Shout out to Valerie Longa from Mobile Baykeeper for talking with our STEMM Scholars about the importance of water ways in our environment and data for understanding what communities face when it comes to water quality.

Coalition building for regional violence prevention advocacy: Unique perspectives from the Southeast Recently, the journal Surgery published an article describing the development of the Consortium of Southeast Regional Violence Intervention Programs (CoSERV), with the goal of "fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and aligning advocacy efforts across state lines." Dr. Ashley Williams, CHC director, is a contributor to the article and the development of CoSERV. The article abstract is below. "The Southeastern United States is disproportionately impacted by firearm violence.

Recently, the journal Surgery published an article describing the development of the Consortium of Southeast Regional Violence Intervention Programs (CoSERV), with the goal of "fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and aligning advocacy efforts across state lines."

Graph showing that as jail incarceration rates increase, so do county death rates.

Incarceration has deadly consequences for everyone – even those who are not behind bars:

STEMM Scholars Gaining Insights about Policy and Environmental Disasters The fall 2025 cohort held its first in person session October 7th providing students an opportunity to interact with each other, the program staff, and community mentors. The two-hour session provided learning opportunities with a lot of fun included. The session started with dinner and a time for students to meet interact directly with mentors from the community and from the…

The fall 2025 cohort held its first in person session October 7th providing students an opportunity to interact with each other, the program staff, and community mentors. The two-hour session provided learning opportunities with a lot of fun included.

Rising Tides: Project Inspire offers real hope for youth caught up in violence The following excerpt comes from a guest column Dr. Ashley Williams Hogue, director of the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities, wrote for AL.com When you work in trauma, you see a lot. But what stays with you is how young some of our patients are, especially those with firearm-related injuries. As a resident rotating through trauma surgery a decade ago, I was struck not just by how common gunshot wounds were, but by the ages of those who were brought to us for care.

What does work, again and again, is positive reinforcement. Empowerment, not fear. We built Project Inspire on the belief that when young people are equipped with resources, strong relationships, and a vision for their future, they can choose a different path. They can design the life they want.

Medical student presents research at trauma surgery annual meeting The following article originally appeared in the Med School Watercooler. Keegan Musaalo, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented research in September at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) annual meeting in Boston. The presentation, titled “The Financial Impact of Firearm-Related Injuries: A One-Year Single-Institution Cost Analysis,” examined the financial impact of firearm-related injuries on both patients and the hospital system.

Keegan Musaalo, a third-year medical student at the Whiddon College of Medicine, presented research in September at the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) annual meeting in Boston. 

STEMM Scholars Welcomes 2nd Cohort The STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice program held an informational session for interested students and their parents on September 17th. During the session, program coordinator Karla McCants and CHC Director Dr. Ashley Williams provided a brief overview of the STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice program, the structure for the fall cohort, benefits for students, and how families and schools can support students in the program.

STEMM Scholars Welcomes 2nd Cohort

The STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice program held an informational session for interested students and their parents on September 17th. During the session, program coordinator Karla McCants and CHC Director Dr. Ashley Williams provided a brief overview of…

HALO: Healing and Life Opportunities, the hospital-based violence intervention program at University Hospital, held its open house to connect with partners and hospital staff.

Annette Bouie, CHC's outreach nurse, spent time with our partner Rehoboth Missionary Baptist Church to offer blood pressure screenings during the church's regular food distribution.

Denise Shaw, a community health worker at the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities, provided this short reflection on her time in the Community Health Worker Course and becoming a CHW.

CHW Awareness Week: Empowering CHWs as They Serve the Community The Community Health Workers (CHW) from the USA Health Building Safer Communities Collaborative closed CHW Awareness Week 2025 with a brainstorming breakfast for CHWs from around Mobile County. The 11 CHWs attending the event represented organizations such as the Mobile County Health Department, local clinics, and churches. The discussion focused on serving youth and families caught up in the criminal legal system.

The Community Health Workers (CHW) from the USA Health Building Safer Communities Collaborative closed CHW Awareness Week 2025 with a brainstorming breakfast for CHWs from around Mobile County. The 11 CHWs attending the event represented organizations such as the Mobile County Health Department, loc

CHW Awareness Week: Connecting with Key Stakeholders Community Health Workers (CHW) from the USA Health Building Safer Communities Collaborative launched CHW Awareness Week 2025 with a lunch and learn for Mobile Public School System social workers and lead nurses. The event highlighted the work of CHWs and the Building Safer Communities Collaborative’s work with justice involved youth. Ms. Janel Lowman, from USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute, discussed the role of CHWs and care access in the community.

