Vera Harrell received an Associate of Arts degree in Social Work from City College of San Francisco and Completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services at the University of Phoenix Oakland, CA campus. Vera continued her education to obtain a certificate in Community Health Work & Post Prison & Health. Vera is currently working at the University of California San Francisco as The LOOP Project Assistant with Dr. Valerie Yerger and The LOOP Team. The LOOP is a centralized one-stop delivery system to help grantees of the California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP) strengthen their capacity to address the needs of their local communities, especially those that are disproportionately burdened by tobacco. Vera was a resident of San Francisco’s Bayview Hunters Point when she first got into tobacco control through her eligibility to attend a focus group as a smoker. She attended the focus group in Bayview Hunters Point and found out how she had been targeted by the tobacco industry and felt that everyone should know. She quit smoking and began working at The University of California San Francisco as a Special Research Assistant with Dr. Ruth Malone and Dr. Valerie Yerger on a community based participatory research project called PHAT (Protecting the Hood Against Tobacco). The PHAT project is developing culturally tailored ways to help African Americans quit smoking. Vera’s participation in the PHAT project was crucial in helping the team build partnerships with community groups and community residents and recruit study participants.

Vera has also worked with Dr. Valerie Yerger on a focus group study titled: African Americans: NRT or Alternative Medicine for Cessation. The NRT focus group study to learn more about African American smokers’ and ex-smokers’ perspectives on tobacco cessation aides (such as nicotine gum, patches, lozenges) and holistic medicine (such as home remedies, herbs, relaxation techniques) to help them quit smoking. Vera trained to be a health conductor of the African American Critical Mass Health Conductors Program. This program helps individuals work on improving their health in such areas as nutrition, fitness, self care, stress reduction and more.

Vera is especially passionate about the health, education and welfare of her community and all children of San Francisco’s Bay View Hunters Point Community who are constantly being targeted by the tobacco industry.