On Friday, January 13, the University of South Alabama Center for Healthy Communities (USA CHC) hosted the second forum on Community Engaged Scholarship and Research. Entitled Strengthening the Community Engaged Research & Scholarship “Tool Box,” the event featured presentations and posters by researchers, students, and community members reflecting on the importance and value of community engaged research.

Keynote speakers Dr. Farrah Jaquez and Dr. Lisa Vaughn, both from the University of Cincinnati, discussed “The Process and Power of Community‐Engaged Research: Moving from Outreach to Shared Decision Making.” They then led a plenary session focused on developing tools for community-engaged scholarship. CCTS Partner Site Lead (University of Alabama) Dr. John C. Higginbotham closed out the forum with his plenary “Photo voice, speed dating, and other things for working ‘with’ communities.” 

The program also spotlighted speakers from the USA community who shared their perspectives and experience with engaged research. Their presentations included:  

• “Don’t placate me!”: Beyond the traditional one-way transmission of knowledge” by Dr. Kern Jackson, Director, USA African American Studies program and Assistant Professor of English.
• "The Value of Participation in Community Engaged Research--A Medical Student Perspective" by Ms. Destini Smith, a first-year medical student at USA who began doing community-engaged research as an undergraduate at Mississippi State University.
• "Community Engaged Research--The View from My Neighborhood" by Mrs. Leevones Dubose-Fisher, Executive Director and Housing Coordinator for Bay Area Women Coalition, Inc. (BAWC) and community activist for the Trinity Gardens area in Mobile and Prichard. 

Along with hearing from the diverse set of speakers, attendees had the opportunity to dialogue with a variety of community and academic researchers through an interactive poster session. Throughout the day discussions centered on ways to build equitable partnerships, approaches to advancing community engaged research agendas, and organizational steps to enhance collaborative relationships. As one attendee noted, the forum provided “a great opportunity for all of us to come together and learn from each other’s experiences, develop new networks, and build connections.” 

Future CHC community engagement events are open to all CCTS members. Contact Shannon Shelley-Tremblay, CHC Project Manager at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to be added to CHC’s mailing list to receive notifications and CHC newsletters. Many thanks to Ms. Shelley-Tremblay for submitting this news brief to CCTS Digest!

Leevones Fisher community activist sharing about her experience with Community Engaged research.

Community Health Advocate Frewin Osteen sharing his poster during the session.