Seven longtime community partners were recently presented with Community-Engaged Research Champion Awards from Whole Communities–Whole Health (WCWH). The awards, presented at the WCWH Research Symposium on Feb. 6, honored Community Strategy Team (CST) members and community liaisons who have partnered with the initiative for five years or more and whose sustained involvement has helped guide WCWH’s flagship longitudinal study.
These partners are central to WCWH’s community-engaged model. Made up of individuals who live or work in Del Valle and the southeastern crescent of Austin, CST members meet regularly with researchers and staff to ensure the study remains grounded in community values and priorities. Members may serve up to three years on the CST and often continue on as community liaisons, advising workgroups on key areas of the study.
The award recognized not only length of service but also the depth of engagement these partners have brought to the work, from attending evening meetings and weekend events to offering candid, thoughtful feedback that strengthens research design and implementation.
"Our Community Strategy Team and Liaisons are truly co-shapers of this work," said Shirene Garcia, WCWH community engagement manager. “Their consistency over the years has helped ensure that our research remains grounded, relevant and accountable to the communities it serves. Without them, this would be a completely different project."
Community-Engaged Research Champion Awardees
Barbara Soriano — 6 years
A Del Valle resident, Soriano served on the CST from 2021 – 2023 and joined the data analysis and interpretation workgroup in 2022, where she continues to contribute her expertise.
Ellena Gonzales — 6 years
Gonzales served on the CST from 2021 – 2024 and has been an active member of the data return workgroup since 2022. A certified doula, Gonzales works at Mama Sana Vibrant Woman as the birth program coordinator.
Maggie Jaime — 6 years
Jaime joined the CST in 2019 and joined the recruitment and retention workgroup in 2022. She is the executive director of AVANCE Austin.
Rebecca Gomez — 6 years
Gomez served on the CST from 2021 – 2024 and has supported the recruitment and retention workgroup since 2022. She is the parent community liaison for Ojeda Middle School in Del Valle.
Mia Greer — 6 years
Greer has served on the CST since 2021, became its first co-chair in 2024 and also contributes to the recruitment and retention workgroup. She was recently named CEO of Community Coalition for Health, aka C2H.
Dr. Charles Moody, Jr. — 7 years
A founding member of the CST, Dr. Moody first joined WCWH in 2018 and later returned to serve on the data return workgroup. He is the founder of C2H and pastor at The ROCK ATX.
Carol Lilly — 8 years
Another founding CST member, Lilly has remained involved in WCWH through continued service on the data return workgroup. She is the founding executive director of Boomers Collaborative Foundation, which is working to develop an affordable mixed-use senior housing cooperative in Austin.