In a third round of rapid response funding from the Advancing Health Equity Together Grant program, eight community organizations have received $7,000 awards from Duke to address a range of preventable and treatable chronic diseases.
The Duke Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) manages the program in collaboration with Duke Health and Duke University School of Medicine. Program activities must be implemented between January and June.
“We are excited to announce that we have successfully identified eight awardees whose projects hold great promise for advancing community engagement and promoting health equity through community-led initiatives,” said Keisha Bentley-Edwards, PhD, co-director for the CTSI Center for Equity in Research. “More than 20 reviewers from Duke and community organizations that partner with Duke completed a vigorous process to choose awardees from among 54 applications.”
This funding cycle focused on promoting healthier nutrition habits, early detection, and better management of chronic or communicable diseases. It also fostered partnerships to improve access to educational resources and community services, encourage lifestyle changes through activities like community gardening and cooking classes, and expand the "food as medicine" approach.
The awardees:
Project SIGHT: Students Imparting Glasses for Healthy Tomorrows
An initiative by Durham Technical Community College launched in 2019 to provide eye health services to uninsured, underinsured, and low-income individuals in North Carolina. The project operates through a mobile unit and collaborates with the nonprofit organization In Her Vision. Focused on early detection of vision problems and chronic diseases through comprehensive eye exams in Durham and Orange counties, with outreach across North Carolina to meet extreme needs in rural areas.
Healthy Living, Faithful Futures; Addressing Obesity Through Faith-Based Education and Community Empowerment
An initiative by Bluestone Missionary Baptist Church that aims to combat obesity and related health risks in Rockingham and Caswell counties focusing on African American and Latino communities. Key components include community education, healthy nutrition, physical activity, and community gardening.
The Barbershop Therapy Foundation
The foundation aims to address health inequities by using barbershops as community hubs for education, support, and outreach. The initiative serves underserved and marginalized communities, focusing on Black Indigenous Latinx People of Color (BILPOC) men, women, and youth in urban and suburban areas. Addresses significant health disparities, including limited healthcare access, high rates of chronic conditions, and mental health challenges.
Beacon Site Gardening & COVID Awareness
This project by Southeast Raleigh Promise aims to provide organically grown fruits and vegetables to families at Beacon Ridge Apartments and students at SE Raleigh Elementary School through the Beacon Site's Community Garden. By partnering with Slice 325, a local sustainability organization, the project focuses on the continued cultivation and harvest of produce from the Beacon Site's Community Garden.
Envisioning a Healthier Future: Learning Together, Promoting Healthy Eating and Encouraging Physical Activity
This project by Pinnacle Community Development Corporation (TRY) aims to improve the health and well-being of Black residents in vulnerable communities by addressing key factors contributing to chronic diseases. Focuses on stress, emotional, physical, and environmental well-being through a holistic approach that integrates mental and physical health interventions. The project serves Durham County's Promise Zone, focusing on nine Census tracts with high poverty rates and significant health disparities.
Diabetes Prevention and Education Initiative for the Hispanic/Latine Community
The Diabetes Prevention and Education Initiative is a collaborative effort between El Refugio and H3 to address diabetes in the Hispanic/Latine community of Lee County. Focuses on low-income adults, families, and uninsured individuals at higher risk for diabetes.
Hands-On Nutrition Education (HONE): Expanding Evidence-Based Nutrition Education for Health Equity
The Church at Spring Forest’s HONE project delivers transformative nutrition education through a four-week curriculum that integrates hands-on cooking experiences, USDA MyPlate nutrition education, and indoor gardening activities. HONE will serve third grade students (ages 8-9) and their families in Durham and Orange counties.
Community-led Breast Cancer Support
The project by the Durham County Department of Public Health aims to engage a breast cancer survivorship program leader in facilitating community-led breast cancer support group monthly meetings at Lincoln Community Health Center. Provides a supportive environment for cancer patients, offering emotional support, education, and resources tailored to their needs.