exposing neighbors, children, elders, pets, and people with health problems to harmful chemicals.
Community leaders shared that churches support smoke-free housing because families deserve safe and healthy places to live. Pastor Dominique Beaumonte of Restoration Church spoke about the importance of protecting families and standing against Big Tobacco’s impact on communities.
“As faith leaders, we have a responsibility to stand in the gap for our families and communities,” Pastor Beaumonte shared. “Our children, elders, and residents deserve clean air in their homes and outdoor spaces. Secondhand and thirdhand smoke should not be something families are forced to live with because of the tobacco industry’s continued targeting of our communities.”
Youth leaders also spoke up for clean air and safer communities free from harmful products that target young people.
Anissa Adams, Community Engagement Coordinator for The SOL Project, shared a powerful personal story during the meetings.
“For people in my generation, we are now dealing with the rise of vapes, nicotine pouches, and products with extremely high nicotine levels,” Adams said. “I’m 22, so I’m in that gap where I’ve seen family members pass away from tobacco-related diseases, like my grandfather, who started smoking at 13 years old because of flavors and menthol cigarettes.”
She explained that her grandfather struggled with smoking for many years and was only able to quit near the end of his life.
Adams also shared concerns about how vaping is affecting younger students today.
“My little sister is 13, and she tells me kids at her school are vaping so much that students can no longer go to the bathroom without supervision,” Adams said. “These are 11, 12, and 13 year olds becoming addicted to products they don’t fully understand because they have easy access to them.”
She said many youth think flavored products are harmless because they come in flavors like mango and cotton candy.
“That’s why education and prevention are so important,” Adams said. “I’m grateful to be in spaces like this with advocates and leaders who are fighting back. Hopefully, we can help protect future generations from going through the same pain and addiction cycle.”
The SOL Team encouraged lawmakers to continue supporting policies that protect communities from secondhand smoke, tobacco waste, and nicotine addiction. They also reminded residents that free help to quit smoking and vaping is available through Kick It California.
