Media Advisory: Tanzi, Sosnowski to host ‘Tar Wars’ fifth graders Students will present posters promoting tobacco-free living

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Teresa Tanzi (D-Dist. 34, South Kingstown, Narragansett) and Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) will host fifth graders from around the state tomorrow at a State House event promoting tobacco-free living. The event, which will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, May 27, at 3:45 p.m. in the State House rotunda, is being presented by Tobacco Free Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians in celebration of World No Tobacco Week, May 24 through 31. The legislators will also recognize the children and the program on the floors of their respective chambers during the legislative sessions following the event. Also expected to participate are Department of Health Director Nicole Everline Alexander-Scott and Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians President Keith Callahan. During the event, the fifth graders will present to government leaders the posters they designed to promote tobacco-free living as part of the “Tar Wars” program promoting children’s health. Tar Wars is an education program for fourth- and fifth-graders from the American Academy of Family Physicians designed to help reduce the number of youth using tobacco products and to empower young people to advocate for their own health, talk to their family and friends about not smoking and resist advertising messages and peer pressure. The Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians leads the efforts in Rhode Island annually, including the call for poster designs to engage students in the Tar Wars education effort. This is the first time the posters will be showcased at the State House. Winners of the poster design contest usually visit the Rhode Island congressional delegation in Washington, D.C.