Meet Shakyna Gorden, Bronx Liaison for Smoke-Free NYCHA

When you meet Shakyna Gorden, her positive energy is contagious — she’s part community organizer, part teacher, part big sister. She calls herself a “liaison,” but that hardly captures the enthusiasm and hands-on advocacy she’s brought to Smoke-Free NYCHA since joining in 2023.

“I wear many hats,” she said. “I’m people’s connection to resources for tobacco education and cessation — and the bridge between residents and property management. Mostly, I’m here to listen, to show up, and to help people find healthy choices that work for them.

Ms. Gorden’s connection to NYCHA runs deep. She grew up at Butler Houses in the Bronx, where her parents still live. “When I come back now as the Smoke-Free Liaison for the Bronx, they already know me: They call me ‘Smoke-Free Mama!’”

Ms. Gorden’s connection to NYCHA runs deep. She grew up at Butler Houses in the Bronx, where her parents still live.

Smoke-Free NYCHA is a citywide initiative to create healthier homes by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and supporting residents who want to quit or cut back.  NYCHA’s smoke-free policy prohibits smoking inside buildings or within 25 feet of them.

Before joining NYCHA, Ms. Gorden worked as a Family Advocate for the NYC Health Department in Brooklyn, helping families navigate court-mandated parenting programs. “I loved being an advocate,” she said. “Helping people find their own voice, so they can speak up for what they need — it’s such a powerful feeling!”

Now she brings that same mindset to Smoke-Free NYCHA: “A lot of people don’t know where to start when they want to make a change,” she said. “I love helping them take that first step.”

While smoking prevention might sound serious, Ms. Gorden turns it into something joyful. Her workshops mix science, art, and laughter. “I especially love working with kids,” she said. “They’re so curious and open.”

One of her favorite lessons has children build their own “lungs” from balloons and straws — one clear, one restricted — to show how smoking affects breathing. “They can ‘see’ what happens inside the body,” she said. “It helps the lesson stick.”

This summer, she partnered with the City’s Summer Youth Employment Program at Butler Houses to stage a “Smoke-Free Relay Race,” where teams competed in fun challenges testing both their lungs and their knowledge. “It was one of my proudest moments,” she said. “Everyone was laughing, learning, and moving — exactly what health education should feel like.”

Part of NYCHA’s Department of Resident Health Initiatives, the Smoke-Free NYCHA unit is composed of three liaisons and two additional team members. “We’re small in number,” Ms. Gorden said, “but big on impact.”

Ask Ms. Gorden why she’s never smoked, and she doesn’t hesitate: “My dad,” she said. “His father passed away from complications due to smoking, and he taught me to manage myself and not let outside influences dictate my choices. That lesson stuck.”

For Ms. Gorden, Smoke-Free NYCHA isn’t just about tobacco — it’s also about mindset. “I love this work because it’s about dignity,” she said. “It’s about saying, ‘You matter, your health matters — and we can do something positive about it together.’”

Visit NYCHA’s website to learn more about the Smoke-Free NYCHA initiative. Contact the team by emailing smoke-free@nycha.nyc.gov.