March 17, 2026 – the North Carolina CEAL regional research team, the ACHIEVE study, and a community-driven planning committee held a UNC Community Partner Showcase and Networking Event at the annual meeting of the National Institutes of Health Community Engagement Alliance Meeting held in Charlotte, NC.
The evening kicked off with a performance by the Queen City Drummers followed by a video highlighting North Carolina’s rich geography and our community partners across the state. The Deep Roots History Exhibit on the history of public health and health disparities in NC with a focus on Mecklenburg County was presented. The community showcase highlighted the depth of work happening in North Carolina by our community partners.
We are grateful to have hosted the NIH CEAL attendees from across the country. The event’s success is the result of the planning committee, Cheryl Emanuel, Dr. Monika Rhue, Debra Smith, Kacia Vines, Jasmine Hodge, Alexis Hill, Angelique Jennings, Dr. Kate Menard, and Dr. Anissa Vines who worked tirelessly to execute this event. Lastly, we would like to give special thanks to the leadership of UNC Chapel Hill for their support of community-engaged research.
