Together, we can ensure that the conditions of work promote the

health and well-being of workers and communities.

March 2022 Newsletter

U-POWER Spring Community Conference April 28

The Utah Center for Promotion of Work Equity Research (U-POWER) is excited to announce our first annual Spring Conference on April 28, 2022! U-POWER’s Spring Conference is hosted by the Outreach Core (Project Leads Drs. Lisa Gren and Ivette Lopez) and aims to expand a community of practice that shares the concern of changing the conditions of work and advancing Total Worker Health®. U-POWER’s community of practice includes researchers with scientific expertise, practice-based professionals with operational expertise, and community members with local knowledge expertise and the community’s trust. The Spring Conference emphasizes those vital connections with the community and the importance of community-based participatory research.

The conference opens with a brief introduction to Total Worker Health (TWH) and a short keynote talk from Dr. Emily Q. Ahonen that seeks to establish a common language to talk about health and equity at work. Other events include a panel of Community Health Workers (CHWs), presentations and discussions from other community-based organizations in Utah, and a mini-workshop focused on how members of the community can interact with researchers to promote TWH.

The U-POWER Spring Conference 2022 will be held April 28th from 9:00 am- 1:00 pm at the Viridian Event Center in South Jordan (8030 S 1825 W West Jordan, UT). Registration is free to all interested attendees and includes a continental breakfast and a grab-and-go lunch. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/utah-center-for-the-promotion-of-work-equity-spring-conference-22-registration-244501128457

Two of our funded research projects, Incorporating Worksite Interventions in Safety and Health: Building Capacity for Total Worker Health and Towards Total Worker Health for environmental service workers incorporate community-based participatory research (CBPR). U-POWER is dedicated to CBPR wherever possible, and our team believes in the importance of working with members of the community to shape the future they want to see.

Are you an organization interested in tabling at the conference? U-POWER offers three sponsorship tiers, all of which include an opportunity to table, logo recognition, and recognition as a partner of U-POWER.

Affiliate Partner Sponsorship

Become an Affiliate Partner of U-POWER! Affiliate Partners are community-based or industry organizations interested in U-POWER activities and events. To become an Affiliate Partner, the organization must agree to participate in at least one U-POWER activity in the next 12 months. These activities may include a seminar, journal club, community outreach event, courses, storytelling drive, or other events. Organizations will be invited to collaborate with U-POWER leadership to co-host or organize events. Affiliate Partners will be listed on U-POWER’s website and receive a monthly newsletter with updates.

BENEFITS:

·       Opportunity to create a table display at the Spring 2022 U-POWER Conference

·       Logo recognition on Spring Conference website

·       Listed as an Affiliate Partner Sponsor in the Program and U-POWER communications

Promotional Partner Sponsorship

Promote your organization and mission by sponsoring attendee swag. Branded materials (masks, tote bags, reusable water bottles, lanyards, etc.) will be provided to conference attendees.  

BENEFITS:

·       Opportunity to create a table display at the Spring 2022 U-POWER Conference

·       Logo recognition on Spring Conference website

·       Listed as a Promotional Partner Sponsor in the Program 

Sustaining Partner Sponsorship

Help us keep registration free and accessible to our community organizations and members by providing a financial donation of $200-$500 (organization choice). Donated funds will be earmarked for venue and other logistical costs.

BENEFITS:

·       Opportunity to create a table display at the Spring 2022 U-POWER Conference

·       Logo recognition on Spring Conference website

·       Listed as a Sustaining Partner Sponsor in the Program

For more information or to become a sponsor, please contact Associate Director Camie Schaefer at camie.schaefer@utah.edu or at 801-310-0668.

March U-POWER Seminar Series: Employment Precarity and Occupational Hazard Exposure

Interested in learning more about the new Center of Excellence in Total Worker Health®? Curious about what Total Worker Health (TWH) means and its relevance to public health? Join the Utah Center for Promotion of Work Equity Research (U-POWER) for our second journal club, a discussion of TWH, work equity, and the values, mission, and vision of U-POWER. We will center our discussion around The future of research on work, safety, health and wellbeing: A guiding conceptual framework.

This event will be held on March 17, 2022 at 4:00 pm (MST).

Join us at: https://utah.zoom.us/j/94418162471

Passcode 491602

U-POWER Spotlight

Lisa Gren, PhD, MSPH is an Associate Professor in the Division of Public Health at the University of Utah and co-Lead of the Outreach Core alongside Dr. Ivette López. She has earned a BS degree in microbiology, MSPH in Public Health, and PhD in Public Health.  Dr. Gren is also the Director for the University of Utah Primary Care Research Network, and Associate Director for the Center for Research on Migration and Refugee Immigration.

Dr. Gren in her own words:

My overall research goal is to identify the right type of care needed to improve health, and deliver it to the right person at the right time. My clinical trials work is focused on finding the right type of care, and has resulted in (1) changes to the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations on cancer screening and (2) updates to hypertension management guidelines. My work in primary care clinics is focused on improving quality of care, and satisfaction of patients, providers and staff. My work with refugees and immigrants, as well as international work in Ghana and Korea, is focused on descriptive epidemiology to identify health needs, followed by community engagement to implement interventions that improve population health.

Dr. Gren's work on U-POWER's Outreach Core includes facilitating partnerships with community-based organizations and Community Health Workers (CHWs) as well as making TWH research accessible to all.

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Total Worker Health® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Participation by the Utah Center for Promotion of Work Equity Research (U-POWER) does not imply endorsement by HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.