The University of Minnesota's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), Office of Community Engagement to Advance Research and Community Health (CEARCH) is pleased to announce the first recipients of two new funding programs for community members and organizations interested in developing ideas and partnerships that address health in our communities.
Inaugural awardees
- ReConnectRondo, led by Organizing Director Darius Gray, received $2,000 through CTSI’s Community Health Connections program to develop a health impact assessment to guide the realization of the Rondo Land Bridge in the St. Paul Rondo Neighborhood. The project is designed to uplift the health, economics, social fabric and quality of life for the neighborhood. Project partners include Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health and Minnesota Department of Health.
- Isuroon, led by Executive Director Fartun Weli, received $2,000 through CTSI’s Community Health Connections program to conduct workshops to enhance awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer among Somali women and facilitate cervical cancer screening appointments for attendees. The University of Minnesota Medical School’s Program in Health Disparities Research has partnered in the development of this project.
- Mustafa al’Absi, PhD, Department of Family Medicine and BioBehaviorial Health at University of Minnesota Duluth, and Motohiro Nakajima, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist, received $5,000 through CTSI’s The ‘U’ is for You program to examine stress and coping in East African communities through informal group discussions coordinated with the Oromo Community of Minnesota and held at the Brian Coyle Center in the Minneapolis Cedar Riverside neighborhood.
“CTSI is proud to offer our support for community-engaged activities that promote community health and vitality, while encouraging collaborations between members of the community and the University,” said Mickey Eder, Director, CTSI’s office of Community Engagement to Advance Research and Community Health.
New community programs
The two funding programs were launched in September for community members and organizations interested in developing ideas and partnerships that address health in Minnesota communities.
The Community Health Connections program awards two to four grants quarterly up to $2,000 each to identify community needs and generate ideas and opportunities to promote collaborative efforts to improve community health.
The ‘U’ is for You program awards up to $5,000 quarterly to foster community/university research engagement and mutual learning to improve community health by addressing community-identified needs for capacity building and exploring collaborative research opportunities.
Applicants for each program are required to submit a one-page proposal outlining the project activities and goals, idea development, community to be served, and expected participants. Proposals are reviewed by a team of CEARCH Management Council members, two community members, and two University of Minnesota representatives.
Applications are reviewed quarterly. The next application deadline is April 1, 2018.
Visit CTSI’s website for more information about these CTSI-led community funding programs.