Every Brevard County resident deserves a fair chance at a healthy future.
Right now, that future is at risk. In Brevard County, 1 in 5 adults smokes &
1 in 7 youth ages 11-17 vapes or uses another toxic tobacco product.ABOUT
Vision & Mission
We envision a Brevard County where all residents have a fair chance at a healthy future—free from nicotine addiction.
Our mission is to mobilize the community and advance local policies that will help end nicotine addiction, protect children from secondhand smoke, and improve public health for generations to come. Tobacco Free Brevard aims to create a nicotine, smoke, and vape free Brevard.
Membership
To apply to join the Tobacco Free Brevard Partnership, please contact info@tobaccofreebrevard.com. Interested persons are encouraged to attend a meeting to learn more about Tobacco Free Brevard’s work.
INITIATIVES
Local initiatives supported by the Tobacco Free Brevard Partnership include:
- Tobacco Free Public Parks and Beaches Smoke-free public places could help reduce a major source of toxic litter and how restrictions on tobacco use in places where kids play could keep young people from ever starting to use these products. Learn More
- Counteract Tobacco Industry Influences at the Retail Point of Sale: Stop illegal tobacco and vape product sales and predatory marketing practices. Learn More
- Policies in K-12 Schools: Ensure K-12 school policies related to tobacco are comprehensive and effective.
Learn More - Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT): SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco free future. The Tobacco Free Brevard Partnership collaborates with SWAT youth who lend meaningful insight into ending nicotine addiction among their peers. Learn More.
- Smoke Free Multi-Unit Housing: Encourage multi-unit housing properties to implement policies that protect residents from secondhand smoke. You can learn more about the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.
Get Involved
We want YOU! Share your skills and have your voice heard.
- Email info@tobaccofreebrevard.com to learn how you can support our policy initiatives and get involved in our community advocacy efforts.
- Come to one of our quarterly meetings (see Meetings & Events).
- Share our Website and connect with us on Facebook
Pictured Left: Tobacco Free Brevard Vice Chair, Ashley Hutchinson, presents on Tobacco Free Parks And Beaches at the Satellite Beach City Council meeting on November 2nd, 2022.
Get Youth Involved!
The YOUTH voice counts! Do you know of any passionate Brevard 11-18 year olds who want to:
- Hone their presentation skills
- Advocate for policy change
- Become youth leaders
- Gain volunteer hours
Email lara@civcom.com to learn how they can get involved in our community efforts.
Pictured Left: SWAT member and Melbourne High School Senior presents on Tobacco Free Parks And Beaches at the City of Cocoa Beach City Commission Meeting on December 19th, 2023.
MEETINGS & EVENTS
______________________________________________________________
Tobacco Free Brevard (TFB)
Quarterly Meetings
The Tobacco Free Brevard Partnership typically meets every two to three months on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and guests are welcome!
TFB Partnership Meeting
(In-Person/Hybrid)
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Brevard Family Partnership389 Commerce Parkway Ste 120, Rockledge, FL 32955
Google Meet Joining Info: Coming Soon
Past Event: 09.21.24
International Coastal Cleanup Day
Beach Cleanup
Join Students Working Against Tobacco, Tobacco Free Brevard, and Ocean Concervancy volunteers worldwide to help clean up local waterways by taking part in our beach cleanup! Small actions can make a big difference. Since its beginning, the International Coastal Cleanup has engaged more than 17 million volunteers around the world to remove more than 350 million pounds of trash from the world’s beaches and waterways. Cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world. Ask how YOU can get involved in our Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches initiative!
Hightower Beach Park
815 Highway A1A Satellite Beach, FL 32937
September 21, 2024
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Buckets and pickers available on a 1st come 1st serve basis.
- Bags and gloves will be provided.
- Don't forget to bring sunblock, comfortable shoes, and water!
- FREE PARKING - The City of Satellite Beach has generously agreed to waive parking fees for the duration of the cleanup!
*** If you are a student building community service hours, please make sure to bring your form to be signed.
For more information, contact lara@civcom.com.
Come join the celebration with FREE, family friendly fun including music, food, t-shirts, giveaways, inflatables, games, face painting, BCSO teen driving simulator with drunk goggles, magic, flight simulators, vendors loaded with resources and much more!
