Alabama Recruitment and Community Activities 2024
Bridge Crossing Jubilee
In March 2024, the Alabama Community Engagement team participated in the 2024 Bridge Crossing Jubilee, the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the Selma to Montgomery March, and the signing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. There were many cultural and historic events, including a music festival, free workshops, storytelling by foot soldiers of the movement, a salute to youth leaders, a tribute to the foot soldiers, and the march across the bridge. RURAL provided health education and literature in the “Wellness Village” about kidney health and colorectal cancer prevention.
Go Red American Heart Association Campaign
In February 2024, the Alabama Community Engagement team kicked off the Go Red American Heart Association Campaign by bringing awareness to cardiovascular disease. It is the number-one killer of women. Health education and literature were provided to attendees about learning hand-only CPR and regularly monitoring your blood pressure. The same day, the WSFA 12 News hosted the Selma “Day of Action” at the local high school. There were over eighty community agencies on site, providing the community members with resources.
Alabama Recruitment and Community Activities 2022
Updated Radio Advertisement Campaign
In December 2022, Dr. Shauntice Allen updated the radio advertisement used to promote the Study in Wilcox and Dallas Counties to thank participants and let people know that the study is still ongoing in Mississippi.
MEU in Wilcox County, Alabama
In August 2022, the Alabama State Core and Recruitment and Retention Core (RRC) held a photoshoot of the Mobile Exam Unit (MEU) with community advisory board (CAB) members at J. Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Alabama. The photos feature different parts of the MEU exam.
Alabama News Network Segment
In January 2022, Dr. Suzanne Judd, a Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) of the RURAL Study, and David Rhodes, the Director of Clinical Operations for the RURAL Mobile Evaluation Unit, spoke on the Alabama News Network about the RURAL Study in Dallas County. The news segment can be viewed here.
Alabama Recruitment and Community Activities 2021
MEU Open House for CAB Members and Dallas County Stakeholders
In December 2021, the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) team planned mini-tours of the Mobile Examination Unit (MEU) for Community Advisory Board (CAB) members and other guests in Selma, AL. This allowed CAB members to meet the MEU staff and other CAB members, and for the CAB members to learn more about the Study and what happens during the MEU exam.
Radio Advertisement Campaign
Dr. Shauntice Allen, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Alabama State Core, recorded radio advertisements at a local radio station in Valley Grand to promote the Study. The radio advertisements have been airing in Dallas County since November 2020 and were refreshed in September 2021.
MEU Arrives in Dallas County and MEU Exams Start
In August 2021, the Mobile Examination Unit (MEU) arrived in Selma, Alabama. The next month, in September 2021, we began participant examinations in the MEU for Dallas County.
MEU Arrives in Alabama at University of Alabama, Birmingham
In June 2021, the Mobile Examination Unit (MEU) arrived in Birmingham, Alabama. The University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) team has been preparing to the start of in-person examinations.
Radio Interview
In January 2021, Dr. Shauntice Allen, the Principal Investigator (PI) of the Alabama State Core, interviewed with the New 100.9 ALEX-FM WALX for their Local Focus Special Feature, to discuss the RURAL Study. The video can be found on the radio station’s Facebook page .
Mailing Invitations to Dallas County
In January 2021, the RURAL Study kicked-off by mailing invitations to community members in Dallas County, inviting them to participate in the Study. The Study will also visit Wilcox County in 2022.
If you have received an invitation in the mail, please call us at 1-888-RURALST (1- 888-787-2578) or email us at RURALstudy@uab.edu
Alabama Recruitment and Community Activities 2020
November 2020 Billboards in Dallas and Wilcox County
RURAL Study billboards were put up in both Selma and Wilcox counties in November 2020.
November 2020 Visit to Orrville (Dallas County)
On November 13th, 2020, the RURAL Study held a table event at the Dollar General in Orrville, Alabama to engage with community members and distribute promotional materials. The Study team met with a representative from Mayor Lumpkin’s office, who shared information about a new grocery store, boutique, and library coming to Orrville. The team also met with Austin Williams, Community Outreach Liaison for the Grist Brown Memorial YMCA of Selma-Dallas County. The day ended with a tour of Selmont/Tipton led by Minister May Richmond.
2020 RURAL Mask Initiative
To both help stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and continue community outreach, the RURAL Study designed and distributed 1,000 reusable masks to residents of Dallas and Wilcox Counties in 2020.
Dallas and Wilcox County Community Advisory Boards (2020-2021)
Community is an important aspect of the RURAL Study. To obtain community input, the Study established a Community Advisory Board (CAB) in Dallas and Wilcox Counties during the Summer of 2020. The community advisory board meets four times a year and is made up of fourteen community members from both counties.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or comments, please call us at 1-888-RURALST (1- 888-787-2578) or email us at RURALstudy@uab.edu
Click here to learn more about the RURAL Study’s Alabama team!
Click here to visit the Alabama RURAL Study Facebook page!