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exchange is designed to offer fresh insight, take an honest and direct approach in bringing you information, strategies, and tools, and provide a gateway to resources on current tobacco control issues.

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Remarkable . . . there’s just no other word for it. This past year has been another mile-marker for tobacco control, with tremendous strides and fantastic disappointments. It hasn’t been easy—it never is and probably never will be. But I think it’s meant to be that way—keeping us on our toes and able to recognize and taste the rich desserts of success.

We are on the cusp of a major period of change in tobacco control, and we need to be ready to bring it on. The last decade and a half has taught us well, but I believe it’s time to move forward. I’m not suggesting that we abandon the successes or how and why we achieved them. What I am suggesting is that tobacco control needs to change it up a bit.

Real and sustainable change requires skill in management and conflict; it requires strength and resilience; it requires shared leadership and empowerment. Let’s make tobacco control part of the everyday lexicon. Let’s look forward to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Let’s move beyond just looking for the right answers and make sure we are asking the right questions. Let’s keep it fresh.

At this critical time let’s take what we know and what we have built to make another big push to achieve real and sustainable change in tobacco control.

Dearell Niemeyer, MPH
Director, Tobacco Technical Assistance Consortium

• Hear the voices: Looking forward
  Find out what challenges lie ahead for tobacco control advocates working with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, African Americans, and our local partners. 
   
• Paving the way: Tobacco control programs make the difference
  ttac visited with DeKalb County, Georgia, and Mississippi to talk about significant accomplishments they achieved this past year.
   
• A mile-marker in clean indoor air
  Learn about some of the highlights of the history and success of the clean indoor air movement.
   
• Reflections—past and present
  ttac asked Gregory Connolly, DMD, MPH, Harvard School of Public Health and Scientific Advisor, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, for his opinion on the tobacco control of yesterday and tomorrow.

A resource year in review
Take a look at some practical resources from 2003.

Start the year off right with a look at these top resources.
 
A Helping Hand
Let ttac help you prioritize your goals and activities in 2004.
 
Link to our Web site for more information about ttac technical assistance and resources.