Supporting Tobacco Cessation Through Community-Centered Care

At Advocates for Better Health (ABH), we believe that effective tobacco cessation support must be rooted in trust, cultural responsiveness, and community partnership. That’s why we have been honored to collaborate with NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, an organization that has long been a cornerstone of care for North Minneapolis and beyond.

NorthPoint’s approach to health is deeply holistic, recognizing that commercial tobacco use is shaped by stress, access to care, historical targeting by the tobacco industry, and broader social and structural factors. Supporting individuals who want to quit requires more than a single intervention; it requires systems that are clear, welcoming, and responsive to the needs of the people they serve.

Over the past year, ABH has had the privilege of working alongside NorthPoint staff across disciplines to support ongoing efforts to strengthen tobacco cessation programming. Through shared learning, relationship-building, and a commitment to listening to both staff and community voices, this collaboration reflects what’s possible when health organizations invest in coordination and continuous improvement.

We are continually inspired by NorthPoint’s dedication to meeting people where they are and ensuring that tobacco cessation resources are accessible, culturally informed, and integrated into whole-person care. This work is especially important given the disproportionate harms of commercial tobacco on Black communities and other populations historically targeted by the tobacco industry.

ABH is grateful for the opportunity to support this work and to learn alongside NorthPoint. Partnerships like this remind us that progress in public health happens through collaboration, humility, and a shared commitment to equity and dignity.

We look forward to continuing to stand with NorthPoint and other community partners as we work toward a future where everyone has the support they need to live tobacco-free and thrive.