Cornerstones and Guiding Lights

Whole Communities–Whole Health’s (WCWH) annual symposium kicked off with good vibes by recognizing seven outstanding community partners. The awards, presented in two categories, honor organizations and individuals whose dedication has been instrumental in advancing WCWH’s mission to build research collaborations that benefit Central Texas families.

“These awards celebrate the integral role they play in shaping our research, fostering meaningful engagement, and helping ensure research findings are shared back to the community in a meaningful way,” said WCWH chair Mike Mackert, professor in the Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations and Department of Population Health and director of UT's Center for Health Communication.

Guiding Light Award

The Guiding Light Awards honor partners who have provided invaluable leadership and insight to WCWH over the years.

AVANCE – Austin

A dedicated partner since 2019, AVANCE – Austin has spent 25 years serving East Austin families and has played a key role in shaping WCWH's community engagement and recruitment strategies. Program manager Zobeida Guerrero, a member of WCWH’s Community Strategy Team (CST), accepted the award on AVANCE’s behalf.

"We are honored to work alongside WCWH in creating opportunities for families," said Maggie Jaime, WCWH community liaison and executive director of AVANCE – Austin. "This partnership has strengthened our ability to support the community through research and engagement."

Research Coordinator Sarah Smith, who leads WCWH’s recruitment and retention workgroup, concurred. "From the beginning, AVANCE has worked with us to promote and improve our study engagement," she said. "It is clearly evident the amount of work they put into the relationships with their families, so sharing this connection with our project has been invaluable."

Carol Lilly

Carol Lilly (pictured, at right, with Mackert) served on the Community Strategy Team from 2018 to 2021, and since then, as a community liaison, she has contributed invaluable counsel to the data return work group. "Carol has been with us since the very beginning," Community Engagement Manager Shirene Garcia said. "Her perspective has been invaluable in shaping how we share data with participants in ways that are truly useful to them."

Lilly is also the founder of the Boomers Collaborative Foundation, which focuses on cooperative housing for seniors. “Collaboration is the key to meaningful research," she said." I’m grateful to be part of a project that values and prioritizes community voices.”

Community Coalition for Health (C2H)

A steadfast partner since 2018, Community Coalition for Health (C2H) has been instrumental in bridging the needs of WCWH’s researchers and the community in East Austin, where C2H has been providing outreach related to health awareness for more than a decade. Founder and CEO Dr. Charles Moody, Jr., who has been working with WCWH since its inception, is now a community liaison, while COO Mia Greer became the CST’s first co-chair in 2023.

"WCWH exemplifies what true community-engaged research should look like,” Moody and Greer (pictured, at left, with Mackert) said. “This recognition reflects the power of partnership in addressing health disparities."

Garcia returned the compliment. "They have demonstrated a really strong commitment to research,” she said. “They partner with all sorts of initiatives at UT, not just us. It's mind-blowing all the stuff that they do."

Cornerstone Award

The Cornerstone Awards acknowledge organizations that have provided essential logistical and infrastructural support to WCWH’s research efforts.

Children's Wellness Center, UT School of Nursing

The Children’s Wellness Center has provided space for WCWH’s mobile hub and has been a vital recruitment partner, connecting researchers with local families. “Their support has made it possible for families to comfortably participate in research,” Smith said. “That accessibility is key.”

Ana Loera (pictured, at right, with Mackert) accepted the award on behalf of the Children’s Wellness Center. “We’re proud to help build meaningful connections with the community that support and strengthen family well-being,” she said.

Del Valle Independent School District (DVISD)

Del Valle ISD has been instrumental in recruiting families, with 18% of WCWH study participants coming through district-hosted events. The district also partnered with WCWH to launch its first-ever Community Resource Day in 2023. Araceli McBeth and Rebecca Gomez (pictured, at left, with Mackert), parent community liaisons at Newton Collins Elementary School and Ojeda Middle School, respectively, accepted the award on behalf of DVISD. 

"Having a partnership with schools is always going to be crucial for studies that wish to connect with families and kids,” Smith said. “DVISD has graciously given us the time and space to do this, and our project impact wouldn't be the same without them."

Del Valle WIC Clinic

With 34% of WCWH study participants recruited through its clinic, Del Valle WIC has played a crucial role in connecting families to research opportunities through a simple yet highly effective text-based outreach strategy. “It’s been great to support families in learning about this research opportunity in such an easy and effective way,” said Annette Phinney (pictured, at right, with Mackert), former director of the clinic.

Travis County ESD, Fire Station #1104

This station provided essential storage space for WCWH’s research equipment, including a minus 80 degrees Celsius freezer used to preserve biological samples. (No one from the station was able to attend the symposium and accept their award in person.)

"The fire chiefs and all their staff at Station 1104 have been a tremendous help in allowing our team 24/7 access to a freezer close to the residential areas we work in," Smith said. "I check in every year to see if we need to move our freezer, and they respond the same way every time: if our project is helping the people in their area, we can stay as long as we need. This kind of support and kindness makes our research possible."