The Center For Black Health And Equity

TOBACCO AND CANCER AWARENESS-THE CENTER FOR BLACK HEALTH & EQUITY (CBHE) PARTICIPATED IN A LEARNING COLLABORATIVE TO ENHANCE STATE CAPACITY IN ADDRESSING MENTHOL TOBACCO USE. THEY PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATE TEAMS, FOCUSING ON IDENTIFYING POPULATIONS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY MENTHOL PRODUCTS AND PROMOTING CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE CESSATION STRATEGIES. CBHE CONDUCTED THREE YOUTH TRAININGS, CULMINATING IN A SESSION THAT EQUIPPED 24 YOUTH ADVOCATES WITH SKILLS IN POLICY SYSTEMS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE. THEY ALSO FACILITATED MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO SHARE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AS RWJF'S REGIONAL HUB FOR TOBACCO INEQUITIES. DESPITE FUNDING LIMITATIONS, CBHE STRATEGICALLY SUPPORTED FIVE COMMUNITIES ACROSS FOUR STATES, EXTENDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO 15 STATES. THEIR EFFORTS INCLUDED CONTRACTING WITH THE COLORADO BLACK HEALTH COLLABORATIVE AND CONDUCTING STAFF TRAINING IN WASHINGTON STATE, DEMONSTRATING ADAPTABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES.

HIV AWARENESS & DISSEMINATION- IN 2023, CBHE'S PACT PROGRAM EXECUTED OVER 20 EVENTS, DISTRIBUTING 7,000 CDC MATERIALS TO ENHANCE HIV AWARENESS. KEY INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE "I LIVE" BALLROOM OUTREACH, INTEGRATING HEALTH PROMOTION WITH CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT, BOOSTING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION. THE VIIV - RISK TO REASON INITIATIVE REFRAMED HIV PREVENTION NARRATIVES THROUGH EVENTS AT GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY, ENGAGING WOMEN ON HBCU CAMPUSES. THESE EVENTS FEATURED ART SHOWS, PERFORMANCES, AND INFORMATIVE SESSIONS, FOCUSING ON HIV PREVENTION METHODS LIKE PREP AND PEP. THE BAYOU CLASSIC EVENT DREW 60,000 ATTENDEES, SHOWCASING THE POWER OF ART AND COMMUNITY COLLABORATION IN ADVANCING SEXUAL HEALTH AWARENESS. THESE EFFORTS SIGNIFICANTLY HEIGHTENED AWARENESS AND PROACTIVE HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIORS WITHIN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

FDA- THE SCHOOL MEALS FOR ALL NC (SMFANC) PROJECT BY CBHE INCREASED MINORITY COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND CONNECTED WITH THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO AMPLIFY MINORITY VOICES. COMMUNITY EVENTS LIKE THE VIRTUAL DAY OF ACTION, HEALTH AND WELLNESS BLOCK PARTY, AND FOOD DRIVES WERE PIVOTAL IN THIS PROGRESS. THE PROJECT CONFIRMED PARTNERSHIPS WITH 13 ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, ENHANCING ITS IMPACT. FUNDING FROM THE CENTER FOR SCIENCE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST SUPPORTED 12 COALITION MEETINGS AND TRAININGS. THREE BILLBOARDS WERE CREATED TO PROMOTE HEALTHY EATING, WITH MESSAGES LIKE "HEALTHY FOOD = HEALTHY YOU AND "CHOOSE A HEALTHY MENU OPTION." THESE EFFORTS COLLECTIVELY ADVANCED THE PROJECT'S GOALS OF IMPROVING FOOD AND NUTRITION AWARENESS AND ACCESS.

STATE OF BLACK HEALTH- THE 2023 STATE OF BLACK HEALTH (SBH) CONFERENCE IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO, BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 500 ADVOCATES TO ADDRESS HEALTH INEQUITIES. THE CONFERENCE EQUIPPED 95% OF ATTENDEES WITH SKILLS TO TACKLE INSTITUTIONAL INJUSTICE, ECONOMIC BARRIERS, AND CHRONIC DISEASE DISPARITIES. IT FOSTERED SIGNIFICANT NETWORKING AND COLLABORATION OPPORTUNITIES, WITH OVER 70% OF DISCUSSIONS TRANSLATING INTO ACTIONABLE POLICIES. NEARLY ALL ATTENDEES REPORTED THAT THE CONFERENCE MET THEIR EXPECTATIONS, DESCRIBING IT AS AN EXCITING AND REFRESHING EXPERIENCE. THE EVENT PROVIDED VALUABLE TAKEAWAYS FOR ATTENDEES' COMMUNITIES. THE SBH CONFERENCE UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLECTIVE ACTION IN ADDRESSING HEALTH DISPARITIES.