HHP leads Engagement & Outreach Scholars Academy

The College of Health and Human Performance was a leading representative at the ECU Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy 2024-25 cohort project presentations event. Presenters included Michael Daniels and Dr. Kelley Reinsmith-Jones, School of Social Work; Dr. Sarah Maness, Department of Health Education and Promotion; Dr. Lindsey Oakes, Department of Recreation Sciences; Drs. Linda May and Bhibha Das, Department of Kinesiology, along with Dr. Avian White, Department of Health Education and Promotion.

Dr. Sarah Maness presents during the ECU Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy 2024-25 cohort project presentations.

These impactful research projects were developed in collaboration with organizations to address community-identified priorities. EOSA supports collaborative research that fosters long-term campus-community partnerships and promotes engaged scholarship.

HHP and other presenters talked about the importance of engaged research, meeting community needs and enhancing and building relationships. Some community partners attended and voiced comments of support and appreciation.

Here are project descriptions:

Michael Daniels and Kelley Reinsmith-Jones from the School of Social Work are partnering with Koinonia Community Solutions of Pitt County to build bridges of opportunity for “at risk” youth through education, housing, and economic development initiatives. The team is working to assess and develop recommendations to help a local youth program achieve its goals of improving academic success and increasing opportunities for at risk youth.

Sarah Maness in the Department of Health Education and Promotion has worked closely with the Pitt County Firearm Safety Coalition to strengthen the community’s involvement in regional gun violence initiatives and toward gun violence solutions in Greenville, NC. Together their purpose is to assess community members views on gun safety and gun violence prevention to inform future initiatives to reduce gun violence deaths in Eastern North Carolina.

Lindsey Oakes from the Department of Recreation Sciences & Sports Management has engaged with the Career Academy program at Pitt Community College, which serves and supports students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Young adults participating in the Career Academy program are co-researchers on this photovoice project. They have been working with Dr. Oakes to identify needed areas of change and facilitate action steps to increase inclusion within their local community’s recreational opportunities and programs.

Rates of pre-term birth are higher in Pitt County and surrounding counties in eastern NC, compared to most other NC counties. This can be caused by a lack of appropriate physical activity and a healthy diet before and/or during pregnancy, smoking and/or drug use during pregnancy, and lack of adequate prenatal care. To address these issues and reach underserved and minority community members who may not have a supportive network or resources during pregnancy, Linda May, Director of ECU’s Human Performance Lab, and her team (including Bhibha Das, Department of Kinesiology, and Avian White, Department of Health Education and Promotion) worked with the Churches Outreach Network and Greenville Recreation and Parks to host a 10-week pregnancy support group. The Pitt County Pregnancy Support Village (PCPSV) is open to the community and based at the Eppes Community Center in Greenville. The support program provides physical activity sessions, as well as education sessions covering topics, such as healthy eating, prenatal health, birth support, postpartum support, childbirth education, mental health, etc.