In the Community
Mississippi INBRE has a history of making a major, long-lasting community impact by partnering with external agencies and organizations.
Read more at the following links to see how we engage with our communities.
MBK was first established in 1999 as a nascent entity dedicated to the prevention, care, and treatment of persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). MBK’s HIV prevention services focused on designing and delivering an innovative range of educational and training programs in public health, social policy, action research, information technology, advocacy, coalition development and capacity building. Through its extensive experience, MBK built its commitment to HIV prevention among racial and ethnic minority populations as evident through its service to over 15,000 constituents nationwide, who represent community-based organizations (CBO), FBOs, IHLs, and community lay persons.
As it exists today, MBK is an experienced CBO working to eliminate health disparities among underserved, uninsured/underinsured and other vulnerable populations through health education, health promotion, policy and environmental systems changes, and other health equity approaches. MBK’s efforts have expanded to include a wealth of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cancer, which has systemically transformed MBK from a grassroots organization into a community-based leader that strives to change the health status of Americans one community at a time.
Mississippi INBRE Telenutrition Center
The Telenutrition Center’s mission is to integrate community engaged and technology supported solutions to improve nutrition and related behaviors of underserved Mississippians and address preventable chronic diseases disparities.
The Center engages both students and communities in outreach and intervention activities that focus on moving more and eating better to live a healthier life. The Center supports students to foster their own creativity to develop research projects that encompass the Center’s mission and are shared with local, state and regional audiences. Students receive mentorship from multidisciplinary faculty and experience a co-learning environment with their peers. The Center appreciates students from various majors/disciplines and cultures to contribute to a rich and diverse work and learning environment.
Ultimately, students become community scientists and thereby, enhance research infrastructure to support future community engaged research among Mississippi communities.