BEST BETS
UA, ADMH STATEWIDE EVENTS ON SUBSTANCE MISUSE STIGMA START JAN. 17 — The University of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Mental Health will host a series of professional development conferences across the state in January for those interested in understanding the stigma of individuals with substance and opioid use disorders. The “Stop Judging; Start Healing Stigma Summit 2023” will be held in eight locations across Alabama from Jan. 17-26 and features speakers Ryan Leaf and Damon West, two former college football quarterbacks whose substance misuse led to jail time and, ultimately, a career inspiring others to seek treatment. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
UA RESEARCH ASSISTS ON IDENTIFYING DOZENS OF POTENTIAL SEX TRAFFICKING VICTIMS IN ALABAMA – Groundbreaking modeling from UA is credited with assisting in the identification of dozens of potential sex trafficking victims in Alabama, according to a recently published study. Using the tools developed through the Institute of Data and Analytics in the Culverhouse College of Business, the research team assisted in operations leading to more than 100 arrests in western Alabama since February 2021. The work is designed to help overcome challenges in an ever-changing online marketplace. The research team continues to work with law enforcement partners in Tuscaloosa as well as Birmingham and other locations. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at 205-348-4328 or adam.jones@ua.edu.
CURRENT COMMENT
BE SMART WHEN ATTACKING NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS — “The new year often brings excitement for a fresh start and new opportunities for personal goals and self-improvement,” said Sheena Gregg, assistant director of the department of health promotion and wellness and a registered dietitian. “However, New Year’s resolutions can often serve as a point of discouragement when we don’t meet our expectations with our goals. SMART is an acronym often used in goal setting and refers to making sure your goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound instead of being too general and harder to gauge progress. For example, instead of saying, ‘I will exercise more,’ a SMART version of this goal is, ‘I plan to work out three times per week for 45 minutes prior to work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.’” To schedule an interview, contact Gregg at sqgregg@cchs.ua.edu.
EVENTS
UMC-NORTHPORT TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE — University Medical Center will hold an open house at its new location at 6205 Jemison Lane in Northport from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 19. The 15,000 square-foot clinic has 28 exam rooms. In addition to family medicine, obstetrics and pediatric care, the new clinic also offers services in internal medicine, prenatal care, women’s health, geriatrics, neurology, behavioral health and sports medicine. Social work and nutrition services are also offered, and lab and X-ray services are available on site. UMC-Northport is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. For more information, contact Leslie Zganjar, College of Community Health Sciences, at lzganjar@ua.edu.
ADAPTED ATHLETICS HOSTS HOLLISTER WINTER BASH — The UA men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball teams will host the Hollister Winter Bash Jan. 19-21 at Stran-Hardin Arena on the UA campus. Joining the Crimson Tide for the tournament are Auburn University, the University of Arizona, University of Illinois, University of Texas at Arlington and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Visit bamaadapted.com for a schedule of events.
SATURDAY IN THE PARK: CHOCTAW BASKETRY CLASS — Moundville Archaeological Park’s Saturday in the Park series will feature Mrs. Laretta Weaver Jan. 21. Weaver will be inside the Jones Archaeological Museum to teach a basketry class and share about her Choctaw culture from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to make their own basket to take home. The program is free with paid admission to the park.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. LIFE & LEGACY CELEBRATION: AN EVENING OF MUSIC, DANCE AND SPOKEN WORD — The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in collaboration with the UA Department of Theatre and Dance, UA School of Music and other UA community members will present “Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: An Evening of Music, Dance and Spoken Word” Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Moody Music Building. A major part of the evening will be the MLK Celebration Mass Choir, which includes UA choral students, faculty, staff, non-choral students and community members. The event is free.
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The University of Alabama strives to remain neutral on public policy issues. Strategic Communications may facilitate interviews or share opinions expressed by faculty, staff, students, or other individuals regarding policy matters. However, those opinions do not necessarily reflect the views of the University or its leadership, and do not constitute a statement on behalf of the University unless explicitly designated.