AMPLIFY! March Newsletter

March is National Nutrition Month, but not Everyone can participate.

March is National Nutrition Month, a time often dedicated to rethinking the connection between food and the environment and how they work together to shape health. While many people plan to change their habits, many across the United States are unable to participate because they lack access to healthier resources. In neighborhoods called food deserts, residents have limited access to full-service grocery stores with fresh produce, often 1-10 miles away, depending on the area. In place of the "regular" grocers are convenience stores or small retailers that stock processed foods, sugary drinks, and tobacco products. Research shows that tobacco products are sold in roughly 375,000 retail outlets across the country, many of which are the same stores that sell food and beverages, especially convenience stores located in underserved neighborhoods.

These factors create a disturbing reality. Stores that should be the residents' access point to nutrition often double as tobacco retailers, filling shelves with snacks, drinks, and cigarette advertisements rather than nutritious options. Studies of food desert retail environments show that a large majority of stores display advertising, and more than half of those advertisements promote tobacco or alcohol products. In the public health realm, researchers refer to these areas of high-density tobacco sellers as "tobacco swamps." Swamps are areas where there is easy access to tobacco products, making it easier for people to start and more difficult to quit.

National Nutrition Month reminds us that nutrition is not only about individual choices but also about the systems and environments that shape those choices. Communities experiencing economic disadvantage often face higher sales of both tobacco products and unhealthy snack foods, illustrating how commercial environments can reinforce health inequities. Addressing these disparities means reimagining what neighborhood retailers offer, reducing tobacco retailer density, and increasing access to fresh and nutritious foods. Building healthier retail environments ensures that when communities look for food, they find nourishment instead of another pathway to addiction. Resources like AMPLIFY! help take the next step toward quitting and building healthier futures for themselves and their families.

Additionally, the March Newsletter features:

1. Updated Dear Bro and Dear Sis Cessation Resources: HERE

2. AMPLIFY! x SOL Community Engagement Listening Session: Recording HERE

3. CBHN Health Equity Forum: Navigating HR - What's Changing, What's Next, and How to Stay Covered: REGISTER HERE

4. February 2026 Breaking Free E-zine: Full E-Zine Here

5. Your Voice, Your Story: Capturing Community Narratives Through Video & Audio: REGISTER HERE

6. 2026 African American Leaders for Tomorrow Application: Apply Today

7. G.R.E.E.N Foundation ActNOW Comprehensive Health Education Conference Orange County: REGISTER HERE

8. G.R.E.E.N Foundation ActNOW Comprehensive Health Education Conference Los Angeles: REGISTER HERE

9. Hidden Crises: Stress, Mental Health & Brain Health in the Black Community: REGISTER HERE

Interested in learning more about the connection between food deserts and tobacco retailers? Check out these articles!

1. Study: Public health could be improved by reducing ‘tobacco swamps’

2. Variations in Tobacco Retailer Type Across Community Characteristics: Place Matters

3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829223001260

4. A statewide study of disparities in local policies and tobacco, vape, and cannabis retail environments