Community Activities in Mississippi
Mississippi Community Activities 2024
AHEAD Consortium’s Regional Conference
In December 2024, Ervin Fox, the State PI of the Mississippi Core of the RURAL Study, was the keynote speaker for the NIMHD-funded Forge AHEAD Consortium’s Regional Conference held in Jackson, MS. The Forge AHEAD Consortium includes investigators from Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana and focuses on community and research collaborations to address cardiometabolic diseases in the Deep South. During the presentation, Dr. Fox presented details of the RURAL Study and held a discussion with attendees on potential opportunities for collaboration.
Northwest MS Regional Diabetes Walk in Panola County
On November 23rd, the Mississippi Core of the RURAL Study together with local community engagement consultants and community advisory board members partnered with the Diabetes Foundation of MS to host a Northwest MS Regional Diabetes Walk at Trussell Park in Batesville MS! Other supporting organizations included the Panola County Chapter of the NAACP and the South Panola High School Health Alliance. There was a great turnout of volunteers and participants. The honorable Mayor Hal Ferrell was in attendance! Glucose screening was provided to participants and t-shirts, gift bags, and medals were given out. This provided a wonderful and healthy experience for the community in recognition of November Diabetes Awareness Month!
Diabetes Education Health Fair for Starkville and Oktibbeha County 7th Graders
On November 22nd, the Mississippi Core of the RURAL Study along with local community engagement consultants and community advisory board members partnered with the Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District, the Partnership Middle School, MSU Department of Health Professions, the Educational Association of East Oktibbeha County, the Oktibbeha County Chapter of the NAACP, the Mississippi State Department of Health, UMMC Basic Life Support Training Center and OCH Regional Medical Center to carry out a Diabetes Education Health Fair for 7th Graders! Over 300 students learned about diabetes, what happens biologically to cause diabetes, the prevalence of diabetes nationwide and in Mississippi, prevention strategies, symptoms related to diabetes, blood glucose monitoring, and long-term effects of diabetes as it relates to end stage organ failure. The students also learned about vaping, heart ultrasound and CPR, all in recognition of November Diabetes Awareness Month!
Batesville Farmers Market
On September 25th, Panola County CAB members and Community Engagement Consultants from the Mississippi Core of the RURAL Study attended the Batesville Farmers Market Event and promoted the RURAL Study to the community members attending the events. The Study members reminded the community that the Mississippi Core is still participating in community engagement and working on disseminating important county-specific information to the community. The MS Core also informed the community that RURAL is looking forward to a new exam in upcoming years involving the cohort recruited in Visit 1. The farmer’s market was also a moment to promote the Diabetes Walk for Northwest Mississippi, which is being hosted by the MS Core in collaboration with the MS Core CAB and the MS Diabetes Foundation. The walk will be tentatively held on November 23rd with Honorary Chairs: Dr. Tammy Taylor-Bufford, Reverend Darrell Dixon, and Mr. Justin Pope.
Diabetes Education for Starkville and Oktibbeha County 8th Graders
In Oktibbeha County, CAB members, resource volunteers, and community engagement consultants from the MS Core of the RURAL Study are working with the MS Core to partner with the MS Department of Health Diabetes Education Program Director, Starkville-Oktibbeha County School District, the district superintendent, and the principal and physical education teachers of Armstrong Junior High School to carry out a week on diabetes learning for 8th graders. This will be accomplished by incorporating diabetes education in the curriculum with teaching sessions between November 18th and November 21st, followed by a diabetes fair on November 22nd, which will include CPR training, a live echocardiogram exhibit, observation of live glucose checks, and organ station exhibits showing how diabetes affects the heart, brain, kidney, eyes, and peripheral arteries. There will also be a station for learning about the RURAL Study with updates on county-specific information on diabetes in Oktibbeha County. The effort will include health professions students from Mississippi State University, NAACP volunteers, and workers from the MSDH.
RURAL Study Featured in The Associated Press
The MS Core is also very proud of Reverend Darrell Dixon, who was recently featured in a story by the Associated Press highlighting him and the RURAL Study. To view, please click on the link here!
5K Walk at Chadwick Lake (May 2024)
In May 2024, the Mississippi Core participated in a 5K walk in partnership with Austin Church of Christ Holiness USA. The MS Core provided updates on the RURAL Study, health information about hypertension and stroke from the American Heart Association, and performed blood pressure screenings with 30 of the event attendees. Participants received “Know Your Numbers” resources and prevention information, along with RURAL souvenirs.
Community Fair at First Church of Christ Holiness USA (May 2024)
In May 2024, the First Church of Christ Holiness USA in Starkville, Mississippi, held a community fair. The agenda was led by the church pastor, Elder Alonzo Miller, and Ms. Elnore Draine, leader of the community outreach committee. There were presentations and information available about community resources for housing, mental health assistance, career prospects, and a variety of other social services. Dr. Ervin Fox, Principal Investigator for the MS Core of the RURAL Study, was invited to speak about the RURAL Study and updated the group on its current status, the new location of the Mobile Exam Unit (MEU), the timeline of MEU visits in Louisiana parishes and Kentucky counties, recent and upcoming ancillary studies, the intention to disseminate findings to the communities, and reminded attendees of the continued presence of the study in the county for health awareness efforts.
Additional Information
Check out the RURAL Study in Mississippi’s Facebook page.
To learn more about the participant experience in the RURAL Study, visit the Study Participants webpage.
If you have any questions or comments, please call the RURAL Study – Mississippi State Core at (601) 815-5697 or email fcaples@umc.edu.