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UNC School of Medicine | Department of Health Sciences

Our Expertise

 

At every stage, our work is informed by community needs, goals, and experiences. Learn more about how we engage community knowledge.

 

Our Methodology

Abundance

The CPL recognizes communities’ strengths, skills, knowledge, and history.

Partnership & Coalition

The CPL builds sustainable partnerships driven by community interests, strengths, ideals, and needs.

Occupation

The CPL learns from community members’ everyday experiences of living.

Systemic Justice

The CPL joins community partners in projects and research that engage complex social and political systems.

Learn more about our methodology.

Recent News

Histories and Future Visions of Fairview in the Southern Oral History Program

1 week ago

CPL publishes Fairview oral histories in Southern Oral History Program database

The Community Practice Lab supported Fairview community members in publishing their oral histories through the Southern Oral History Program’s interview database. The Histories and Future Visions of Fairview oral history collection spotlights the vibrant life of the Fairview community through everyday stories of challenges, connection, and community-building. The Histories and Future Visions of Fairview project …

Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivers keynote at WV OTA 2025 conference.

7 months ago

Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivers keynote address for WV Occupational Therapy Association conference

CPL Primary Lead Dr. Ryan Lavalley delivered the keynote address for the West Virginia Occupational Therapy Association’s 29th Annual Conference in Charleston, WV last week. In his keynote, “Fire in the Mountain: What Occupational Therapy Can Learn from Appalachian Resilience,” Ryan spoke about how lessons learned from Appalachian history and resilience can inform an expansion …

Lauren Selingo Headshot

7 months ago

Dr. Lauren Selingo named a 2025-2027 Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholar to support FOCUS-OAC

The Carolina Center for Public Service has accepted CPL Lead Dr. Lauren Selingo into the Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholar Program for the 2025-2027 cycle. The program’s community-engaged curriculum and stipend will support Lauren’s community-engaged research around substance use among older adults and caregivers in Orange County. Thorp Faculty Engaged Scholars participate in a highly interactive, …

Coming Soon: McNair Heights Neighborhood

8 months ago

Community Practice Lab creates community engagement strategy for Habitat for Humanity development in Goldsboro, NC

The Community Practice Lab (CPL) has collaborated with Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro-Wayne on a community engagement strategy to support Habitat’s development work in Webbtown, a historically Black neighborhood of Goldsboro, NC. The strategy and resources will support local leaders, partners, and Habitat staff to engage thoughtfully with Webbtown residents as Habitat constructs McNair Heights, …