About

A Strong Vision for Community Engaged Research

Alabama Community Engaged Alliance (CEAL) is built on community engaged research, with a focus on addressing chronic disease by focusing on social determinants of health (SDH) barriers such as access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity in communities that face disparities. To do this, Alabama CEAL has introduced the Prescription for Community Health initiative that aims to help residents make neighborhood-wide changes to address community-identified SDH barriers, making good health more accessible. As part of this community-driven approach to good health, Alabama CEAL now includes a new leadership role—Community Multiple Principal Investigator—a community member who joins the academic researchers to guide the project.

Community Multiple Principal Investigator, Michael Wesley, Sr., DMin, Senior Pastor of Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Executive Director of the Cornerstone Revitalization Foundation will be working alongside Lead Principal Investigator, Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH and fellow MPIs Robert Kimberly, M.D. and Lori Bateman, Ph.D., R.D. to address health at the community level.

“Having a Community MPI for Alabama CEAL is critical to ensure true community partnership in developing interventions that improve community health. CEAL is about more than addressing the community. It’s about having a seat at the table to lead, make decisions, and shape the outcomes of this program. We are excited to have Dr. Wesley on the team.”

– Mona Fouad, M.D., MPH

Community Health Working Group

The Community Health Working Group (CHWG) brings together community members, health experts, and the Alabama CEAL team to create health programs that work for our communities. The group includes dedicated residents who know their neighborhoods well, along with nutrition and exercise specialists who provide professional guidance. CHWG members are passionate about improving community health and committed to making a difference. Working together, the CHWG helps shape Prescriptions for Community Health and develop program activities that fit each community’s unique needs and strengths.

Multi-Principal Investigators

ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVES

IMPLEMENTATION PARTNER

Live HealthSmart Alabama, an initiative of UAB, works to reduce chronic disease by making good health simple. Through partnerships and community-driven strategies, LHSA improves nutrition, physical activity, prevention, and education. Alabama CEAL is working with LHSA to implement its Prescriptions for Community Health initiative.