BEST BETS
UA EXPANDS EFFORT RESPONDING TO RURAL HEALTH INEQUITIES — A project led by The University of Alabama to equip communities in the state to be more resilient to health disparities is expanding its reach. The Equitable Neighborhoods Initiative is adding five communities after a 1-year, $3.7 million extension of the original grant. The support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Alabama Department of Public Health means the initiative will work with 20 communities in the state over three years with a total of $7.8 million. Led by the UA Center for Economic Development, ENI aims to address issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic in communities while helping build capacity to meet future challenges to health and quality of life. For more information, contact Deidre Stalnaker, UA Strategic Communications, at deidre.stalnaker@ua.edu.
UA RESEARCH AIMS TO IMPROVE CHILDREN’S SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS — UA researchers have developed an effective prevention program that can improve a child’s stress physiology and make lasting impacts on social skills, impulsive anger and aggression. With support from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Caroline Boxmeyer, professor of psychiatry and behavioral medicine, led a study on Mindful Coping Power, a new format of the Coping Power prevention program. Mindful Coping Power provides training to increase a child’s social competence and self-regulation to reduce aggressive behavior and prevent later problems such as substance use and delinquency. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
UA STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL AWARD FOR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN — Students from Minerva, the advertising and public relations graduate portfolio program, won silver at the national American Advertising Awards June 2. The campaign, titled “Spotify Audiobooks – Sincerely,” marks the program’s first national win in five years. In February, the campaign won a gold ADDY in Tuscaloosa’s local American Advertising Awards. From there, the campaign won silver in the district competition and silver at the national awards in June. For more information, contact Bryant Welbourne, UA Strategic Communications, at bryant.welbourne@ua.edu.
TO COMFORTABLY PAY RENT, ALABAMIANS NEED $59,000 INCOME — The average renter in 12 metro areas across Alabama must make about the median annual income for the state to avoid rent becoming a financial burden, according to a recent report from researchers at UA and two other schools. The median household income for Alabamians is about $56,900, only slightly less than the $58,800 needed, on average, for rent not to consume too much of a household’s expenses across 12 of Alabama’s largest metro areas. Consumers are considered rent-burdened when they spend 30% or more of their incomes on rent, lessening the ability to pay for other necessities. For more information, contact Adam Jones, UA Strategic Communications, at adam.jones@ua.edu.
SEC ANNOUNCES 2023-2024 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; UA’S DR. BELL TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT — UA President Stuart R. Bell began a two-year term as the president of the SEC’s Executive Committee starting July 1. The SEC Executive Committee is comprised of the three officers of the Conference and four individuals elected at the regular annual conference meeting. The elected members are composed of a chief executive officer, director of athletics, senior woman administrator and faculty athletics representative. The primary responsibility of the SEC Executive Committee is to approve the annual operating budget of the Conference and oversee all financial and fiscal affairs of the Conference as administered by the commissioner.
UA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION HOSTS EMPOWERING EDUCATORS CONFERENCE — The UA College of Education is hosting the Empowering Educators Conference Aug. 5 in Autherine Lucy Hall on the UA campus. The conference aims to give educational leaders the skills to manage equitable multicultural environments, access inclusive spaces and lead with integrity by navigating the terrains of academia. Online registration is currently open. Lunch is included.
EVENTS
PALEONTOLOGY SHOW AND TELL — The Alabama Museum of Natural History is hosting Paleontology Show and Tell July 13 from 10 to 11 a.m. Discover the wonders of what paleontology is and what types of tools are used to uncover different types of fossils. Participants in grades 1-3 will have a show-and-tell experience with real-life fossils and equipment and can dress up as a paleontologist. This program is free with paid museum admission.
JR. ARCHAEOLOGY DAY — The UA Moundville Archaeological Park is participating in Jr. Archaeology Day July 21 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Sloss Furnace in Birmingham. Participants will learn about the history of Sloss Furnace through archaeological excavation and interpretation. The event is free and no registration is required. All ages are welcome and activities are geared toward K-12 students.
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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.