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  • Research | ANSRMN.ORG

    RESEARCH ANSR has participated in many research studies with partners, including the University of Minnesota and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center. Selected publications are listed below. 1. Brock, B., Choi, K., Boyle, R.G., Moilanen, M., & Schillo, B.A. (2016). Tobacco product prices before and after a statewide tobacco tax increase. Tobacco Control, Published online first. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-052018. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25052861 2. Amato, M., Boyle, R.G., Brock B. 1, (2015). Higher price, fewer packs: evaluating a tobacco tax increase with cigarette sales data. American Journal of Public Health, Published online first. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302438. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25602874/ 3. Brock, B., Schillo, B.A., & Moilanen, M. (2014). Tobacco industry marketing: and analysis of direct mail coupons and giveaways. Tobacco Control, Published online first. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-051602 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25052861 4. Choi, K., Fabian, L., Brock, B., Engman, K., Jansen, J., & Forster, J. (2014). Availability of snus and its sale to minors in a large Minnesota city. Tobacco Control, 23(5), 449-451. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2012-050719 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23303287 5. Widome, R., Brock, B., Noble, P., & Forster, J.L. (2013). The relationship of neighborhood characteristics to point-of-sale tobacco advertising and marketing. Ethnicity and Health, 18(2), 136-51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22789035 6. Hewett, M., Ortland, W., Brock, B., & Helm, C. (2012). Secondhand smoke and smokefree policies in owner-occupied multi-unit housing. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43(5S3), S187-S196. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23079216 7. Widome, R., Brock, B., Noble, P., & Forster, J.L. (2012). The relationship of point-of sale advertising and neighborhood characteristics to underage sales of tobacco. Evaluation & the Health Professions, 35(3), 331-345. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22615496 8. Widome, R., Brock, B., Klein, E.G., & Forster, J.L. (2012). Smokeless tobacco advertising at the point of sale: prevalence, placement, and demographic correlates. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 14(2), 217-223. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22080586 9. Widome, R., Joseph, A.M., Brock, B., Chlebeck, B., Polusny, M., Gulden, A., & Fu, S.S. (2011). Talking to Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans about tobacco use. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 13(7), 623-626. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21436295 10. Hewett, M.J., Sandell, S.D., Anderson, J., & Niebuhr, M. (2007). Secondhand smoke in apartment buildings: renter and owner or manager perspectives. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Suppl 1, S39-47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17365725 11. Klein, E.G., Forster, J.L., McFadden, B., & Outley, C.W. (2007). Minnesota tobacco-free park policies: Attitudes of the general public and park officials. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Suppl 9, S49-55. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17365726 12. Weigum, J. (2005) Case study 8.3 titled “In Minnesota: Multiple strategies, multiple defeats-ultimate victory” in National Cancer Institute, ASSIST: Shaping the Future of Tobacco Prevention and Control. Tobacco Control Monograph No. 16. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. NIH Pub. No. 05-5645, May 2005. 13. Hennrikus, D., Pentel, P.R., & Sandell, S.D. (2003). Preferences and practices among renters regarding smoking restrictions in apartment buildings. Tobacco Control, 12(2), 189-94.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12773730 14. Weigum, J. & Ravnitzky, M. (1999) Filtered or unfiltered information: Choices in how to make the Minnesota tobacco document depository records more accessible to the public. William Mitchell Law Review, 25(2), Article 11. http://open.wmitchell.edu/wmlr/vol25/iss2/1 Download a list of ANSR Board Member publications

  • Careers | ANSRMN.ORG

    CAREERS Open Positions Full-Time Positions: None at this time Internships: None at this time Volunteer Opportunities: For volunteer opportunities, please call 651-646-3005 or email ansrmn@ansrmn.org . ANSR Benefits Comprehensive benefits package including: Fully-paid medical insurance (ANSR pays 100% of the monthly premium) Fully-paid dental, life, and disability insurance (ANSR pays 100% of the monthly premium) Retirement plan contributions Flexible spending account for childcare and medical expenses Generous vacation time Generous sick time (separate from vacation) for mental and physical health as well as caregiving 10 paid holidays Multiple personal days for celebrating individuals and cultural holidays Hybrid and flexible schedule Diverse and thoughtful team Fair and inclusive culture Dedicated and people-focused Board of Directors Leadership opportunities for all employees, regardless of position and length of time with the organization Growth and mentorship-focused staff supervision Ongoing professional development opportunities, including workshops and local and national conferences Regular "Lunch and Learns" with experts from various fields Regular celebrations of individual and team successes Recognition of personal achievements In-person and virtual team building collaboration opportunities Learn More About Our Values