Wickham Park - Regional Pavillion
2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935
Saturday, September 9th, 2023
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Past Event: 08.19.23
Students Working Agaianst Tobacco
at Wickham Jamboree 2023
Tobacco Free Brevard joined the Brevard SWAT Chapter at the Wickham Jamboree, an annual youth running event hosted by Set Goals Not Limits and Running Zone at Wickham Park, where Brevard SWAT Chapter youth raised awareness, recruited new members, and connected with the community about creating a smoke and vape free future in Brevard County.
Wickham Park - Regional Pavillion
2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne, FL 32935
Saturday, August 19th, 2023
7:00 AM - 10:00 AM
YOUTH ADVOCACY
SWAT: Students Working Against Tobacco
____________________________________________________
Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) is Florida's statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth working towards a tobacco and vape free future. Brevard County SWAT members build leadership skills and plan activities to help raise awareness and support for policies that benefit the community.
- To learn more about SWAT, visit SWATflorida.com.
- To learn more about SWAT in Brevard County, contact lara@civcom.com.
- To learn more about vaping and youth check out E-Epidemic: Vaping and Youth.
- To quit vape, teens can text VAPEFREE to 873373 or visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com/LiveVapeFree.
___________________________________________________
Not A Lab Rat (NALR) Day
Not A Lab Rat Day is observed annually on the third Wednesday of October to bring awareness to youth e-cigarette use, encourage youth to stand up against Big Tobacco and the e-cigarette industry, and to push for change. SWAT youth throughout Florida observe NALR throughout October. Let's make everyday NALR Day!
Keep scrolling to see how Brevard SWAT spread #NotALabRat in our community this year!
Beach Cleanups
Ongoing
SWAT youth continue to host beach cleanups in Brevard County. We have previously hosted beach cleanups at Paradise Beach in Melbourne, Millenium Beach Park and Bicentennial Beach Park in Indian Harbour Beach, and Hightower Beach Park and Pelican Beach Park in Satellite Beach to advocate for Tobacco Free Public Parks and Beaches, and to help protect the environment by cleaning up our local beaches. We had beach games for some good ol’ classic fun for all!
Check the Meetings & Events section for information about upcoming beach cleanups.
For more information or to get involved,
please contact lara@civcom.com.
__________________________________________________
Space Coast Grom Fest
On December 17th, 2022, Brevard SWAT took part in the 2nd Annual Space Coast Grom Fest, an annual youth surf competition hosted by Space Coast BoardRiders Club. SWAT members raised the profile of Brevard SWAT by hosting a beach cleanup during the event, making it extra fun for youth by having beach cleanup bingo cards and small prizes, and beach games at the SWAT tent. SWAT members educated the public about Tobacco Free Brevard's Smoke-Free Public Parks and Beaches initiative, why such policies are important, the environmental impact nicotine products have on the environment, and provided information about free quit resources offered by Tobacco Free Florida.
___________________________________________________
Manatee Elementary: Fall Festival NALR 2022
On October 14th, 2022, Students Working Against Tobacco and Tobacco Free Brevard shared our Mad Scientist themed station with Viera Community members for an interactive lesson about the dangers of vaping and a photo op with our experiment lab!
Eau Gallie High School NALR 2022
On October 19th, 2022, SWAT students at Eau Gallie High School engaged their peers about the mental health impacts of vaping and nicotine, and shared information about Tobacco Free Florida's Live Vape Free text-to-quit program. They recruited 50 students to sign their names on pledge cards posted on the courtyard bulletin, declaring they will be experiment on with e-cigarettes and over 100 students signed their Not A Lab Rat banner.
___________________________________________________
International Coastal Cleanup Day September 2022
On September 17th, 2022, Brevard SWAT hosted a beach cleanup at Millennium Beach Park in Indian Harbour Beach as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Day to celebrate Indian Harbour Beach as one of the first cities in Florida to pass a smoke-free ordinance restricting cigarette smoking in public parks and beaches.
SWAT members educated the public about Tobacco Free Brevard's Smoke-Free Parks and Beaches initiative and why such policies are important, as well as provide information about the free quit resources.
A total of 87 pounds of trash, and a whopping 744 cigarette butts were removed from the beach!!!
_________________________________________________
QUIT
Are you or someone you care about ready to quit? Support is available!
Talk to a quit coach, find a quit group, or get free nicotine replacement patches or gum. Learn more about these and other FREE resources at Tobacco Free Florida.
CONTACT
To learn more about the Tobacco Free Brevard, please contact info@tobaccofreebrevard.com