Winners of the third annual University of Alabama at Birmingham Center for Clinical and Translational Science Community Health Innovation Award developed innovative projects to improve health in their communities.
Now that this year’s winners received their award funds in a ceremony at The Edge of Chaos on Nov. 6, they are set to implement their ideas.
CHIA is an annual grant competition open to local 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater Birmingham area that enables participants to seek bold, creative solutions to health challenges their communities face. Applicants work with UAB experts and local businesses to propose and complete a project addressing a public health issue in their communities. Projects are supported by grant funding ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, awarded by The One Great Community Council, the community engagement arm of the CCTS.
“This year’s slate of winning projects will have a sizeable impact on so many in our community,” said Shauntice Allen, Ph.D., program manager in the UAB School of Public Health and director of The One Great Community Council.
This year saw the most applicants and finalists to date. Funding for the program has increased each year, with seven winners in 2014 claiming a total of $76,500. The monies for the program originate with nearly every school on the UAB campus, plus several UAB centers.
| CHIA is an annual grant competition open to local 501(c)(3) organizations in the Greater Birmingham area that enables participants to seek bold, creative solutions to health challenges their communities face. Applicants work with UAB experts and local businesses to propose and complete a project addressing a public health issue in their communities. |
“Each year this program continues to impress with the range of applicants and their innovative ideas for tackling public health issues in their own backyards,” said Robert Kimberly, M.D., director of the UAB CCTS. “This year is no exception, and we are particularly proud of the range of contributions received from across campus to support the CHIA program.”
Since the program’s origination in 2012, 15 judges have served as panelists for the CHIA program, representing the business, health care, public health, education, nonprofit and private sectors.
The winning projects are:
“The Color Project” (We Are Rtists) is a Birmingham artist collective that aims to educate and support artists and support their local communities. The project will create a “living” mural on the corner of the Bethesda Life Center in Ensley. The Color Project will use public art, gardens, light and sound to address issues of health, safety, crime and violence in Ensley. Awarded $14,500.
Urban Ministry, Inc., is transforming an established soup kitchen into a healthy food café/teaching kitchen where junior chef interns are trained in the fundamentals of food preparation, food service and whole food nutrition. The project addresses healthy eating, youth development and empowerment, and the food deserts in west Birmingham. Awarded $12,500.
The Alpha Omega Group has designed a series of structured mentoring workshops, also known as “ManCave,” for African-American males ages 12-18 that addresses healthy relationships, career choices and healthy living behaviors. Awarded $10,000.
The Foundry/Oasis Produce Pantry is creating a healthy food delivery program in the Bessemer and Lipscomb communities. Educational literature and teaching sessions with character actors will reinforce concepts of healthy eating and living. Awarded $10,000.
First Responders Youth Training Program will expand on a training initiative that introduces high school students to careers in sports medicine and athletic training. The program is an outlet for students and adds an additional layer of observant trained eyes and ears during high-impact sports. Awarded $5,000.
Walk To … APP is a pilot program combining smartphone technology, walking and running applications, social media frameworks, and reward/discount programs. The project is designed to promote walking as a viable and regular mode of transportation as well as an exercise and fitness option. Awarded $14,500.
American Heart Association partners with faith-based entities to eliminate high blood pressure as a health disparity among African-Americans and to lower the mortality rate from cardiac arrest by increasing the bystander CPR rate for laypersons. AHA will work in partnership with the Birmingham Black Nurses Association to provide training in blood pressure monitoring and CPR certification. Awarded $10,000.
“This was a really great process where we got to be informed as to what kinds of things CHIA was looking for and had mentors to help us flesh out ideas and find resources,” said Brian Hawkins, director of The Color Project. “Going through the CHIA workshop was like getting an insider view of the grant-writing process.”