  • Technical Assistance | ANSRMN.ORG

    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Minnesota Technical Assistance National Technical Assistance Minnesota Technical Assistance ANSR provides technical assistance (TA) to grantees in Minnesota working on projects through the Minnesota Department of Health's Commercial Tobacco-Free Communities, Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and Youth E-Cigarette Prevention and Cessation Initiative grants. A NSR provides TA and training to grantees for commercial tobacco-specific policy areas and general skills development through various methods, including: individual consultation via in-person, phone, email or video conversations; group trainings via conference calls, webinars, lunch-and-learns, presentations or workshops; and providing materials and other resources for commercial tobacco -specific areas, general policy development or skills developmen t . Grantees Served Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) Commercial Tobacco-Free Communities (CTFC) Youth E-Cigarette Prevention and Cessation Initiative (YEPCI) Strategy Expertise Commercial tobacco- and smoke-free policies Tobacco control Smoke-free housing Tobacco-free campuses Point-of-sale/retail environment Smoke-free foster care and/or child care Tobacco-free or smoke-free outdoor spaces (parks and recreation, transit stops, healthcare sites, etc.) Population-Specific Expertise Urban, suburban and rural populations Black, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian and Native American populations 2SLGBTQ+ populations Youth and young adults Adults over 60 Persons with mental illness and/or experiencing substance misuse Foundational Skill Expertise Community Engagement Advocacy/community mobilization Coalition building and sustaining Partnership/leadership development Identifying and developing key relationships Asset and power mapping Leading and facilitating effective meetings Building teams Assessment, Planning & Evaluation Assessment or survey development Strategic planning Evaluation planning Evaluation tool development Continuous program improvement (quality improvement) Understanding of Policy, Systems & Environmental Change (PSE) General PSE knowledge and skills Policy development and analysis Policy implementation guidance Communications Communications tools and planning Earned and paid media campaigns Factsheet/material development Branding Effective messaging Identifying and using success stories Meet the TA Team Jeanne Weigum President Email Jeanne Contact Jeanne for: Questions about state-level tobacco control work General policy strategy assistance Inquiries about the history of tobacco control Emily Anderson Director of Policy Email Emily Contact Emily for: Assistance with outdoor air policy work (parks, grounds, campuses, etc.) Information about menthol tobacco Point-of-sale policy development and implementation Community outreach and coalition building tips Preparation for meetings and public hearings with decision makers Community assessment Youth engagement tools Alex Eberhart Project Lead Email Alex Contact Alex for: Technical assistance to property owners, property managers, and public health professionals Property signage and materials Smoke-free housing resources for property, managers, renters, and common interest communities Policy implementation in affordable, market rate, and common interest communities Creation and utilization of educational materials Social media content and best practices Molly Schmidtke Policy and Technical Assistance Manager Email Molly Contact Molly for: Point-of-sale policy advocacy assistance Community outreach and coalition building help Youth engagement and advocacy best practices Resource development Information about the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco Planning for meetings with decision makers Community assessments Public hearing organization Katie Engman Program Director, Policy & Compliance Email Katie Contact Katie for: Commercial tobacco-free policy adoption and implementation at schools Help reaching out to decision makers and organizing public hearings Point-of-sale policy advocacy Community outreach, youth engagement and coalition building best practices Development of new resources Planning for meetings with decision makers Community assessments Jaclyn Frank Community Outreach Coordinator Email Jaclyn Contact Jaclyn for: Technical assistance to property owners, property managers, and public health professionals Smoke-free housing community assessments and data tracking Policy implementation in affordable, market rate, and common interest communities Housing industry outreach and engagement Resident outreach and engagement Creation and utilization of educational materials Technical Assistance Resources Available These are examples of available resources for grantees. Click to view and download. Factsheets Electronic Cigarettes Factsheet (PDF) Hookah Factsheet (PDF) Little Cigars Factsheet (PDF) Swiss Cheese Prevention Model (PDF) Sign Order Forms E-Cigarette School Sign Order Form Tobacco-Free Property Sign Order Form Smoke-Free Window Cling Order Form Smoke- & Tobacco-Free Grounds Signage Templates 2023 MYTS Highlights Factsheet (PDF) Commercial Tobacco Retail Licensing (PDF) Youth Engagement Checklist (PDF) Group Facilitation Guide (PDF) 2024 Surgeon General's Report Highlights (PDF) Toolkits and Trainings More Information Build Your Quit Kit (PDF) Environmental Impact Toolkit Tools for Schools Toolkit K-12 Schools Policy Guide (PDF) Point of Sale Assessment & Engagement Tool (PDF) Flavored Commercial Tobacco Project WATCH Industry Monitoring Price Discounting Minnesota History of Tobacco Control Stop Sales to Minors Retailer Training Tobacco 101 Curriculum About Us and Our Technical Assistance Minnesota Tobacco-Free Grounds Map Best Practices for Updating a Commercial Tobacco Retail Ordinance National Technical Assistance ANSR’s boots-on-the-ground experience and commitment to best practices prepares us to assist tobacco programs at all levels of need and expertise. ANSR will help you accomplish your goals whether you’re taking your first steps toward educating your community about the harms of commercial tobacco, working on smoke-free multi-unit housing or developing cutting-edge point-of-sale policies. We tailor our approach to meet your needs and can customize a contract for you from our wide menu of services. Contact us at ansrmn@ansrmn.org to learn more about our fee-for service model. Example of Past National TA Project: Clean Air for All ANSR was awarded a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in March 2018 to support public housing agencies (PHAs) nationwide with implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Smoke-Free Public Housing Rule. With this grant, ANSR created Clean Air for All: The Smoke-Free Public Housing Project, a partnership between our Live Smoke Free program and the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO). Clean Air for All provided resources, technical assistance and a variety of training opportunities to public health agencies and PHAs in all 50 states, with a focus on 13 Tobacco Nation states where smoking rates are high and there are fewer resources to support tobacco prevention. Clean Air for All created a Smoke-Free Public Housing Compliance and Enforcement Toolkit (pictured right) that was distributed to 436 stakeholders in 34 states. ANSR's Live Smoke Free team can work with you to build a smoke-free housing compliance and enforcement toolkit for your state or region. Visit the Live Smoke Free website to learn more.

