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Communities of Color Network

Louisiana's tobacco statistics are startling. The state ranks number two as the largest percentage of African-American smokers. Nearly 24 percent of Louisiana adults smoke and a quarter of high school students in Louisiana are smokers. The Communities of Color Network serves as the infrastructure for building capacity, coordinating, organizing, and implementing tobacco prevention and control programs and activities in the region.

The examination of tobacco-related health disparities and the cultural and socioeconomic dynamics that exist inside communities of color, indicate the need for innovative planning and action to offset the outcomes of tobacco-related health disparities in these communities.

ABOUT CoC

 

The Communities of Color Network (CoC) does its part of innovative planning and action by:
  1. Working inside communities of color by educating and empowering people to create healthier communities.
  2. Working strategically within regional tobacco subcommittees.
The Communities of Color Network aims to:
  • Reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality among Louisiana's communities of color, including African-American and Hispanic communities.
  • Enhance the awareness of the dangers of tobacco.
  • Reduce tobacco use, consumption, and secondhand smoke exposures among Louisiana's communities of color.
  • Eliminate health disparities caused by or related to tobacco use in Louisiana's communities of color.

REGIONS SERVED

 

  • Regions 1 & 3 Parishes:
    • Assumption
    • St. Charles
    • St. James
    • St. John
    • St. Mary
  • Regions 2 & 9 Parishes:
    • East Baton Rouge
    • East Feliciana
    • Iberville
    • Point Coupee
    • St. Helena
    • Tangipahoa
    • Washington
    • West Baton Rouge
    • West Feliciana
  • Regions 4 & 5 Parishes:
    • Calcasieu
    • Evangeline
    • Iberia
    • Lafayette
    • St. Landry
    • St. Martin
  • Regions 6 Parishes:
    • Avoyelles
    • Catahoula
    • Concordia
    • Rapides
    • Winn
  • Regions 7 Parishes:
    • Bienville
    • Bossier
    • Caddo
    • Claiborne
    • DeSoto
    • Natchitoches
    • Red River
    • Webster
  • Regions 8 Parishes:
    • East Carroll
    • Franklin
    • Jackson
    • Lincoln
    • Madison
    • Morehouse
    • Quachita
    • Richland
    • Tensas
    • Union

CoC OBJECTIVES

 

Communities of Color Network staff work collaboratively with members of the communities, organizations and partners to increase the awareness of and utilization of cessation services among Louisiana's communities of color. In addition, the Communities of Color team also:

  • Increase knowledge of and community response to significant negative health impact of tobacco on Louisiana's communities of color and tobacco industry's targeting of Louisiana's communities of color.
  • Develop culturally competent messaging, programs, and strategies for Louisiana tobacco prevention and control.
  • Initiate or strengthen tobacco-free policies affecting Louisiana's communities of color.

For more information, contact:

 

Jasmin Plowe Mathews, MPH
Communities of Color Network, Director
Assistant Specialist, Public Health
State Office (EBR)
P.O. Box 10010
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
Office: (225) 771-4456
Email: jasmin_plowe@suagcenter.com
facebook.com/SUAgCooperativeExtension
www.suagcenter.com

Ryan Sugulleh, MPA
Communities of Color Network
Assistant Director
Office: (225) 421-9356
Cell: (504) 458-1200
Email: ryan_sugulleh@suagcenter.com
facebook.com/SUAgCooperativeExtension
www.suagcenter.com

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