UT San Antonio Community Engagement Efforts – Health Equity Research Center (HERN)

Community Orchard Tree Planting

On June 17th, the UT Health Science Center Facilities and Grounds team provided the materials, equipment, and support necessary to plant the six community orchard trees on campus. The collaboration helped identify suitable planting locations and ensured successful installation of the trees. This effort marked a significant step forward in the development of the community orchard and its future role as a resource for education, engagement, and community wellness.

June Community Chat Series: Stephen Lucke, MA

In June, Stephen Lucke led a Community Chat Series discussion on his work as Chief Executive Officer of Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio-based organization focused on food justice and community health. The organization’s mission centered on growing healthy communities through garden-based learning and promoting sustainable living in urban environments. Through educational programs and community initiatives, Gardopia Gardens expanded access to fresh food, environmental education, and opportunities for community engagement.

The discussion highlighted how Gardopia Gardens developed meaningful partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and municipal government to expand its impact. Participants explored the role of collaboration in addressing food insecurity and developing sustainable, community-driven solutions. Mr. Lucke shared insights into the organization’s efforts to expand educational opportunities, provide fresh produce to community members, and cultivate long-term partnerships that supported organizational growth and community well-being.

Participants also gained a deeper understanding of challenges commonly faced by community-based organizations, including securing funding, acquiring land, and ensuring long-term sustainability beyond the involvement of founding leadership. Gardopia Gardens provided a compelling example of how innovative programming, strong partnerships, and a commitment to food justice could contribute to healthier and more resilient communities.

Community Chat Series Gardopia Gardens Flyer

Community Orchard Tree Delivery

On May 22, 2026, in partnership with the City of San Antonio, the Kate Marmion School of Public Health received a donation of six fruit trees from the Urban Forestry team: a fig, pomegranate, peach, apricot, olive, and lime tree. These trees serve as the foundation of CONNECTOR’s plans to establish a community garden and orchard.

May Community Chat Series: Jason Rosenfield, DrPH, MPH, CHWI

In May, Dr. Rosenfield led a Community Chat Series discussion on Health Confianza, a health literacy initiative serving Bexar County, Texas. The program focused on improving community health through accessible health education, workforce development opportunities, reliable health information, and connections to essential resources. Its mission centered on addressing priority health concerns while promoting informed decision-making and greater engagement in personal and community health.

The discussion highlighted the role of health literacy in improving health outcomes and reducing barriers to care. Participants explored how Health Confianza strengthened community capacity by equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate healthcare systems, access credible information, and advocate for their health needs.

Health Confianza served as an example of a community-centered public health approach, demonstrating how education, outreach, and workforce training could empower individuals, support healthier communities, and advance long-term health equity.

May Community Chat Series Health Confianza

April Community Chat Series: Carlos Jaen, MD, PhD, MS, FAAFP, and Carolina Gonzalez Schlenker, MD, MPH

In April, Dr. Jaén and Dr. Gonzalez Schlenker led a Community Chat Series discussion on the Nosotros Model, an evidence-based approach to managing Type 2 diabetes in San Antonio, Texas. The presentation highlighted how the model built community capacity through the integration of Community Health Workers (CHWs), known within the program as Promotores de Salud.

The discussion emphasized the importance of delivering accurate health education through culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches. Participants explored how healthcare professionals partnered with CHWs to build trust with patients and provide effective diabetes self-management education beyond traditional clinical settings. The Nosotros Model demonstrated how community-centered approaches could increase confidence in self-care practices and improve diabetes management outcomes.

April Community Chat Series Nosotros Model

AMPLIFY Team Site Visit

From April 13–16, 2026, Lucy Young and Alyssa F. visited the AMPLIFY team in Greenville, South Carolina. During their visit, they toured LiveWell Greenville, met with the Active Living Coalition team, and learned about the organization’s work to promote healthy, active communities. They also attended a HEAL Board meeting, where Tiffany Santagati presented on leveraging civic engagement to drive community action. In addition, they participated in the Building Brighter Tomorrows conference, hosted by Furman University and the Institute for Child Success, which featured sessions focused on building healthier communities, advancing early childhood development, and fostering resilience.

