Fifty years ago, Americans were in a cloud of smoke. You couldn’t eat out, take a flight, or even go to work without breathing in toxic secondhand smoke. Since ANR was founded, nearly 63% of people in the U.S. have won protections from secondhand smoke. But there’s still more work to do. 50 Stories for 50 Years highlights the stories behind the victories, as well as people like casino workers who are still fighting for their right to breathe clean air.

After 30 years in the casino industry, Vanessa Baker knows firsthand the toll secondhand smoke can take on workers. She's been on medication to manage the damage from the smoke for years. Instead of staying silent, she became a leader in the movement to close casino smoking loopholes and protect workers everywhere.

Lamont White is a dealer in Atlantic City and co-founder of Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE). Since its founding in NJ, CEASE has quickly grown into a national coalition with chapters across the country. ANR has been proud to partner with CEASE since day one, providing Lamont and his fellow advocates training on coalition building, public speaking, strategic storytelling, media engagement, and legislative outreach.

Jen Rubolino is helping lead a growing movement of casino workers in Pennsylvania—the largest group of hospitality workers in the state— demanding smokefree workplace protections. 

Terrie Price loved the excitement of working as a blackjack dealer at Caesars Palace, but she hated the smoke. Terrie tried to get some relief but the company denied her claims and began a pattern of harassment that many women working in casinos face. Terrie filed a complaint with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). NIOSH came to screen staff for secondhand smoke exposure with masks and urinalysis, and ultimately the report proved that dealers faced terrible health risks by working in close proximity to people who smoke. Terrie spoke at ANRF's Clearing the Air Conference in 2018.

These worker stories remind us that progress is never guaranteed. Even after five decades of success, millions of workers remain excluded from smokefree protections because of industry opposition and policy exemptions that put profits ahead of people's health. Donor support is critical to ANR’s efforts to organize and advocate for safe, healthy, smokefree environments. Please consider making a contribution today.

Click the button above for a Google form where you can upload photos, a video message, or write down your memories.

Rather talk to a real live person? Give Heidi a call at 510-841-3032, or email her (or just hit reply to this email)!