Newsletter: Volume 1, Number 1 | |
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DO YOU HAVE NEWS TO SHARE?
Share news, announcements or resources with your colleagues in our next newsletter.
Email it to natayla.seals@med.usc.edu
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM | |
Hello everyone! My name is Natayla Seals and I am a Research Ambassador at The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute, (SC CTSI) at USC. CTSI is a research institute at USC. As a member of the Community Engagement team, my work is centered in South and Eastern Los Angeles. I work closely with the Black/ African American demographic in this area to educate, inform, and empower community residents about community-engaged research. Most recently with the pandemic, my work has transitioned to focus on COVID-19 and vaccination efforts for Black and Brown communities, becoming more knowledgeable about COVID-19 and best practices for protection.
The Community Engagement (CE) program bridges researchers and local communities, building sustainable partnerships to ensure that research initiatives meet real community needs. Our team provides support that ensures researchers understand the health needs and research barriers of special populations. We have also developed a range of novel strategies and approaches to engage diverse communities and facilitate meaningful academic-community partnerships.
Engaging communities from different backgrounds and cultures is important to ensure that medications and interventions are effective for different groups. Many of the available medications and therapies were developed based on clinical trials that included a vast majority of White/Caucasian research participants, in spite of the fact that minority groups such as African American and Latino communities bear the greatest burden across various diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and some cancers. While minority groups are continuing to grow and make up a large proportion of the U.S. population, they are considerably underrepresented as clinical trial participants.
We offer a variety of educational workshops, trainings, and services that are free and open to all community members.
Workshops and Trainings
- COVID-19 Vaccine: Questions and Common Concerns
- COVID 19: Stress, Anxiety, Depression, and Resilience
- Research 101: What are health Studies? Engaging Black/African-American Communities in Research
- Autism: Developmental milestones
Pop-up Vaccination clinics
These vaccination clinics bring mobile vaccinations to the community, provide access and trust to the community, and are an opportunity to partner with local organizations and faith institutions.
- Building a rapport with the Watts community
- Setting up partnership meetings with organizations, businesses, and Churches like Greed, DMH, Pastor Stafford at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Job plus at Nickerson Gardena, Imperial courts, Hawkins Burgers, and Food 4 Less. Johanna Rodriguez from the Mayor's office.
- Vaccine pop-up vaccine was located at Bethel Missionary Baptist church.
- We were able to vaccinate over 20 people and Feed over 80 families. Was able to encourage those who were just scared of needles or getting the vaccine.
Listening sessions
Listening session provide community members a an opportunity to discuss concerns and needs within their community.
- Was able to identify the food insecurity in the Watts area.
- And the distrust of organizations coming into the community.
- Knowing how covid-19 impacted the community. (Covid-19 was not the top priority in the community)
Town Halls
A lot of communities don't have a personal relationship with their doctors. Town alls provide the community a chance to be able to express their concerns and get their questions answered by a medical expert.
- Provides information and resources to the community to equip them with the tools necessary to make the best decisions for themselves and their families.
- Community residents are provided access to talk to medical experts.
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Lead Community Outreach Specialist, Community Engagement
Tyrone will be providing oversight to the South Los Angeles Community Engagement (CE) team on projects working with community partners including schools, local government partners, medical providers, faith organizations, community-based organizations, property management/owners, and businesses.
Tyrone will also be conducting community outreach, organizing community outreach events, and developing project plans to support community-engaged research.
Tyrone Nance is a community organizer with over a decade of experience working in the nonprofit sector advocating & integrating work for Skid Row Missions, mental health facilities, public schools, community resources, small businesses, and faith organizations. Tyrone received his master’s degree in Transformational Urban Leadership from Azusa Pacific University and his bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Oral Roberts University.
Tyrone has organized dozens of community-led events, projects, and people throughout the city of Los Angeles and has experience in international relief work in developing nations with an emphasis on justice, equality, and unity.
Tyrone’s research experience includes conducting community-based qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research. The focus of his work has been based on health equity and community activations in South Los Angeles and East Los Angeles such as weekly food distributions, and health and resource events. Tyrone is a public speaker locally and nationally who has dedicated his life to connecting others through transformative community engagement.