Trainees Visit to the RURAL Study In-Person Steering Committee Meeting

Three CDRA HERN trainees—Abass Babatunde, Aaron Kinzel, and Kinsey Meggett—attended the RURAL Cohort Study In-Person Steering Committee meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on April 1–2. This gathering brought together representatives from 16 universities across the United States, along with collaborators from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The meeting provided a valuable opportunity to network with key partners, contribute to discussions on Version 2 of the study, and explore upcoming opportunities for ancillary study submissions and continued collaboration across sites.

Alternate Logic Model

CONNECTOR led the development of an alternative logic model for the CDRA HERN that centered community power, shared governance, and co-leadership at every stage of the research process. This model reimagined how resources, expectations, and equity metrics flowed—prioritizing community-based organizations and leaders as equal drivers of research alongside academic hubs.

By embedding participatory methods, cross-site learning, and capacity building into its structure, CONNECTOR’s approach ensured that data ownership, decision-making, and outcomes remained rooted in the communities most impacted. The result was a more accountable and sustainable framework that produced actionable local findings and also advanced policy change.

March Community Chat Series: AHA’s Policy and Advocacy Team

In this session, the American Heart Association Advocacy and Policy team provided an overview of the multi-level approach to policy and advocacy, highlighting how efforts span local, state, and federal systems. The discussion emphasized the interconnected nature of these levels and the many entry points available for individuals and organizations to engage in advocacy, from community-based initiatives to broader legislative efforts.

Participants explored practical ways to get involved, including building relationships with policymakers, staying informed on relevant legislation, and leveraging collective voices to influence change. The session also outlined the key priority areas the team is focusing on this year, offering insight into current policy directions and opportunities for alignment. Overall, the conversation reinforced the importance of sustained engagement and strategic action to advance public health priorities through advocacy.

February Community Chat Series: Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN

In this session, Fayron Epps led a discussion on her work partnering with places of worship to address health education needs within Black communities across the United States. The conversation emphasized the critical role that faith-based institutions play as trusted, culturally grounded spaces for outreach, engagement, and health promotion. Participants explored how churches and other worship settings can serve as powerful platforms for delivering health information, fostering dialogue, and addressing disparities in ways that resonate with community values and lived experiences. The discussion also highlighted key strategies for effective collaboration, including building long-term relationships with faith leaders, aligning health initiatives with community priorities, and integrating spiritual and cultural perspectives into health education efforts. Real-world examples illustrated how these partnerships can expand access to care, improve health literacy, and strengthen trust between communities and health systems, reinforcing the importance of meeting people where they are.

Coffee Hour

In February and March, the CONNECTOR team hosted the monthly HERN Coffee Chat meeting. Participants shared personal stories and reflected on family, community, and shared experiences. This trust building exercise was pivotal to furthering relationships between hubs.

House of Neighborly Service Nutrition Project

The CONNECTOR team is working with the House of Neighborly Service, to design and implement improvements to their nutritional program for seniors healthier and more cost effective. The team is now working with nutritionists who can provide hands-on training to their kitchen staff in support of their goal.

Child Development CBO’s

The CONNECTOR team met with several Community-based organizations in San Antonio with mission statements revolving around supporting the health, education and safety of young children with the intention of further developing our relationship and to help support their needs. CONNECTOR also connected with AHA’s Voices for Healthy Kids to begin talks on how to address needs of child health in select San Antonio zip codes.

The discussion identified two essential practices: partnering with community “insiders” as true collaborators and using participatory methods throughout the research process, from data collection to interpretation and dissemination. Real-world examples illustrated how relationship-building, shared leadership, fair compensation, and ongoing attention to power dynamics strengthen both research quality and impact. The conversation, hosted by our OAC member, Lisa Vaughn, also surfaced important questions about translating socially engaged research into healthcare systems that genuinely value partnership and relationship-centered work.

