Newsletter: Volume 2, Number 7

Community Engagement at the

Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI)

Mission: The Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) Community Engagement core group aims to serve as a bridge between research and the community, ensuring collaborative solutions to Los Angeles' most pressing health challenges.

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IN THIS ISSUE:

• A Message to Our Community Members
• Upcoming Workshops
• Community Events
• Health Research Studies

• Resources
• The Healthy Food Corner
• Inspirational Quotes

South Los Angeles Community Engagement Team Members:

Tyrone Nance, MA

Lead Community Outreach Specialist

 213.910.0243

Tyrone.Nance@med.usc.edu

Natayla Seals

Community Outreach Coordinator

323.447.7905

Natayla.Seals@med.usc.edu

Esther Karpilow

Community Outreach Coordinator

213-446-7388

Esther.Karpilow@med.usc.edu

A Message to Our Community Members:

The Community Engagement team has been actively involved at Nickerson Gardens for Summer Night Lights, organizing an engaging program called "Photo Voice" for the youth in the community. The program aims to empower participants to capture meaningful images of their community and express their perspectives through photography.

Respected leaders from USC and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health have collaborated with us to discuss health and engage youth about higher education.

We have also conducted various workshops in both English and Spanish at Nickerson Gardens with the goal of building trust in the community and fostering positive change through this partnership.

Watch our recent interview with Dr. Tracey Veal from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health on how to build trust in the community here.

There will not be any virtual workshops this month. Instead, we will continue to have in-person workshops on mental health, reproductive health, and autism spectrum disorder specifically for the residents of Nickerson Gardens.

If you're interested in having us organize in-person workshops in your community, please contact us.

Community Event

Breathwork for Black Women

Sat, Aug 12, 2023, 7:30 AM

Come breathe, be in community, and heal. This practice for Black women includes a brief discussion and a guided breathwork session to clear the mind and raise positive energy in the body.

Click here to register for the online event

Health Research Studies

RECOVER

A team of researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles are conducting a study to understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 in people under 25 years of age who are suspected of having or have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

They want to understand...

• How COVID affects a child's body
• How many children continue to feel sick after getting COVID-19
• Why some children feel sick for so long

Participants will be compensated for their time and participation in the study.

To obtain more information, please get in touch with Natayla Seals at natayla.seals@med.usc.edu or call (323) 447-7905.

HYM

Healthy Young Men (HYM) is a five-year health research project focused on improving the health and wellness of young men who have sex with men (MSM) of color.

HYM is for Black, Latinx, or mixed-race individuals between the ages of 20 to 26 who identify as MSM, gay or bisexual, and live in the greater Los Angeles area.

Participation in this research project is voluntary. Participants receive $55 to $110 per visit.

Interested? Call 323-356-9224 or email HYM@chla.usc.edu.

The principal investigator for this project is Michele D. Kipke, Ph.D. HYM is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

TRUTH

Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Youth of Color (TRUTH) is a five-year health research project focused on improving the health and wellness of transgender, gender-nonconforming, and non-binary young adults of color.

TRUTH is for Black, Latinx, or mixed-race individuals between the ages of 20 to 26 who identify as transgender, gender nonconforming, or non-binary who live in the greater Los Angeles area.

Participation in this research project is voluntary. Participants receive $55 to $110 per visit.

Interested? Call 323-356-9224 or email TRUTH@chla.usc.edu.

The principal investigator for this project is Michele D. Kipke, Ph.D. TRUTH is funded by the National Institutes of Health.

PrEP Research Opportunity

PrEPresent is an app focused on sexual health that may help people learn more about, get on, and stay on PrEP. The app includes resources, a forum, quizzes, goal-setting activities, and a live PrEP Health Advocate who is available to chat or video call to answer any questions you may have.

You may be eligible if you are:

• 16-26 years old
• HIV negative
• Identify as trans, non-binary, or are a queer cis man
• Interested but not actively taking PrEP

You can receive up to $280 for participating.

Learn more here.

THRIVE

The Research In Virtual Environments Study (THRIVE) is looking for teenagers to participate in a research study where they will explore a virtual city!

Along with parental consent, you may be eligible if you are:

• Between 14-17 years old
• Fluent in English
• Can control a joystick
• Have at least 1cm of hair
• Not pregnant
• Good physical and mental health (i.e., no history of high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease)

The goal is to examine how adolescents' minds and bodies respond to different city environments to better understand how neighborhoods affect health.

Eligible participants will be compensated for their time.

For more information, please call (213) 821-9501 or email natayla.seals@med.usc.edu.

Resources

Findhelp.org is a great resource that helps you search and connect to find support. Financial assistance, food pantries, medical care, and other free or reduced-cost resources.

The Healthy Food Corner

Healthy eating can mean a lot of different things. For some of us it means incorporating more low-carb or Whole30-friendly meals into our weekly routine. For others it's all about following a Mediterranean diet or committing to meal prep and eating more plant-based foods. However, you define it and put it into practice, we can all agree on two things: healthy eating nourishes us and fills our plates with plenty of wholesome ingredients.



For more healthy recipes, click here.

How to prepare:

1. Pour 1/2 cup of water into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Pour the couscous into the saucepan and stir well. Turn off the heat, cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside. 
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet or wok, cook the ground turkey over medium heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Drain the excess fat and wipe the pan clean. Heat the oil in the same pan over high heat, then add the squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the broccoli and cook, 3 to 5 minutes more. Add the turkey, beans, enchilada sauce and salsa and stir until all the ingredients are well combined. 
3. Serve with the couscous and top with suggested toppings as desired.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Calories 438 calorie

Total Fat 11g

Saturated Fat 3g

Sodium 546mg

Carbohydrates 51g

Fiber 10g



Protein 31g

Inspirational Quotes

"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." – Lao Tzu

"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse. – Florence Nightingale

Suggestions, ideas, corrections? Have something to include in the September 2023 edition of this newsletter? Please email Natayla Seals at natayla.seals@med.usc.edu.

To learn more about Southern California Clinical and Translational Science, visit our website at sc-ctsi.org.