  • Christopher Smith

    Community Policy Advocate STAFF DIRECTORY Jeanne Weigum President Jeanne Weigum has served as the President of ANSR since 1980, though her path to leading the organization for nearly four decades has somewhat humble roots. The Association for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as it was called at the time, was in the midst of fighting for the nation’s first statewide clean indoor air law in 1975. Jeanne saw an ad in a local paper about the association’s work and decided to become a member, which only cost $1. After becoming a member, Jeanne soon joined the ANSR board and eventually moved her way up to the full-time President, a role for which she has never taken a salary. From ground-breaking smoke-free housing work to innovative approaches to preventing youth tobacco use, she has provided strategic direction for numerous public policy wins in Minnesota. She remains deeply committed to enhancing public health and her community. When not fighting the good fight at ANSR, you’ll find Jeanne baking in the winter, gardening in the spring and summer, and up to her ankles in rescue dogs year round. Email Jeanne Emily Anderson Director of Policy Emily Anderson is a Program Director who focuses on point-of-sale policy work and clean outdoor air in parks and on college campuses. Since her first year at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Emily knew she wanted to work at a nonprofit and contribute to a greater good. After graduate school and stops at a few other nonprofits, she found her niche in public health policy and tobacco prevention at ANSR. Emily has supported dozens of Minnesota communities in passing tobacco-free parks policies and has worked closely with colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, in adopting tobacco-free campus policies. She advocated for a first-of-its-kind cigar pricing ordinance in Brooklyn Center. She has presented at several public health conferences, including the National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco and the National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Outside of work Emily enjoys spending time with her family in Minneapolis and heading into the great outdoors to bike, camp and skijor. While Minnesota is now home, she takes pride in teaching her two young daughters to say “Go, Pack, Go!” Email Emily Esha Seth Director of Technical Assistance Esha Seth serves as the Technical Assistance Program Coordinator. In her role, Esha works with county health departments across the state and community organizations that represent various diverse communities to provide resources and guidance on their tobacco prevention initiatives in schools, worksites, grounds, parks, and point of sale policy initiatives. During her time at ANSR, Esha has worked on developing relationships with individuals and provides guidance and resources to assist with the implementation and enforcement of tobacco prevention policies and initiatives. Esha has also worked to help create the free online retailer training that helps educate tobacco retailers on state laws on selling tobacco. Most recently, Esha worked with the Isanti County public health department and their local substance abuse prevention coalition to increase the tobacco sales age from 18 to 21 for all licensed tobacco retailers in the county. Esha is currently working on wrapping up her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Outside of school and work, Esha enjoys travelling and is making travel plans for her next big adventure around the world. Email Esha Katie Engman Program Director Policy & Compliance Katie Engman is a Program Director. Since 2002, Katie has coordinated and supported diverse school- and community-based tobacco prevention programming and advocacy work. Katie is currently working to reduce the amount of tobacco advertising and marketing aimed at youth. Much of Katie’s career has been focused on youth prevention, education, advocacy and engagement resulting in national awards for students. Some of her policy accomplishments include: numerous tobacco-free park policies, a smoke-free workplace ordinance in Ramsey County, an imitation tobacco ordinance and sign ordinance updates in St. Paul, flavored tobacco restrictions in multiple metro communities, numerous city ordinance updates to reflect the changing landscape of tobacco. She also directs the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project working to reduce youth access to commercial sources of tobacco. This is a one of a kind model with coordination with cities, law enforcement and youth. Outside the office one might find Katie in the middle of a lake, having arrived there via swimming, boating, or paddling. She also enjoys planning family adventures, such as trips to the beach and cheering on her kids at their activities. Email Katie Jackie Siewert Program Director Live Smoke Free Jackie Siewert is the Program Director for the Live Smoke Free Program. Jackie joined the ANSR team in 2014 with a background in property management and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. As Program Director for the Live Smoke Free program she works with local and national stakeholders, such as renters, homeowners, property managers, property owners, and public health advocates, to educate decision makers and promote smoke-free housing. Jackie has supported hundreds of multi-housing properties in adopting smoke-free policies, developed numerous educational tools and resources, and spoken at many health and housing events. Jackie also manages Live Smoke Free communications, including quarterly newsletters, social media, and website content. Inside Jackie’s office one will find a variety of cacti and vining plants. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys running, biking, art festivals, and cats. Email Jackie Kara Skahen Program Director Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Kara serves as the Project Director for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (MPRC). In her role she provides programmatic oversight and manages administrative duties. Kara has worked in public health prevention for over ten years, primarily in commercial tobacco prevention. Kara is also a Program Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-MN where she leads smoke-free housing policy initiatives and provides tobacco technical assistance to Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grantees. Outside of work Kara enjoys running with her dog, cooking, reading, and gardening. Kara has a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Email Kara Chris Smith Community Policy Advocate Chris started at ANSR as a contracted Campaign Organizer in 2020 and officially joined the team as a Community Policy Advocate in 2022. Chris enjoys connecting communities with lawmakers and city leadership. He believes that community engagement is key to developing sound equitable policies. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in advocacy and political leadership -both from Metropolitan State University. He comes to ANSR with a breadth of community organizing experience, from working closely with faith communities as a congregational organizer, to field organizing during numerous election cycles for political and issue campaigns. At ANSR Chris is focused on local tobacco prevention policy at point of sale and smoke-free housing. While not working in the office, Chris spends much of his time biking, developing bikepacking routes for his next adventure, and cheering on the St. Paul Saints with friends and family. Chris is a downtown St. Paul resident and considers himself to be an “armchair Urbanist” since he often criticizes street design, even though he does not hold a degree in engineering or urban planning. Email Chris Jason Lind Director of Finance Jason Lind is ANSR’s Director of Finance. He joined ANSR in 2020 and has more than 16 years of accounting experience, including six in the nonprofit world. Jason helps manage the overall ANSR budget and helps each program budget spend appropriately. He is passionate about technology and enjoys teaching and discussing tech of almost any kind. Personally, he enjoys going for long walk-and-talks with his wife and throwing not-so-perfect spirals to his twin boys. Email Jason Molly Schmidtke Community Outreach Coordinator Molly Schmidtke is a Community Outreach Coordinator. In this role, Molly is responsible for conducting outreach and education events, supporting youth policy and advocacy efforts, and supporting all other ANSR tobacco prevention efforts. Some of her accomplishments include: multiple flavored commercial tobacco restrictions in MN communities, working with youth to create, disseminate and evaluate vaping prevalence surveys with youth partners, as well as creating and disseminating a toolkit focused on the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco products. She has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in Public Health – Community Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health degree at the University of Minnesota. She is passionate about many public health topics, such as health equity, policy and advocacy. Outside of work, Molly loves to be out on the Mississippi River, cooking, and watching the Minnesota Wild. Email Molly David Olson TITLE Description Email Jack Madeline Bremel Events Manager Madeline is the Events Manager for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, and is responsible for planning and coordinating MPRC events, including the annual MN Prevention Program Sharing Conference, and supporting MPRC’s technical assistance and communications needs. Madeline has worked in Public Health in Minnesota, Oregon, and New Mexico, and has found a niche doing planning, organization, and communication-related work at the systems level. Madeline has an MPH from Oregon State University in Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Outside of work you might find Madeline cross-country skiing, crafting, or studying her dog, Pearl’s, personality. Email Madeline Kayla Baker Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator MN Metro - Region 7 Kayla is the Metro Regional Prevention Coordinator, which she works with coalitions and communities to promote substance misuse prevention. Kayla has her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from North Dakota State University, and her Master’s degree in Wellness and Health Promotion Management from Nebraska Methodist College. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Prior to becoming a Regional Prevention Coordinator, Kayla spent time working in various health related roles including chemical and mental health, Responsible Beverage Server Training (RBST), alcohol compliance checks, diabetes prevention, and most recently, COVID-19. During her free time Kayla enjoys hiking, baking, and crocheting. Email Kayla Curtis Neff Campaign Organizer Curtis is the Campaign Organizer working to end the sale of flavor tobacco products in Minnesota. Much of his work is focused on recruiting community partners to educate and advocate for this change. Curtis comes to ANSR from a long career in organized labor and activism. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS in Political Science. Outside of work he collects vinyl from many genres and enjoys a quiet life in St. Paul. Email Curtis Morgan Hamernik Administrative & Communications Specialist Morgan Hamernik is an Administrative and Communications Specialist. She joined the ANSR team in 2023 and is responsible for managing the organization’s social media accounts, writing newsletters, and supporting the staff’s education and advocacy efforts. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a BA in English and a minor in public health. Morgan is passionate about digital accessibility, inclusive health communication, and public libraries. Outside of work, you will likely find Morgan cheering on the Packers or playing with her dog, Happy. Email Morgan

