On April 1, 2025, sweeping federal budget cuts dismantled core tobacco prevention infrastructure across the U.S. This second installment examines how these changes are already impacting research, youth education, quitline services, and local programs like SacBreathe’s Tobacco-Free Screens.

Across the country, schools, food banks, and community-based programs are dealing with major federal funding cuts. These programs have helped schools and food banks source local, fresh food to keep communities connected to their food systems.

In March, Our Community CarShare (OCCS) celebrated the expansion of its carsharing program to the Pannell Community Center in Meadowview! This addition, along with the Belle Coolidge location (which opened in February), brings the total number of locations in our Sacramento pilot program to 11.

On March 10th, hundreds of students and youth activists for change in tobacco policy rallied through the streets of downtown Sacramento and made their voices heard at the heart of California: the State Capitol.

The Youth Fest was hosted by the Breathe Youth Advisory Board (YAB), on March 7th. We had been planning the event for the past few months, and were so happy with how it turned out!

The Sacramento region is home to more than 20 community driven gardens and urban farms (City of Sacramento, 2022). These green spaces not only provide fresh, locally grown food to the region’s residents, but they also provide a space where community members can connect, collaborate, and learn.

For some people, February is a month to show your loved ones how much they mean to you. Whether you have a Valentine or not, we would like to encourage you to love your lungs this month – and every month!

Christmas and holiday movies bring to mind classic winter imagery – snow falling, mugs of hot cocoa steaming, reindeer prancing and flying through the sky, joy on children’s faces over presents and the magic of Santa, sledding and skiing, the glow of Christmas lights, and tobacco?

Landfills are the third largest source of methane in California, contributing 20% of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere (source: California Air Resources Board). In 2016, Senate Bill 1383 was introduced to reduce methane emissions by decreasing organic waste disposal and increasing food recovery of surplus food.

Tobacco littered the screen in both the 76th Emmy Awards ceremony and Emmy award-winning shows at this year’s 76th Primetime Emmy Awards. The Emmy’s, hosted on Peacock this year, acknowledge artistic and technical achievements in the television industry.

In Fall 2023, I was granted the opportunity to participate in Sacramento Social Venture Partners’ (now Social Venture Philanthropy) Fast Pitch program. Over 40 local non-profit organizations applied and 18 were selected.

In July, Breathe CA staff and Youth Advisory Board members had the opportunity to attend the California Youth Advocacy Network’s (CYAN) annual Youth Advocacy Conference at the gorgeous Happy Valley Conference Center in Santa Cruz.

This July, BREATHE staff and members of our Youth Advisory Board (YAB) had the opportunity to attend the annual California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN)’s Summer Youth Advocacy Conference for the second time, at the stunning Happy Valley Conference Center near Santa Cruz, California.

Breathe California Sacramento Region (BREATHE) Tobacco-Free staff participated in the 2024 Information & Education Days (I&E Days) on May 28-29, an annual event organized by the American Heart Association’s Tobacco Endgame Center for Organizing and Engagement.

Over the last few months, I have seen Sac City Unified and Breathe California Sacramento Region (BREATHE) educate our students about waste sorting and its benefits.

From the red carpet to our televisions, we celebrate the glamourous fashion, artists and filmmakers that come together for the biggest award ceremony of the year, The Academy Awards!

Every year since 2013, Breathe California Sacramento Region has held a Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest, encouraging middle and high school students to submit short videos on harmful effects of commercial tobacco.

As we continue to enter the new year, we welcome positive, sustainable change. While we have made significant improvements by introducing organic waste recycling, we are now moving on to the next phase of SB 1383. 

The fight against tobacco imagery in media has remained an uphill battle. However, the playing field is beginning to level. The Master Settlement Agreement kick started efforts to protect youth from being targeted subjects of tobacco advertising and eliminate branding advertisements in media.

Did you know that November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? In California this year, an estimated 17,000 people will be diagnosed with lung cancer and nearly 10,000 will die from the devastating disease, according to the American Cancer Society.