Community Health Workers (CHW) from the USA Health Building Safer Communities Collaborative launched  CHW Awareness Week 2025 with a lunch and learn for Mobile Public School System social workers and lead nurses. The event highlighted the work of CHWs and the Building Safer Communities Collaborative

Partnering for Health Recently, the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities partnered with Amity Missionary Baptist Church to host its fifth Medical Townhall. The event, held on a Saturday morning, featured a panel of six health care professionals responding to questions from the 25 attendees. Pastor Jeffey Mackie opened the event and greeted the crowd. Dr. Ashley Williams, director of the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities, introduced the panel and explained the purpose for the day.

Partnering for Health

Recently, the USA Health Center for Healthy Communities partnered with Amity Missionary Baptist Church to host its fifth Medical Townhall. The event, held on a Saturday morning, featured a panel of six health care professionals responding to questions from the 25 attendees.…

STEMM Scholar Presentation: No Home, No Escape. Heat Vulnerability among Mobiles Homeless Population

Rae Beck, a student in the STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice Summer 2025 cohort, explored the vulnerability of unhoused persons in extreme heat.

Medical Town Hall Planned for Amity Missionary Baptist Church The USA Health Center for Healthy Communities is partnering with Pastor Jeffery Mackie and the congregation at Amity Missionary Baptist Church to host a Medical Town Hall on August 23, 2025 from 10 am to 12 pm. Prior to the town, the church will also hold a clothing giveaway prior to the townhall.

The USA Health Center for Healthy Communities is partnering with Pastor Jeffery Mackie and the congregation at Amity Missionary Baptist Church to host a Medical Town Hall on August 23, 2025 from 10 am to 12 pm. Prior to the town, the church will also hold a clothing giveaway prior to the townhall.

On Friday, the USA Health Building Safer Communities Collaborative team went through orientation training at the Strickland Youth Center and toured the facility. Soon our Community Health Worker team will on site ready to serve justice-involved youth and their families.

USA Health Project Inspire presents ‘Arts for Justice: Amplifying Youth Voices’ This article originally appeared in the August 5, 2025, USA Health Insider. Step into the powerful world of youth expression and resilience through Project Inspire’s participant-created exhibit, “Arts for Justice: Amplifying Youth Voices.” This vibrant showcase highlights pottery, murals, and photovoice – each piece telling a story of transformation, courage, and hope.     The exhibit, which is free and open to the public, will be on display from Aug.

The free exhibit will be on display from Aug. 6 to Sept. 7 at the USA Archaeology Museum on the campus of the University of South Alabama.  

Graph showing that pretrial detention made people lose housing, money, and jobs while also amassing debt and missing work.

Pretrial detention is a public safety concern.

It makes people lose jobs, housing & government benefits – life-altering consequences that judges ignore.

How does this leave anyone better off?

www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2024/08...

Graph showing that in 2016, 15% of national prison populations had 3 or more chronic conditions; compared to 12% in 2004.

Incarcerated people have more chronic medical conditions than ever

Yet healthcare behind bars is blocked by expensive copays, limited resources, & understaffing – creating a situation in which each year spent in prison takes *2 years* off an individual’s life expectancy

Making a Difference for a Justice-Impacted Family

The community health worker (CHW) team assists individuals and families access to the services and resources they need. Recently, a family impacted by interactions with the criminal legal system contacted the CHW team asking for help getting ready…

Juliahnna Schlosser, a student in the STEMM Scholars for Environmental Justice Summer 2025 cohort, explored the impact of cigarette smoke on plants to understand how second hand smoke affects the environment.

Healthy Living with USA Health: Project Inspire Recently Dr. Ashley Williams, director of the Center for Healthy Communities, and Ms. Daphney Portis, coordinator for Project Inspire, were interviewed by Fox10 about Project Inspire. The following text comes from the Fox10 description of the interview. MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Project Inspire is USA Health’s semester-long injury prevention program that offers education, exposure and mentorship to justice-involved youth.

Recently Dr. Ashley Williams, director of the Center for Healthy Communities, and Ms. Daphney Portis, coordinator for Project Inspire, were interviewed by Fox10 about Project Inspire. The following text comes from the Fox10 description of the interview.

Are you in Downtown Mobile? Stop by Government Plaza and check out the Arts for Justice Exhibit. The exhibit displays art amplifying the voices of Project Inspire participants.

No, there is not a "crime wave" driven by non-U.S. citizens

Recent data show that just 3% of people jailed are non-citizens. And since most people detained in jail have not been convicted, it’s likely that only a fraction of that 3% have actually been found guilty of any crime.

USA Health CHC wants to thank Mike Dillaber and the Mobile County EMA team for the professional expertise shared today during our CHW Professional Development Session on Community Disaster preparedness. The introduction to NERT and the many tiers of readiness was eye opening.