Mission Statement
The Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota (ANSR) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to reduce the human and economic costs of commercial tobacco use in Minnesota. Our core commitments are to reduce the number of young smokers, combat health inequities, and advocate for the health of all Minnesotans.
Impact and Programs
Accomplishments
In 2021, ANSR helped five cities in Minnesota pass ordinances to regulate the sales of flavored tobacco products: Bloomington, Shoreview, Columbia Heights, and Saint Paul. Saint Paul also adopted a smoking policy disclosure ordinance for common interest communities such as condos, townhomes, and cooperatives. The ordinance requires sellers of units in these types of properties to disclose their homeowner associations’ smoking policies upon listing for sale. ANSR’s Live Smoke Free program provided technical assistance to both owners and the city. After years of organizing and advocacy led by ANSR, Saint Paul also voted to prohibit the use of coupons and price promotions for commercial tobacco and vaping products. The measure was part of a comprehensive commercial tobacco ordinance that also set a $10 minimum price for cigarette packs and standard-size cans of smokeless tobacco and increases penalties for retailers who sell commercial tobacco to people under age 21.
ANSR’s Live Smoke Free program tallied two other milestones. First, completed a three-year grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support public housing agencies(PHAs) nationwide, including residents, staff , and resident service providers, with the implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule. Second, thanks to Live Smoke Free and many partners throughout the state, in May 2021 Minnesota reached 5,000 smoke-free properties. Finally, ANSR’s Minnesota Prevention Resource Center hosted the 47th annual Minnesota Prevention Program Sharing Conference. The virtual conference included over 54 speakers, 3 keynote presentations, 32 breakout sessions, 2 networking sessions, and opportunities to interact with exhibitors from around the state.
Current Goals
ANSR will continue the work begun in 2020-2021 by promoting policies and practices that protect youth from tobacco use and ensure that residents of multi-unit housing have healthy, smoke-free air, not contaminated by other people’s smoke, in their homes. We will continue our push to educate parents and educators about the nature and extent of use of e-cigarettes such as Juul. We will work to adapt to a changing funding environment in which one of the primary funders of tobacco prevention work prepares to cease operations. We will continue our efforts to serve those communities most impacted by commercial tobacco use. Those most impacted include youth, LGBTQ, racial minorities and those with low income. We will endeavor to influence public policy through education and advocacy
Community or Constituency Served
Nonsmokers, related organizations
Geographic Area Served
USA, primarily the State of Minnesota