  • Tobacco 101: Lesson Three | ANSRMN.ORG

    Lesson Three: Child Labor in the Tobacco Industry Lesson Three (PDF) Lesson Three (PPT) Lesson Files Child Labor Factsheet Child Labor Photo New York Times Article Videos Made in the USA - Child Labor and Tobacco Malawi's Tobacco Children

  • Minnesota History | ANSRMN.ORG

    MINNESOTA HISTORY OF COMMERCIAL TOBACCO PREVENTION

  • Contact | ANSRMN.ORG

    CONTACT Get in Touch Phone: 651-646-3005 Fax: 651-646-0142 ANSR: ansrmn@ansrmn.org Live Smoke Free: info@mnsmokefreehousing.org Follow ANSR on social media: Address 2395 University Ave W, Suite 310 Saint Paul, MN 55114-1512 If you are visiting our offices, please call ahead to make arrangements and receive information on driving directions and parking.

  • Jaclyn Frank

    Live Smoke Free Community Outreach Coordinator STAFF DIRECTORY Jeanne Weigum President Jeanne Weigum has served as the President of ANSR since 1980, though her path to leading the organization for nearly four decades has somewhat humble roots. The Association for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as it was called at the time, was in the midst of fighting for the nation’s first statewide clean indoor air law in 1975. Jeanne saw an ad in a local paper about the association’s work and decided to become a member, which only cost $1. After becoming a member, Jeanne soon joined the ANSR board and eventually moved her way up to the full-time President, a role for which she has never taken a salary. From ground-breaking smoke-free housing work to innovative approaches to preventing youth tobacco use, she has provided strategic direction for numerous public policy wins in Minnesota. She remains deeply committed to enhancing public health and her community. When not fighting the good fight at ANSR, you’ll find Jeanne baking in the winter, gardening in the spring and summer, and up to her ankles in rescue dogs year round. Email Jeanne Emily Anderson Director of Policy Emily Anderson is a Program Director who focuses on point-of-sale policy work and clean outdoor air in parks and on college campuses. Since her first year at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Emily knew she wanted to work at a nonprofit and contribute to a greater good. After graduate school and stops at a few other nonprofits, she found her niche in public health policy and tobacco prevention at ANSR. Emily has supported dozens of Minnesota communities in passing tobacco-free parks policies and has worked closely with colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, in adopting tobacco-free campus policies. She advocated for a first-of-its-kind cigar pricing ordinance in Brooklyn Center. She has presented at several public health conferences, including the National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco and the National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Outside of work Emily enjoys spending time with her family in Minneapolis and heading into the great outdoors to bike, camp and skijor. While Minnesota is now home, she takes pride in teaching her two young daughters to say “Go, Pack, Go!” Email Emily Esha Seth Director of Technical Assistance Esha Seth serves as the Technical Assistance Program Coordinator. In her role, Esha works with county health departments across the state and community organizations that represent various diverse communities to provide resources and guidance on their tobacco prevention initiatives in schools, worksites, grounds, parks, and point of sale policy initiatives. During her time at ANSR, Esha has worked on developing relationships with individuals and provides guidance and resources to assist with the implementation and enforcement of tobacco prevention policies and initiatives. Esha has also worked to help create the free online retailer training that helps educate tobacco retailers on state laws on selling tobacco. Most recently, Esha worked with the Isanti County public health department and their local substance abuse prevention coalition to increase the tobacco sales age from 18 to 21 for all licensed tobacco retailers in the county. Esha is currently working on wrapping up her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Outside of school and work, Esha enjoys travelling and is making travel plans for her next big adventure around the world. Email Esha Katie Engman Program Director Policy & Compliance Katie Engman is a Program Director. Since 2002, Katie has coordinated and supported diverse school- and community-based tobacco prevention programming and advocacy work. Katie is currently working to reduce the amount of tobacco advertising and marketing aimed at youth. Much of Katie’s career has been focused on youth prevention, education, advocacy and engagement resulting in national awards for students. Some of her policy accomplishments include: numerous tobacco-free park policies, a smoke-free workplace ordinance in Ramsey County, an imitation tobacco ordinance and sign ordinance updates in St. Paul, flavored tobacco restrictions in multiple metro communities, numerous city ordinance updates to reflect the changing landscape of tobacco. She also directs the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project working to reduce youth access to commercial sources of tobacco. This is a one of a kind model with coordination with cities, law enforcement and youth. Outside the office one might find Katie in the middle of a lake, having arrived there via swimming, boating, or paddling. She also enjoys planning family adventures, such as trips to the beach and cheering on her kids at their activities. Email Katie Jackie Siewert Program Director Live Smoke Free Jackie Siewert is the Program Director for the Live Smoke Free Program. Jackie joined the ANSR team in 2014 with a background in property management and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. As Program Director for the Live Smoke Free program she works with local and national stakeholders, such as renters, homeowners, property managers, property owners, and public health advocates, to educate decision makers and promote smoke-free housing. Jackie has supported hundreds of multi-housing properties in adopting smoke-free policies, developed numerous educational tools and resources, and spoken at many health and housing events. Jackie also manages Live Smoke Free communications, including quarterly newsletters, social media, and website content. Inside Jackie’s office one will find a variety of cacti and vining plants. