Meet Shetara Turner, Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison for Manhattan
Shetara Turner has lived at Campos Plaza since she was 6 years old. Now this mother of two is not just a NYCHA resident but is also a NYCHA employee.
The former retail store employee launched her NYCHA career thanks to the New York City Cleanup Corps program, which was created to help the city bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic – she was a member of a team working to promote civic engagement in resident association elections. She was then hired as a seasonal worker, serving with the Healthy Start @ NYCHA program. In November, she began a new position in the Resident Health Initiatives Department as part of the Smoke-Free NYCHA team.
“I mean, who’s more well suited to help NYCHA residents than a NYCHA resident?” she said about her interest in serving as a NYCHA employee. “I want to be there to help them because there are so many things that NYCHA offers that the residents don’t know about.”
Andrea Mata, Director of Health Initiatives, noted the entire department is excited to have Ms. Turner as a permanent member of the team. She said even as a seasonal worker on the Healthy Start program, Ms. Turner “took leadership for building an entire component of the new program that has been incredibly impactful.”
“Shetara is an exceptional person that is always thinking about new ideas, going above and beyond,” said Ms. Mata. “She brings her dynamic, high-powered, authentic self all the time to her work.”
Ella Santos, Healthy Start @ NYCHA Project Manager, said: “We receive wonderful feedback from residents who have connected to resources with direct assistance from Shetara. Community members consistently say that she goes above and beyond to help people access information and other resources.”
Ms. Turner explained that she goes the extra mile for residents because “I feel like they’re my peers.”
A former chain smoker, Ms. Turner said she quit smoking during the pandemic. Beginning January 1, 2023, she will be the new Smoke-Free Liaison for Manhattan. It’s a full circle moment for the new Liaison, who was one of the first NYCHA residents to volunteer for the social media campaign highlighting the Smoke-Free NYCHA initiative. Smoke-Free NYCHA works to create healthier homes by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
Ms. Turner said she is excited about her new position because it will allow her to use her experience as a former smoker to help other residents who might want to quit smoking and to explain to others the importance of observing the smoke-free policy.
“I want people to understand that smoking is not only affecting you,” said Ms. Turner. “It affects your neighbors, people around you, your cats, animals, and your kids – and that’s one reason why I feel like this position is perfect for me.”
Until she transitions to her new position, Ms. Turner is training other seasonal workers to take over her duties at the Healthy Start program, which includes making resource navigation calls to expectant mothers and connecting them to resources like doulas, home visiting services, and places where they can obtain important items like car seats. The program also works to identify and help address hazards in the homes of expecting families.
“Every time someone voluntarily discloses their pregnancy, I call and welcome every single one of them into the Healthy Start program,” said Ms. Turner. “I’ve also had the opportunity to visit residents in person to deliver Welcome Baby Bags, which contain new baby essential items, and I just have a conversation with them. I’ve hugged so many people. I’ve rubbed so many bellies. It is beautiful what Healthy Start does.”
There is no doubt that Shetara Turner loves what she does at NYCHA. But she is also certain that “if you put me anywhere in NYCHA, I will flourish because I just want to help my peers, which are the NYCHA residents.”
For more information on available support from Smoke-Free NYCHA, please email smoke-free@nycha.nyc.gov. To connect with Healthy Start @ NYCHA, please email healthy.start@nycha.nyc.gov.