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SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS WORK TO END CHILD HUNGER The University of Alabama’s School of Social Work is partnering with Auburn University’s Hunger Solutions Institute that recently launched the End Child Hunger in Alabama County Food Guide Project, a program that connects Alabama families in crisis with food resources in their communities. UA students, along with Auburn University students, have been working as interns to populate the online database housed on the ECHA website with accurate and up-to-date information on food availability throughout Alabama. For more information, contact Melissa Parker, UA Strategic Communications, at melissa.parker@ua.edu

ADIRONDACK CHAIR, OUTDOOR DÉCOR ON UA CAMPUS PROVIDE SAFE SOCIALIZATION SPACES — When you’re walking across the UA campus, it won’t take long to notice the addition of some strategically placed outdoor décor that’s providing the UA community a place to relax, socialize or study. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, UA senior leadership collaborated with the campus design and planning department to strategically place Adirondack chairs across campus to give students spaces to hang out while complying with health guidelines. Each chair is custom-made by UA staff from raw materials and includes the script “A” burned in the back. In addition to the Adirondack chairs, mood lighting, small tables, fire pits and concrete corn hole boards were placed in strategic locations, including the Quad, Ferguson Center lawn and Shelby Quad, among others. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu

CURRENT COMMENT

A YEAR INTO PANDEMIC, ALABAMA ECONOMY REBOUNDING – The state’s economy has recovered quickly since the middle of 2020 but is not fully back. The year saw a net loss of 34,000 jobs, but those could be recouped by the middle of 2021. The latest update on Alabama’s economic numbers by the UA Center for Business and Economic Research continues to reflect the positive outlook. “We are hoping the economy should be in a full expansion mode by the second half of 2021, although the jobs growth is expected to be fairly modest in the next few months,” said Ahmad Ijaz, CBER executive director. Ijaz cautions, though, that the forecast assumes most people in the state will be vaccinated by the second half of the year. For more information, contact Ijaz at aijaz@cba.ua.edu, or Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu. 

INTERVIEW BRINGS ATTENTION TO SUICIDE AWARENESS  – In her recent interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, discussed feeling hopelessly trapped in her new royal life, revealing she had suicidal thoughts and mentioned them to members of the palace staff. While some may think it’s rhetoric, these are all credible signs of suicide according to Dr. Greg Vander Wal, executive director of UA’s Counseling Center. “Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. It’s a very real concern that deserves attention and resources,” Vander Wal said. “We can all work toward a solution by building a community that recognizes the importance of suicide awareness and prevention and being willing to play our part. We can all know the warning signs, check-in on those around us, and know the treatment resources in our local community.” For more information, contact Vander Wal at gsvanderwal@ua.edu.

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