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys running, biking, art festivals, and cats. Email Jackie Kara Skahen Program Director Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Kara serves as the Project Director for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (MPRC). In her role she provides programmatic oversight and manages administrative duties. Kara has worked in public health prevention for over ten years, primarily in commercial tobacco prevention. Kara is also a Program Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-MN where she leads smoke-free housing policy initiatives and provides tobacco technical assistance to Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grantees. Outside of work Kara enjoys running with her dog, cooking, reading, and gardening. Kara has a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Email Kara Chris Smith Community Policy Advocate Chris started at ANSR as a contracted Campaign Organizer in 2020 and officially joined the team as a Community Policy Advocate in 2022. Chris enjoys connecting communities with lawmakers and city leadership. He believes that community engagement is key to developing sound equitable policies. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in advocacy and political leadership -both from Metropolitan State University. He comes to ANSR with a breadth of community organizing experience, from working closely with faith communities as a congregational organizer, to field organizing during numerous election cycles for political and issue campaigns. At ANSR Chris is focused on local tobacco prevention policy at point of sale and smoke-free housing. While not working in the office, Chris spends much of his time biking, developing bikepacking routes for his next adventure, and cheering on the St. Paul Saints with friends and family. Chris is a downtown St. Paul resident and considers himself to be an “armchair Urbanist” since he often criticizes street design, even though he does not hold a degree in engineering or urban planning. Email Chris Jason Lind Director of Finance Jason Lind is ANSR’s Director of Finance. He joined ANSR in 2020 and has more than 16 years of accounting experience, including six in the nonprofit world. Jason helps manage the overall ANSR budget and helps each program budget spend appropriately. He is passionate about technology and enjoys teaching and discussing tech of almost any kind. Personally, he enjoys going for long walk-and-talks with his wife and throwing not-so-perfect spirals to his twin boys. Email Jason Molly Schmidtke Community Outreach Coordinator Molly Schmidtke is a Community Outreach Coordinator. In this role, Molly is responsible for conducting outreach and education events, supporting youth policy and advocacy efforts, and supporting all other ANSR tobacco prevention efforts. Some of her accomplishments include: multiple flavored commercial tobacco restrictions in MN communities, working with youth to create, disseminate and evaluate vaping prevalence surveys with youth partners, as well as creating and disseminating a toolkit focused on the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco products. She has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in Public Health – Community Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health degree at the University of Minnesota. She is passionate about many public health topics, such as health equity, policy and advocacy. Outside of work, Molly loves to be out on the Mississippi River, cooking, and watching the Minnesota Wild. Email Molly David Olson TITLE Description Email Jack Madeline Bremel Events Manager Madeline is the Events Manager for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, and is responsible for planning and coordinating MPRC events, including the annual MN Prevention Program Sharing Conference, and supporting MPRC’s technical assistance and communications needs. Madeline has worked in Public Health in Minnesota, Oregon, and New Mexico, and has found a niche doing planning, organization, and communication-related work at the systems level. Madeline has an MPH from Oregon State University in Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Outside of work you might find Madeline cross-country skiing, crafting, or studying her dog, Pearl’s, personality. Email Madeline Kayla Baker Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator MN Metro - Region 7 Kayla is the Metro Regional Prevention Coordinator, which she works with coalitions and communities to promote substance misuse prevention. Kayla has her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from North Dakota State University, and her Master’s degree in Wellness and Health Promotion Management from Nebraska Methodist College. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Prior to becoming a Regional Prevention Coordinator, Kayla spent time working in various health related roles including chemical and mental health, Responsible Beverage Server Training (RBST), alcohol compliance checks, diabetes prevention, and most recently, COVID-19. During her free time Kayla enjoys hiking, baking, and crocheting. Email Kayla Curtis Neff Campaign Organizer Curtis is the Campaign Organizer working to end the sale of flavor tobacco products in Minnesota. Much of his work is focused on recruiting community partners to educate and advocate for this change. Curtis comes to ANSR from a long career in organized labor and activism. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS in Political Science. Outside of work he collects vinyl from many genres and enjoys a quiet life in St. Paul. Email Curtis Morgan Hamernik Administrative & Communications Specialist Morgan Hamernik is an Administrative and Communications Specialist. She joined the ANSR team in 2023 and is responsible for managing the organization’s social media accounts, writing newsletters, and supporting the staff’s education and advocacy efforts. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a BA in English and a minor in public health. Morgan is passionate about digital accessibility, inclusive health communication, and public libraries. Outside of work, you will likely find Morgan cheering on the Packers or playing with her dog, Happy. Email Morgan

