Healthy Smoke-Free Homes: Being Prepared Starts at Home

Healthy Smoke-Free Homes: Being Prepared Starts at Home September is National Preparedness Month, a time to think about how we can keep our families and homes safe. California leaders encourage families and communities to make plans, stay informed and prepare together. At The SOL Project, we believe being prepared also means keeping the air inside […]

SMOKE IS SMOKE: New Fact Sheet Breaks Down the Truth About Smoking and Vaping

SMOKE IS SMOKE: New Fact Sheet Breaks Down the Truth About Smoking and Vaping For the past six months, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) and The SOL Project have been hard at work together. Now, they are releasing a new “SMOKE IS SMOKE” Fact Sheet to help our communities better understand the […]

Disposable Vapes Don’t Just Disappear: Protecting Our Homes, Play Areas & Communities

Disposable Vapes Don’t Just Disappear: Protecting Our Homes, Play Areas & Communities E-cigarettes may be called “disposable,” but they do not simply go away after they are used. They can become dangerous waste in the places where we live, walk, and play. A recent Truth Initiative article warns that disposable e-cigarettes are adding to a […]

Listening to Black Moms to Build Healthier Futures

Listening to Black Moms to Build Healthier Futures Every Black mom deserves to feel heard, supported, and cared for. That is why The SOL Project’s Breathe for Two: Supporting Black Moms & Babies is creating a safe, welcoming place where Black moms and birthing people can share their real-life experiences, challenges, hopes, and ideas. Together […]

Katya Oks’ Experience in Public Health

Katya Oks’ Experience in Public Health Katya Oks recently completed a two-month internship with The SOL Project (Saving Our Legacy: African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places), an experience she describes as both rewarding and eye-opening. Throughout her internship, she gained valuable knowledge about public health policy, community outreach, advocacy, and the important role these efforts […]

Braylen Hill’s Internship Reflection

Braylen Hill’s Internship Reflection Braylen Hill is one of the summer interns for The SOL Project (Saving Our Legacy: African Americans for Smoke-Free Safe Places). An Afro-Latino student from Bakersfield, California, he is entering his third year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he is pursuing a double major in History and Global […]

Sacramento Closes the Healthy Food Exemption Loophole, Strengthening Tobacco Retailer Licensing Policy!

Sacramento Closes the Healthy Food Exemption Loophole, Strengthening Tobacco Retailer Licensing Policy! by Twlia Laster, Project Director The City of Sacramento has taken another significant step toward protecting public health by approving changes to its Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) ordinance that eliminated the Healthy Food Exemption for new tobacco retailers. The action follows more than […]

Representing California on the National Stage: AATCLC & SOL Project at the 117th NAACP National Convention

Representing California on the National Stage: AATCLC & SOL Project at the 117th NAACP National Convention Twlia Laster, Project Director for Advancing Momentum, was honored to participate in the 117th National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, where she proudly represented The SOL Project and the African American Tobacco […]

Healthy Food + Clean Air = A Healthier Future for Our Families

Healthy Food + Clean Air = A Healthier Future for Our Families Eating healthy is one of the best ways to take care of yourself and your family. The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 encourage people to choose more whole, nutrient-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, dairy, healthy fats, and whole grains while […]

Where Is the Conversation About Youth Vaping? A Question Worth Asking

Where Is the Conversation About Youth Vaping? A Question Worth Asking The NAACP’s 2026 Black Health Report shines a light on many serious health challenges facing Black communities, including access to health care, chronic disease, mental health, and health equity. These are important issues that deserve attention. But one important question remains: Why is there […]