Community Conversations: Centering the Voices of the Community with Faith- Based Leaders

On January 20th, a Community Conversations event was held in Henderson, where faith-based leaders gathered with unhoused participants and offered hope, encouragement, prayer, and compassionate presence, which participants identified as meaningful and affirming.

This relational and spiritual support contributed to emotional uplift and trust-building, even as structural housing solutions remained limited. Printed resources on subsidized housing options, low-cost mental health services, and community support contacts were provided, along with a list of faith-based organizations offering meals, outreach, and spiritual support. Insights from this event can inform research on the impact of faith-based relational support on individuals' well-being and resilience, underscoring the importance of spiritual and community-based interventions alongside policy and structural solutions.

BeFAB–NCCU: Promoting Healthy, Sustainable Living for Eagles

BeFAB–NCCU (Be Fit, Active, and Balanced) is a community-informed digital wellness program designed to promote healthy living and support sustainable health behavior change among students at North Carolina Central University. To learn more about how BeFAB supports students and how to become a member, please click below to read the full article.

Your Voice Your Health: Broken Pipelines

At a recent Your Voice Your Health virtual learning session, featured experts shared insights on how recent policy changes have impacted and will continue to impact healthcare access and delivery in rural communities, with particular focus on minority populations. They have highlighted the key barriers and challenges that contribute to the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural areas.

The session ended with speakers presenting evidence-based strategies and policy recommendations to strengthen the healthcare workforce and improve health in underserved rural regions. We welcomed 92 participants from a wide range of backgrounds and regions, creating a rich and dynamic discussion space.

New Publication Alert!

We are pleased to announce that our team has published the paper, “Molecular and Socioeconomic Characteristics of Inflammatory Breast Cancer in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study,” in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. We congratulate the team for their ongoing efforts and for achieving this important publication milestone.

To dive deeper into the paper, please click below!

Dr. Nicole S. Velmeshev

This month's spotlight is Dr. Nicole S. Velmeshev, Assistant Professor, Biological and Biomedical Sciences at North Carolina Central University.

For eight years, Dr. Nicole has built a career rooted in scientific excellence, student mentorship, and a deep commitment to addressing health disparities through cancer research.

Click to read more

Feb 16^th, 2026, | National Heart Month Learn How to Save-a-Life

Feb 17^th and 19^th | Redcap Training

Feb 17^th and 19^th | BeFab - NCCU

Feb 19^th, 2026, | With Love, To Us: A Black HIV/AIDS Day Celebration

Feb 21^st, 2026, | Men's Health Council Durham County Department of Public Health: Pfizer Fellow Community Engagement Initiative



^{Join Us for a Free REDCap Training!}



^{📅 February 17th and 19th , 2026 | ⏰ 10:40 am to 11:30 am}

Community Engagement 101: Learn, Connect & Build Trust

Curious about community-engaged research or looking to strengthen your partnerships?

Join us for Community Engagement 101, a free interactive Lunch and Learn session focused on building trust, strengthening collaboration, and learning practical tools for meaningful community and patient involvement. Discover how to work alongside the Community Engagement Core.

Free lunch included!



Come learn, engage, make connections, and bring a friend with you.

Are you interested in engaging with the community to support your research, project development, connect with community partners, and frame a proposal grounded in Community Engaged Research practices?

If yes, connect with the Community Engagement Core for a consultation.

We invite you to connect with us and share your updates, ideas, faculty publications and ongoing research endeavors.

Reach out to us today and let's collaborate!

📧 www.nccu.edu/rcmi

📧 rcmi@nccu.edu

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