  • Jason Lind

    Director of Finance and IT STAFF DIRECTORY Jeanne Weigum President Jeanne Weigum has served as the President of ANSR since 1980, though her path to leading the organization for nearly four decades has somewhat humble roots. The Association for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as it was called at the time, was in the midst of fighting for the nation’s first statewide clean indoor air law in 1975. Jeanne saw an ad in a local paper about the association’s work and decided to become a member, which only cost $1. After becoming a member, Jeanne soon joined the ANSR board and eventually moved her way up to the full-time President, a role for which she has never taken a salary. From ground-breaking smoke-free housing work to innovative approaches to preventing youth tobacco use, she has provided strategic direction for numerous public policy wins in Minnesota. She remains deeply committed to enhancing public health and her community. When not fighting the good fight at ANSR, you’ll find Jeanne baking in the winter, gardening in the spring and summer, and up to her ankles in rescue dogs year round. Email Jeanne Emily Anderson Director of Policy Emily Anderson is a Program Director who focuses on point-of-sale policy work and clean outdoor air in parks and on college campuses. Since her first year at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Emily knew she wanted to work at a nonprofit and contribute to a greater good. After graduate school and stops at a few other nonprofits, she found her niche in public health policy and tobacco prevention at ANSR. Emily has supported dozens of Minnesota communities in passing tobacco-free parks policies and has worked closely with colleges and universities, including the University of Minnesota, in adopting tobacco-free campus policies. She advocated for a first-of-its-kind cigar pricing ordinance in Brooklyn Center. She has presented at several public health conferences, including the National Summit on Smokeless and Spit Tobacco and the National Conference on Tobacco or Health. Outside of work Emily enjoys spending time with her family in Minneapolis and heading into the great outdoors to bike, camp and skijor. While Minnesota is now home, she takes pride in teaching her two young daughters to say “Go, Pack, Go!” Email Emily Esha Seth Director of Technical Assistance Esha Seth serves as the Technical Assistance Program Coordinator. In her role, Esha works with county health departments across the state and community organizations that represent various diverse communities to provide resources and guidance on their tobacco prevention initiatives in schools, worksites, grounds, parks, and point of sale policy initiatives. During her time at ANSR, Esha has worked on developing relationships with individuals and provides guidance and resources to assist with the implementation and enforcement of tobacco prevention policies and initiatives. Esha has also worked to help create the free online retailer training that helps educate tobacco retailers on state laws on selling tobacco. Most recently, Esha worked with the Isanti County public health department and their local substance abuse prevention coalition to increase the tobacco sales age from 18 to 21 for all licensed tobacco retailers in the county. Esha is currently working on wrapping up her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. Outside of school and work, Esha enjoys travelling and is making travel plans for her next big adventure around the world. Email Esha Katie Engman Program Director Policy & Compliance Katie Engman is a Program Director. Since 2002, Katie has coordinated and supported diverse school- and community-based tobacco prevention programming and advocacy work. Katie is currently working to reduce the amount of tobacco advertising and marketing aimed at youth. Much of Katie’s career has been focused on youth prevention, education, advocacy and engagement resulting in national awards for students. Some of her policy accomplishments include: numerous tobacco-free park policies, a smoke-free workplace ordinance in Ramsey County, an imitation tobacco ordinance and sign ordinance updates in St. Paul, flavored tobacco restrictions in multiple metro communities, numerous city ordinance updates to reflect the changing landscape of tobacco. She also directs the North Suburban Tobacco Compliance Project working to reduce youth access to commercial sources of tobacco. This is a one of a kind model with coordination with cities, law enforcement and youth. Outside the office one might find Katie in the middle of a lake, having arrived there via swimming, boating, or paddling. She also enjoys planning family adventures, such as trips to the beach and cheering on her kids at their activities. Email Katie Jackie Siewert Program Director Live Smoke Free Jackie Siewert is the Program Director for the Live Smoke Free Program. Jackie joined the ANSR team in 2014 with a background in property management and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota. As Program Director for the Live Smoke Free program she works with local and national stakeholders, such as renters, homeowners, property managers, property owners, and public health advocates, to educate decision makers and promote smoke-free housing. Jackie has supported hundreds of multi-housing properties in adopting smoke-free policies, developed numerous educational tools and resources, and spoken at many health and housing events. Jackie also manages Live Smoke Free communications, including quarterly newsletters, social media, and website content. Inside Jackie’s office one will find a variety of cacti and vining plants. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys running, biking, art festivals, and cats. Email Jackie Kara Skahen Program Director Minnesota Prevention Resource Center Kara serves as the Project Director for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center (MPRC). In her role she provides programmatic oversight and manages administrative duties. Kara has worked in public health prevention for over ten years, primarily in commercial tobacco prevention. Kara is also a Program Director for the Association for Nonsmokers-MN where she leads smoke-free housing policy initiatives and provides tobacco technical assistance to Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) grantees. Outside of work Kara enjoys running with her dog, cooking, reading, and gardening. Kara has a Master of Social Work and Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities. Email Kara Chris Smith Community Policy Advocate Chris started at ANSR as a contracted Campaign Organizer in 2020 and officially joined the team as a Community Policy Advocate in 2022. Chris enjoys connecting communities with lawmakers and city leadership. He believes that community engagement is key to developing sound equitable policies. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s in advocacy and political leadership -both from Metropolitan State University. He comes to ANSR with a breadth of community organizing experience, from working closely with faith communities as a congregational organizer, to field organizing during numerous election cycles for political and issue campaigns. At ANSR Chris is focused on local tobacco prevention policy at point of sale and smoke-free housing. While not working in the office, Chris spends much of his time biking, developing bikepacking routes for his next adventure, and cheering on the St. Paul Saints with friends and family. Chris is a downtown St. Paul resident and considers himself to be an “armchair Urbanist” since he often criticizes street design, even though he does not hold a degree in engineering or urban planning. Email Chris Jason Lind Director of Finance Jason Lind is ANSR’s Director of Finance. He joined ANSR in 2020 and has more than 16 years of accounting experience, including six in the nonprofit world. Jason helps manage the overall ANSR budget and helps each program budget spend appropriately. He is passionate about technology and enjoys teaching and discussing tech of almost any kind. Personally, he enjoys going for long walk-and-talks with his wife and throwing not-so-perfect spirals to his twin boys. Email Jason Molly Schmidtke Community Outreach Coordinator Molly Schmidtke is a Community Outreach Coordinator. In this role, Molly is responsible for conducting outreach and education events, supporting youth policy and advocacy efforts, and supporting all other ANSR tobacco prevention efforts. Some of her accomplishments include: multiple flavored commercial tobacco restrictions in MN communities, working with youth to create, disseminate and evaluate vaping prevalence surveys with youth partners, as well as creating and disseminating a toolkit focused on the environmental impacts of commercial tobacco products. She has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in Public Health – Community Health Education and is a Certified Health Education Specialist. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health degree at the University of Minnesota. She is passionate about many public health topics, such as health equity, policy and advocacy. Outside of work, Molly loves to be out on the Mississippi River, cooking, and watching the Minnesota Wild. Email Molly David Olson TITLE Description Email Jack Madeline Bremel Events Manager Madeline is the Events Manager for the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center, and is responsible for planning and coordinating MPRC events, including the annual MN Prevention Program Sharing Conference, and supporting MPRC’s technical assistance and communications needs. Madeline has worked in Public Health in Minnesota, Oregon, and New Mexico, and has found a niche doing planning, organization, and communication-related work at the systems level. Madeline has an MPH from Oregon State University in Health Promotion and Health Behavior. Outside of work you might find Madeline cross-country skiing, crafting, or studying her dog, Pearl’s, personality. Email Madeline Kayla Baker Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator MN Metro - Region 7 Kayla is the Metro Regional Prevention Coordinator, which she works with coalitions and communities to promote substance misuse prevention. Kayla has her Bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from North Dakota State University, and her Master’s degree in Wellness and Health Promotion Management from Nebraska Methodist College. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Prior to becoming a Regional Prevention Coordinator, Kayla spent time working in various health related roles including chemical and mental health, Responsible Beverage Server Training (RBST), alcohol compliance checks, diabetes prevention, and most recently, COVID-19. During her free time Kayla enjoys hiking, baking, and crocheting. Email Kayla Curtis Neff Campaign Organizer Curtis is the Campaign Organizer working to end the sale of flavor tobacco products in Minnesota. Much of his work is focused on recruiting community partners to educate and advocate for this change. Curtis comes to ANSR from a long career in organized labor and activism. He is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS in Political Science. Outside of work he collects vinyl from many genres and enjoys a quiet life in St. Paul. Email Curtis Morgan Hamernik Administrative & Communications Specialist Morgan Hamernik is an Administrative and Communications Specialist. She joined the ANSR team in 2023 and is responsible for managing the organization’s social media accounts, writing newsletters, and supporting the staff’s education and advocacy efforts. She recently graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a BA in English and a minor in public health. Morgan is passionate about digital accessibility, inclusive health communication, and public libraries. Outside of work, you will likely find Morgan cheering on the Packers or playing with her dog, Happy. Email Morgan

