University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

UAB provides oversight and hands-on support for the community projects, providing an enabling platform for academic and community partners to work together to study how social derminants as differnet as civic engagement, discrimination, food security, living conditions, neighborhood, and lifestyle factors impact health.

East Lake and Norwood Markets

The East Lake Farmers Market was established in 2005 by Promoting Economic and Empowerment Resources (PEER), an East Lake organization led by Reverend Sally Allocca, senior pastor at East Lake United Methodist Church. The East Lake Market provides a seasonal remedy to the problem of food insecurity that exists in the neighborhood. In 2012, the market joined with the Jefferson County Department of Health to pilot a Double Bucks program for SNAP (food stamps) recipients. When shoppers at the market used their SNAP card to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, they would receive a coupon for what they just spend on healthy food - to buy more healthy food.  The Mid-South TCC helped East Lake address program assessment, marketing, and administration. Community Health Advisors helped determine which parts of the program were most effective and which parts could be modified to reach more shoppers. 

The Double Bucks program was also tested at the Norwood Market at the Trolley Stop. The Mid-South TCC helped Norwood Resource Center plan and build capacity for the program and evaluate its success following the launch. 

Kingston Coalition

Birmingham is home to 99 neighborhoods. One of the most vulnerable communities is Kingston, with a high crime rate and a lower income rate. The Mid-South TCC established a relationship with key Kingston residents to build the Kingston Coalition to improve the health and well-being of residents by addressing the social determinants of health - the reasons why people get sick.  Community leaders come together to address the problems facing Kingston residents and rallying the neighborhood together to provide the framework for successful health initiatives in the future. Through the Kingston Coalition, the Mid-South TCC is building bridges between academic researchers at UAB and the stakeholders who have the power to change their community.  

Alabama Community Partners

• Birmingham City Council, Councilor Parker District 4
• Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College
• Birmingham Housing Authority
• Birmingham Park Place
• Birmingham Parks and Recreation Center/Fountain
• Black People Run Bike and Swim
• Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
• Deep South Network for Cancer Control
• East Lake Market
• Fountain Heights Neighborhood Association
• Greater Shiloh Baptist Church
• Hayes K-8 School
• Health and Wellness Education Center of Livingston
• Independent Presbyterian Church
• Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity (JCCEO)
• JCCEO Head Start
• Jefferson County Department of Health
• Jefferson County Health Action Partnership
• Jefferson County Health Department
• Kingston Community Coalition
• Kingston Neighborhood Association
• More Than Conquerors Faith Church
• Norwood Resource Center
• P.E.E.R Inc.
• Tuggle Elementary School
• United Way of Central Alabama
• West End Public Library

For more information, contact Dr. Yu-Mei Schoenberger at yumeis@uab.edu or (205) 934-1724.