Tyrone's interests outside of work include:
Traveling, Camping, Playing basketball and spending time with family.
tyrone.nance@med.usc.edu
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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR LATINO HEALTH | |
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Adriana Argaiz, MS
Associate Director
So Cal Center for Latino Health
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Obesity, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and dyslipidemia, continue to increase at an alarming rate in the United States, disproportionately affecting the Latino community.
Health disparities begin early in life, even before birth, and are caused by multiple factors that impact us individually, socially, and environmentally.
The Latino Health Center of Southern California was created in 2022 with the goal of supporting research that seeks to understand how these factors interact with each other and contribute to chronic health disparities in Latinos throughout their lives.
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With this knowledge, we will seek to develop interventions that provide tools for Latino families to prevent these diseases or manage them in the best possible way.
Coming Soon…
- We will host focus groups throughout Southern California involving organizations, leaders, and community members. Our goal is to better understand the health needs and concerns of the Latino community.
- We will also launch the Citizen Scientist Program, a training for promoters and community members who are interested in promoting the participation of Latinos in research on chronic diseases.
- We will train members of the community so that they can contribute their points of view in the research proposal review process.
- We will create a coalition to combat obesity, diabetes and related chronic diseases in Southern California.
Want to know more about the Latino Health Center of Southern California?
Contact Adriana Argaiz, at Adriana.Argaiz@med.usc.edu
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A team of researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is conducting a study to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 in people under the age of 25 who are suspected of having COVID-19 or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
They want to understand...
- How COVID affects a child's body.
- How many children feel sick for a long time after getting COVID?
- Why do some children feel sick for so long?
Participants will be compensated for their time and participation in the study.
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To obtain more information, please contact:
Natayla Seals
natayla.seals@med.usc.edu
(323) 447-7905
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LAC+USC Drive-Thru Food Distribution
CARES, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, is inviting all families to receive FREE food, via Drive-Thru!
When: General Hospital 1200 N State Street Los Angeles Ca, 90033
Time: June 22, 2022, Community served between 8 am-11 am
Staff Served from 11 pm-12 pm.
For more information please visit: www.lafoodbank.org/find-food/pantry-locator/
Or call 323-409-6941
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Walk with Ease Walking Group
Walk with Ease walking group is a program of physical conditioning that has been shown to reduce pain and improve health.
When: Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays
Time: 8:30am-9:30 am
June 6, 2022-July 18, 2022
Where: The wellness Center Gardena
1200 N State St Los Angeles Ca, 90033
Call today to register!
213-784-9191
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Morning Movement
Start your day with a gentle moderate movement and meditation.
Get your heart rate and your day going with fun bright energy and connect with your body through intentional meditation.
When: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Where: Via Zoom or to Register Call: 213-784-9191
Time: 8:00am-9:00am
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Healthy Cooking with Chef (Pablo &Chef Eddie)
When: Free every Tuesday online or in-person
Join via Zoom/ Facebook live!
Join in Person
Where:1200 North State St, Los Angeles, Ca 90033
Time: 12:15-1:15pm
To Register Call: 212-784-9191
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Morning Movement
Start your day with a gentle moderate movement and meditation.
Get your heart rate and your day going with fun bright energy and connect with your body through intentional meditation.
When: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Where: Via Zoom or to Register Call: 213-784-9191
Time: 8:00am-9:00am
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Drive-Thru Food Distribution
*NO Walk-Ups*
CARES, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, is inviting all families to receive FREE food, via Drive-Thru!
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Where:
1200 N State Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
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When:
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
(Distributions are Twice a month)
Upcoming Distribution Dates:
June 22nd
July 15th
Aug 19th
September 16th
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Lynwood Back to school event.
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Receive a Free backpack and school supplies for your student!
Walk-up and Drive-Thru
Back to School Event!
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Friday, July 15
10 am - 2 pm
Lynwood Highschool
4050 E Imperial Hwy, Lynwood, Ca 90262
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VaccinateLA is a joint effort between University of Southern California (USC), multiple hospitals, and the community. This campaign works to make access to COVID vaccines fast and easy for every Angeleno. We provide you and your family with resources, such as interviews with experts, to help you make the best choice for your health.
Visit our website at vaccinatela.info for more information.
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“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed".
--Booker T. Washington
" Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” —Carl Bard
“Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” - Samuel Smiles
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Would you like to subscribe to our Spanish Community Newsletter?
Please Contact Mayra Rubio at:
Mayrarub@med.usc.edu
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