  • Tobacco 101: Lesson Nine | ANSRMN.ORG

    Lesson Nine: Electronic Cigarettes (Vapes): A Deeper Dive Lesson Nine (PDF) Lesson Nine (PPT) Lesson Files N/A Videos Ingredients in E-Cigarettes and Vaping Products - Dr. Leslie

  • Menthol Coalition | ANSRMN.ORG

    MENTHOL COALITION ANSR and NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center have been working together for many years. The two organizations partnered in 2015 to create the Minneapolis Menthol Coalition with the shared goal of repealing the exemption for “menthol” in Minneapolis’ flavored tobacco restrictions. ANSR and NorthPoint recruited and empowered new social justice leaders, youth public health advocates and faith leaders from Black congregations. These leaders engaged community members to learn about and take action to counteract the predatory marketing practices of the tobacco industry. When Reynolds American Tobacco Company hired a nationally known pastor to argue the initiative was hostile to African Americans, the opposition failed because community leaders were already knowledgeable and engaged and were not dissuaded. In 2017, the Minneapolis City Council removed the menthol exception, making Minneapolis one of the first and largest cities in the country with a comprehensive policy. Since then, the coalition has expanded to include a diverse group of leaders from more than 40 community and health organizations, educational institutions, and religious groups. Learn More About the Minnesota Menthol Coalition About Menthol Tobacco Removing menthol and flavored commercial tobacco from the marketplace will address health disparities caused by Big Tobacco’s lethal tactics. Racism is a public health crisis. Clearing the market of menthol and all flavored products will directly improve the health of Black communities and other groups targeted by Big Tobacco. Communities across Minnesota are working to protect youth and other targeted groups by enacting flavored tobacco restrictions. Minneapolis and Saint Paul led the way in Minnesota in passing policies that restrict the sale of all flavored commercial tobacco products, including menthol. Now, there are 16 Minnesota communities that have restricted or ended the sale of flavored tobacco, including menthol. Communities across Minnesota are working to protect youth and other targeted groups by ending the sale of flavored and menthol tobacco. Our Partner: NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center is a community-based, nonprofit primary care setting that provides and coordinates high quality, patient- and family-centered health care promotion and chronic condition management for North Minneapolis residents. NorthPoint strives to improve the physical and socioeconomic health of the North Minneapolis community through an integrated model of health and human services. NorthPoint’s vision is to set a standard of excellence in providing culturally responsive, integrated, holistic primary health and social services that strengthen the North Minneapolis community. NorthPoint has over 20 community health workers who provide culturally specific education and resources to the community. These services include assisting NorthPoint guests with navigating MNSure, SNAP, maternal and child health care and emergency housing assistance. Community health workers serve as the link to coverage and care, provide trauma-informed care and are uniquely positioned to improve health outcomes and health equity within the community. NorthPoint’s more than 50-year history and legacy represents a commitment that has weathered social and economic changes and challenges. Its roots are closely linked to the civil rights movement of the 1960s, a period that saw blatant racial disturbances and inequalities in urban communities across the country, including Minneapolis. Sena Geleto is Community Outreach Coordinator – Health Policy & Advocacy at NorthPoint. She works on local and statewide commercial tobacco policy. She has testified before city councils in support of ending the sale of flavored commercial tobacco and has done extensive community organizing around tobacco price discounting and hookah in Minneapolis. Sena is also a biology major at the University of Minnesota. In 2024, she completed a series of community interviews and compiled them in a booklet called “The People vs. Big Tobacco.” The interviews capture the collective experiences of folks working to combat the devastating effects of commercial tobacco use. Download the PDF by clicking the button below. The People vs. Big Tobacco (PDF)

  • 2020 Annual Report - ANSR | ANSRMN.ORG

    OUR MISSION ANSR is dedicated to reducing the human and economic costs of commercial tobacco, nicotine and other drug use in Minnesota. Our core commitments are: to protect young Minnesotans from a lifetime of addiction; to ensure that all Minnesotans can breathe clean, smoke-free air everywhere; and to reduce health inequities and other disparities in relation to commercial tobacco, nicotine and other drugs. In 1975, ANSR helped pass the nation’s first comprehensive state clean indoor air legislation. Since then, ANSR has continued to play a leading role in shaping tobacco policy and has been involved in every major state-wide policy, such as the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007 and raising the tobacco tax in 2013. ANSR helped Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict the sales of flavored tobacco, including menthol, and also helped Edina become the first Minneapolis city to raise the tobacco sales age to 21. Financial Documents 2023 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2023 Federal Form 990 Annual Reports 2023 Annual Report 2022 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2022 Federal Form 990 2022 Annual Report 2021 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2021 Federal Form 990 2021 Annual Report 2020 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2020 Federal Form 990 2020 Annual Report 2019 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2019 Federal Form 990 2019 Annual Report 2018 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2018 Federal Form 990 2018 Annual Report 2017 ANSR Audited Financial Statements 2017 Federal Form 990 2017 Annual Report

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2395 University Ave. W, Suite 310

Saint Paul, MN 55114


Office: 651-646-3005 

Fax: 651-646-0142

Email: info@ansrmn.org

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In 1975, ANSR helped pass the nation’s first comprehensive state clean indoor air legislation. Since then, ANSR has continued to play a leading role in shaping tobacco policy and has been involved in every major state-wide policy, such as the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007 and raising the tobacco tax in 2013. ANSR helped Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict the sales of flavored tobacco, including menthol, and also helped Edina become the first Minneapolis city to raise the tobacco sales age to 21.

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