January Community Chat Series- Lisa Vaughn, PhD

In the January session titled Socially Engaged Research, the community explored why research should be conducted with people rather than on them, emphasizing that those closest to a problem are often closest to its solutions. Participants highlighted trust, relationships, and co-learning as foundational, noting that historical research abuses demand new, partnership-centered approaches that elevate lived experience as expertise and prioritize shared decision-making.

Developmental Work

In January, the CONNECTOR team met with several community-based organizations in San Antonio with mission statements focused on supporting the health, education, and safety of young children, with the intention of further developing our relationship and helping support their needs.

December Community Chat Series- Angela Spencer, PhD and Brekken Selah, MPH

In the December session, Data Sovereignty and Working with Tribal Nations, participants learned from Angela Spencer and Brekken Selah about the foundations of Tribal Sovereignty and its implications for research, data use, and community engagement.

The discussion emphasized that Tribal Sovereignty is inherent and distinct, shaping how data must be collected, governed, and shared when working with Tribal Nations. Speakers unpacked key concepts such as data sovereignty and stewardship, and highlighted the importance of transparency, trust, and ongoing dialogue throughout the research lifecycle. Through real-world examples, including the Grow Rural Project in Montana, the session demonstrated practical strategies for honoring community authority, such as negotiating data access and storage, involving community members in analysis, and returning findings in meaningful, non-academic ways.

This Community Chat reinforced that responsible research with Tribal Nations requires more than compliance. It requires respect, relationship-building, and recognition of the responsibility that comes with being entrusted with community data and stories.

December Community Chat Series- Angela Spencer, PhD and Brekken Selah, MPH

House of Neighborly Service

In December, the CONNECTOR team met with the House of Neighborly Service, which expressed interest in improving its nutritional program for seniors to make it healthier and more cost-effective. The team is now working with nutritionists who can provide hands-on training to their kitchen staff in support of their goal.

November Community Chat Series- Erika Thompson, PhD, MPH, CPH, FAAHB

The November Community Chat Series session focused on community-driven approaches to preventing HPV-related cancers, featuring Dr. Erika L. Thompson. The discussion highlighted HPV as a common virus linked to multiple cancers. It emphasized vaccination as a powerful cancer-prevention tool, while acknowledging persistent gaps in vaccination rates nationally and in Texas.

Through a case study from a CPRIT-funded project in Bexar County, participants explored how effective prevention efforts begin with trust-building, understanding community context, and centering local strengths. Strategies such as mobile vaccination clinics, partnerships with community organizations, and outreach led by trusted community health workers demonstrated how flexibility and responsiveness can improve access and engagement.

The session underscored the importance of long-term, asset-based partnerships, culturally relevant messaging, and continuous adaptation to community needs. Overall, the conversation reinforced that sustainable HPV-related cancer prevention depends on collaboration, transparency, and shared leadership with the communities most affected.

November Community Chat Series- Erika Thompson, PhD, MPH, CPH, FAAHB

Coffee Hour

In November, the CONNECTOR team hosted the 1st HERN Coffee Hour meeting in collaboration with Jody Teel from the Furman/LiveWell team. Participants shared personal stories related to family recipes and holiday traditions. This trust-building exercise was pivotal to furthering relationships in our HERN network.

AHA Scientific Sessions Conference

From November 7 to 10, 2025, Lucy Y. and Alyssa F., along with Principal Investigator Vasan Ramachandran, attended the AHA Scientific Sessions Conference in New Orleans, LA. During the conference, they met over breakfast with Furman Fellow Abass Babatunde to discuss ways the Resource Center can more effectively support the hubs and fellows within the CDRA HERN.

CBPR Workshop

On April 26-27, 2025, Lucy Y. traveled to Bozeman, MT, to attend a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) 2-day workshop hosted by the RURAL Pro-Care HERN. The class gave some perspective on how CBPR differs from typical community-engaged research.

CBPR course taught by Rural Pro Care Network

p3 Equate HERN’s Annual Spring Meeting

On March 13-14, 2025, Lucy Y. traveled to Philadelphia, PA, to attend the p3 Equate HERN’s annual spring meeting to gain inspiration for hosting the 1st annual meeting for the CDRA HERN in San Antonio, TX.