SC CTSI Community Engagement

Mission: The Community Engagement (CE) core group at the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI) at the University of Southern California serves as a bridge between academic researchers and local communities, establishing sustainable partnerships to ensure research initiatives effectively address the genuine needs of the community.

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Message from the Community Engagement Team
• We Want to Hear from You!
• Community Events
• Resources
• The Healthy Food Corner

• Health Research Studies
• Follow Us on Social Media
• Inspirational Quotes

Message from the Community Engagement Team

Happy April to everyone!

April is Autism Awareness Month, an opportunity to educate ourselves, promote acceptance, and foster an inclusive environment for everyone.

We also remember that April is a time to reflect on the importance of taking care of our planet, as we celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. It's a reminder for all of us of our role in protecting the environment and creating a sustainable future for the generations to come.

As we move into April, we hope this month is filled with learning, growth, and mutual understanding. We deeply appreciate your ongoing support and commitment to our community.

We Want to Hear from You!

Fill out our survey to let us know which health topics interest you the most! Your feedback will help us focus on what's most important to you and the community. We also welcome you to suggest new topics we haven't explored yet.

Access the survey here.

Community Events

Tools for Transformation Conference: A Comprehensive Two-Day Event

Day 1: Professional Day - Friday, April 12, 2024, 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM

Location: West Los Angeles College | Fine Arts Auditorium

9000 Overland Ave, Culver City, CA 90230

Free Parking in the South Parking Structure

Day 2: Parents Day - Saturday, April 13, 2024, 7:45 AM - 4:00 PM

Location: California State University, Dominguez Hills | Innovation & Instruction Building

1000 E Victoria St., Carson, CA 90747

Join the Special Needs Network for a remarkable two-day conference designed to unite professionals and families involved in the developmental disability and autism community. This event promises a blend of professional development, networking, and practical resources tailored to both the experts in the field and the dedicated families navigating the special needs landscape.

More information

UNITED - A Community Celebration by CAAASA

Saturday, April 20 from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location: Los Angeles High School - 4650 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

This community event will include:

• Free school immunizations, COVID boosters and flu shots
• Free dental cleanings & fluoride treatments
• Free health insurance enrollment assistance
• Free health screenings and CPR training
• Free mental health support
• and more!!!

Register here.

Resources

South Los Angeles Food and Resource Distribution

Frequency: Every Tuesday

Hours: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Address: 6916 S. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90047

The 11th Annual Special Needs Resource Fair

When: Sunday, April 28

Hours: 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Address: The Help Group's Autism Center

13164 Burbank Blvd. Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

This is an opportunity for parents and professionals to discover the wonderful resources that Los Angeles has to offer its special needs community.

Questions? Please contact registration@thehelpgroup.org

Keck School of Medicine of USC - Healthy Cooking

Frequency: Every Tuesday - Online and in-person

Hours: 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM

Address: 1200 North State Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033

To register, call: (213) 784-9191

Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Frequency: Monday- Friday

Hours: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Address: 1734 E 41ST, Los Angeles, CA 90058

The Healthy Food Corner

Meal Prep Burrito Bowls

These meal prep chicken burrito bowls are filled with grilled marinated chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans and fresh salsa. It's an easy and healthy meal prep recipe idea that's quick to assemble and tastes delicious!



Ingredients

• 1 ¼ pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• ¼ cup Olive Oil
• ⅓ cup Lime Juice
• 1 teaspoon Honey
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• ¼ teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• ¼ cup Water
• 1 ½ teaspoons Smoked Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
• 3 cups Rice (cooked, brown or white, or you can use quinoa)
• ⅓ cup Cilantro Leaves (chopped)
• 1  Lime (the juice of)
• Add Salt And Pepper
• 1 15-ounce can Black Beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 cup Corn Kernels (thawed from frozen or canned)
• 1 cup Fresh Salsa

Instructions

• To prepare the marinade, pour the lime juice, olive oil and water into a large resealable bag. Add the garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, smoked paprika, onion powder and chili powder.
• Seal bag and shake to combine. Add the chicken to the bag of marinade, seal and place in fridge - marinate at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours.
• Preheat a grill, grill pan or skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
• Chop the cooked chicken into bite sized pieces.
• Place the rice or quinoa in a large bowl; add the cilantro, lime juice and salt and pepper to taste; toss to coat the rice evenly.
• Divide the rice between 4 bowls. Arrange the chicken, beans, salsa, avocado, sour cream and lettuce on top of the rice. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Facts

Calories 636

Total Fat 19 g

Saturated Fat 3 g

Cholesterol 103 mg

Carbohydrate 73 g

Fiber 12 g

Sugar 6 g

Sodium 1259 mg

Protein 45 g



Health Research Studies

Interested in participating in a health research study? 

The USC BITE Study is about how brain functions affect the eating habits of adolescents. The research team hopes to develop and test a way to gather information about the daily life and diet of adolescents. This information could help develop new programs and policies to prevent childhood obesity and the risk of related cardiovascular diseases.

Contact Rosalba Cain for more information at (323) 547-8929 or email bitestudy@usc.edu.

For additional information on this study and to view other ongoing research projects at USC and CHLA, click here.

Follow Us on Social Media

Want to learn more about the work we are doing in the community? Follow us to stay updated!

@usc.ctsi.community

Inspirational Quotes

“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”

― Roy T. Bennett

“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”

― Mahatma Gandhi



“The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters.”

― Audrey Hepburn

Questions?

Natayla Seals

Community Outreach Coordinator

Community Engagement, SC CTSI

(323) 447-7905

Natayla.Seals@med.usc.edu

Would you like to subscribe to our community newsletter in Spanish?

Contact Mayra Rubio-Diaz at mayrarub@med.usc.edu.