Community Engagement Spotlight

MATHCOUNTS

Dr. Aijun Song
Faculty, College of Engineering

MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide middle school mathematics competition held throughout theU.S. Begun in 1983 to increase middle school students’ interest in mathematics, the program includes geometry, counting, probability, number theory and algebra. Its presence in the Tuscaloosa area began during the 1990s thanks to the efforts of Steve Nelko, senior plant electrical engineer at Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa, Inc. However, dwindling school participation led to the local competition’s end several years ago.

In 2018, Dr. Aijun Song, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, approached the University and selected community members — including Nelko — about reviving the local competition. College of Engineering colleagues and students were added to the collaboration and in February 2019, 31 middle school students from five area schools came to campus to compete. The lessons learned go far beyond winning, as this competition promotes the development of problem-solving and critical-thinking skills using mathematics logic while helping young learners overcome a fear of math and lack of confidence in their math skills. Additionally, the competition fosters enthusiasm about the pursuit of a college degree while exposing young minds to the possibility of a career in STEM.

UA Vote Everywhere

Samuel Reece
Alumnus, College of Arts and Sciences

UA Vote Everywhere is the UA student organization arm of the Andrew Goodman Foundation, a nonprofit advocate for voting rights and education on campuses across the nation. In September 2020, the organization added to its impressive record of student community engagement at the Alabama Voting Summit, a state-wide conference co-hosted with the Goodman Foundation to create voting plans for students at colleges and universities throughout the state. Later that month, Vote Everywhere joined forces with UA’s Crossroads Civic Engagement Center to establish the Get Out the Vote Collaborative. On National Voter Registration Day, they gathered more than 30 campus partners to leverage resources for increasing voter registration and, most importantly, actual student voting in the November 3 election.

Because of UA Vote Everywhere and the outstanding work of the student officers, voter registration information and absentee ballots were made readily available in the residence halls and other key points on campus. The group gave voter education presentations in September and October to multiple student audiences, and on Election Day hosted a Get Out the Vote Celebration Station with the SGA and Crossroads in front of the UA Student Center.

C.H.O.I.C.E. (Choosing to Help Others in our Community Excel)

Emefa Butler
Uniontown, AL

Founded in 2009 by Emefa Butler, the nonprofit C.H.O.I.C.E. (Choosing to Help Others in our Community Excel) has as its mission the creation of collaborative partnerships to ensure that community members have access to charitable and educational resources. The organization operates the Uniontown YOUth Resource Center, a one-stop center that provides a community hub meeting area, an innovation lab for educational sessions, resource rooms for one-on-one counseling and small-group services, classrooms and a rec room.

The organization provides programs and services including workforce development, mentoring, education, cultural arts, health and wellness and athletics and recreation. In 2018, Butler collaborated with Perry County community leaders and members of the student organization HOSA-Future Health Professionals at Robert C. Hatch High School in Uniontown to conduct community needs assessments, including infrastructure, ability and priority health needs across the lifespan.

Project FAITHH

Dr. Pamela Payne-Foster
Faculty, College of Community Health Sciences

Dr. Pamela Payne-Foster is a professor of community medicine and population health and deputy director for community outreach for the Institute for Rural Health Research at The University of Alabama’s College of Community Health Sciences. In 2012, she received a multi-year grant in excess of $500,000 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the purpose of examining the role that African-American congregations can play in reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma in rural Alabama. Project FAITHH centered around implementation of an anti-stigma clinical trial in rural Black churches in Alabama using curriculum developed by the Christian Council of Ghana.

In September 2016, she received the UA School of Medicine Dean’s Research Award for “Development of a Culturally Competent Training Program for Medical Students and Residents at the Tuscaloosa Regional Campus.” Payne-Foster teaches medical students in the College’s Community Rural Medicine Clerkship, its Community Rural Medicine Ambulatory Acting Internship, and is a frequent Special Topics and Co-Enrolled Elective Instructor. Her main areas of interest have been health disparities, including HIV/AIDS; obesity and diabetes; bioethics and medical ethics; and diversity and cultural competency issues in health care.

Addressing Wastewater Infrastructure Challenges in the Black Belt

Jillian Maxcy-Brown
Graduate Student, College of Engineering

More than 50% of residents in the Black Belt lack access to sewers, and less than 4% of land areas have access to wastewater service. One of the greatest barriers is that low-income residents cannot afford onsite solutions. Jillian Maxcy-Brown is pursuing her PhD in civil engineering at the University of Alabama and working alongside Dr. Kevin White, professor emeritus of civil, coastal and environmental engineering at the University of South Alabama, and Dr. Mark Elliot, associate professor of civil, construction, and environmental engineering at UA to find practical solutions to wastewater management.

Maxcy-Brown, White and Elliot are collaborating on the Hale County Decentralized Demonstration, a pilot demonstration project that will serve about 400 residents with the intent of showing the efficacy of and minimization of operation and management costs with effluent sewer collection, modular decentralized treatment technology, pine forest spray irrigation disposal of effluent, and remote monitoring.

Benjamin Barnes YMCA

LaKeda Smith
Tuscaloosa, AL

As the Benjamin Barnes YMCA continues to grow, it continues to strive to serve the West End area of Tuscaloosa. This growth, expansion and success are intrinsically linked to LaKeda Smith’s hard work and the foundation that has been laid as a result of it. Smith is the executive director of the Benjamin Barnes YMCA in Tuscaloosa.

She earned her bachelor of science degree from The University of Alabama and has spent her career in service to the public through the YMCA, having previously served as the outreach director for the YMCA of Tuscaloosa. She has also formed partnerships with departments across the University of Alabama campus in support of the children and youth served by the Barnes YMCA, including Swim to the Top.