Meet Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaisons Equan Brown and Sierra Hutchinson  

For those residents looking to quit or cut back on smoking this new year, Smoke-Free NYCHA’s Liaison team is ready to assist.  

Serving as community health workers, Smoke-Free Liaisons help create healthier environments across NYCHA by educating residents and staff about the Authority’s smoke-free policy (which reduces exposure to secondhand smoke), coaching smokers who want to quit, and providing various resources.  

Equan Brown and Sierra Hutchinson are former longtime residents themselves and the newest Smoke-Free NYCHA Liaisons, representing Queens/Staten Island and Brooklyn neighborhoods, respectively. After joining the NYCHA team this past summer, the two Liaisons recently spoke about their new roles and their passion for helping community members live healthier lives. 

What drew you to this role? 

Mr. Brown: It was the opportunity to do meaningful work. Being a part of something that is geared toward helping underserved communities live a healthier and happier life is something that I always desired. After learning about the Department of Resident Health Initiatives, I knew that Smoke-Free NYCHA was exactly what I was looking for in a career. 

Ms. Hutchinson: It allows me to combine my passion for community engagement with the opportunity to promote healthier living environments. I wanted to make a meaningful impact within NYCHA communities, where I have deep personal and professional connections.  

How does your background/previous experience connect to the program? 

Mr. Brown: As someone who was born and raised in various developments throughout the city, and as a former pack-a-day smoker, being part of this program feels like a full-circle moment. Not only am I working with the very same historically underserved community that made me who I am today, I’m able to support them in a fight against the very same addiction I once dealt with. 

Ms. Hutchinson: Having been a NYCHA resident for 25 years, I have firsthand knowledge of the challenges and strengths of these communities. I can easily see where extra hands, or call to action, may be needed. My professional experience in case management and community health initiatives complements my ability to build trust and foster positive change among residents using a blend of professionalism and personable skills.  

How do you believe you can best assist resident smokers with quitting or reducing their habits? 

Mr. Brown: I think the fact that I’m from NYCHA for most of my life, it’s like we have a camaraderie to begin with. I can relate to the struggle and how much it takes to actually quit or cut back. Admitting to yourself first that you’re dealing with an addiction is a big hurdle. In my experience, a lot of people want to quit and as soon as they know that you have gone on that journey, they begin to trust the coaching more. I also try to give them the opportunity to take charge and meet them where they’re at. 

Ms. Hutchinson: I like to try my best to engage in active listening when I go into the developments because I understand that many people living in the developments do feel as though they are not being heard by anyone who can assist them more than they can assist themselves. I like to use a personable approach to let people know that I do understand their plight and their struggle, and that we are from similar places even if our backgrounds do differ. 

Can you talk about some of the recent work and outreach you are focused on in the community? 

Mr. Brown: I’m focused on providing education to residents about nicotine and tobacco use and its health risk factors, including risk management. I’m also helping residents obtain nicotine replacement therapy and bolstering community engagement between the department and residents. Many people don’t know that there are initiatives like ours in place that provide them the education and support. 

Ms. Hutchinson: I’m trying to engage with residents and make an impact, including supporting them with accessing nicotine replacement therapy. I’m also trying to finish up an EQ [emotional quotient] versus IQ [intelligence quotient] presentation to take to the developments, where I can help build a better understanding of emotional intelligence within the communities in hopes that it will foster a sympathetic or empathetic feeling towards others who may be seriously struggling with the addiction that is tobacco.  

What’s one thing you wish residents knew about Smoke-Free NYCHA? 

Mr. Brown: I would just like residents to know that we are here to support them. We are here to be a bridge to a healthier living condition. We are here to help NYCHA residents and employees reach a smoke-free environment. 

Ms. Hutchinson: I wish residents knew that Smoke-Free NYCHA is about improving the health and well-being of everyone in the community. It’s a program designed to provide support, resources, and education to help residents live healthier lives. 

What makes the new year a good time for residents to connect with Smoke-Free NYCHA for support and resources? 

Ms. Hutchinson: Residents have given us great feedback on how we can strengthen our program to better serve the community. With the new year starting there’s a lot of new resolutions, and we’re hoping that Smoke-Free NYCHA can be on people’s agendas when it comes to turning a new healthy leaf. 

Mr. Brown: The team has a lot of fresh ideas, the energy is high, and we are ready to go and help. We’re ready to meet residents where they’re at and do the work, and we’re excited about it as well. 

For more information about the support available from Smoke-Free NYCHA, please email smoke-free@nycha.nyc.gov. 

Any New Yorker who smokes and wants to quit can also get support by visiting the New York State Smokers’ Quitline online or by calling 866-NY-QUITS or 311.