The NYCHA Journal

The NYCHA Journal has informed and inspired residents since 1970, covering the news, contributions, and uplifting stories of the NYCHA community while providing the latest information on Authority initiatives.

collage of drawings and text: Smoke-Free NYCHA Art Contest Winners
Smoke-Free NYCHA The Arts Top Story 

Announcing the Winners of the Smoke-Free NYCHA Art Contest

LaToya

This summer, NYCHA resident artists joined forces with the Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaison team to create original art that promotes the goal of reducing exposure to secondhand smoke. 

The project was launched on World No Tobacco Day, celebrated annually on May 31 to inform people about the dangers of using tobacco and the importance of a smoke-free environment for all. NYCHA’s “We Share the Air” art contest asked entrants to create original art imagining what a smoke-free NYCHA, community, and environment would look like. 
 
NYCHA residents of all ages participated in the contest. Congratulations to the winners in each category, who each received art supplies to continue their artistic endeavors: 

Ages 6-10
Co-Winners: Sisters Ava (6) and Justice (7), Brooklyn 


  • Ava: “My picture means clean air, because no smoking would be good for the earth. My favorite part of the picture is the unicorn cat because I drawed it all by myself.” 
  • Justice: “My picture means no smoking and clean air. I want to be an artist when I grow up so I can make pretty pictures. 

Ages 11+  
Ginelle (11), Bronx 

Ginelle: “I wanted to make a drawing that shows how much I care about stopping the use of tobacco. How I would explain my drawing is that I split a heart into two. One part of the heart is if you use tobacco and the other part of the heart is if you don’t use tobacco. In the part of the heart for if you don’t use tobacco, you have family, a healthy heart, you have money, you have a house, but if you use tobacco they’re going to have no money, no house, and they’re going to be asking for money on the street. A change that I hope to make with my drawing is to help stop people from making a choice of using tobacco or using drugs by showing them what the consequences are. I think art is important and it can change the world, because some people are visual learners and you can use art to show them what is bad and what is good.” 

Adult:  
Winner: Louis Almeyda, Bronx (Find his art on Instagram @lousartstudio23.) 

Mr. Almeyda: “I call it ‘Knock Out,’ showing a boxer with cigarette knocked out. You have to fight hard to beat cigarettes.” 

Adult Finalist: Esther Ramirez, Bronx 

Judges for the contest were Crystal Glover, resident of Washington Houses (and former member of the NYCHA Advisory Group on Smoking and Health), and NYCHA Community Development employees James Ortiz and D’Andra Van Heusen.  

Honorable mention entries to the “We Share the Air” art contest:

NYCHA recently marked the third anniversary of Smoke-Free NYCHA, which went into effect on July 30, 2018, consistent with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) rule for public housing nationwide to have a policy that prohibits smoking in apartments and buildings or within 25 feet of buildings. Smoking increases your risk of respiratory infections and pneumonia, as well as the risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Read more about the anniversary celebration here.