We are so excited to share information with you about the COVID Aware Program at Tuskegee University.  I hope you enjoy the presentation and will consider voting for it to receive the public choice award.  If you would like to assist us in collecting more data for this important research project please read the following and click the link below to participate:

Adults 18 years of age and older are welcome to complete this online (Qualtrics based) survey. We appreciate the difficulty of uncertain times and hope to capture aspects of this pandemic through our questionnaire. The information you provide will be confidential, and any data reported will be anonymous. The findings of this research we anticipate will help us have a better understanding of how African Americans and other marginalized communities adhere to, attend to and adapt to health education and communication during a pandemic. 

If you are willing to complete this survey, simply use the anonymous link below.

https://tuskegeepublichealth.iad1.qualtrics.com...

This is an important project from perspectives of science, education, history, public policy and more. I was immediately drawn to it. James Jones's Bad Blood was my first detailed introduction to the syphilis study. I published a review of it then and have been concerned with the broader issues ever since. It's certainly timely now, with covid, and other health challenges.

Is it premature to say more regarding insights you've gained from the survey thus far? 

This is an important and vexing issue from the public health perspective. What is the timeline of your project, given the uncertainties of how long the pandemic will last and how long persuadable people will be still considering whether to receive the vaccine?

I wrote about the Syphilis Study in one of the chapters of a book, The Case of the Covid Crisis, which is part of our project on teaching data science to middle school students (#1984). Clearly the matter of trust in government is key to controlling epidemics, whether it's Ebola or measles or COVID, and it's one of the themes of our project, especially when looking at racial disparities in COVID's effect on communities. At the end of our project, kids are supposed to make Public Service Announcements, based on data, for their own communities, so we'd love to hear more about your findings. Come visit! We would love to hear about principles of effective communication with mistrustful groups and individuals.

This is such important and timely work! What has been your recruitment strategy to include as many voices as possible, particularly those in minoritized and rural communities, to inform your results?

A much needed study, that warrants so much attention and reaction. How can the results of your study lead to direct impacts of building trust within these communities? Are there efforts towards the creation of groups of collectives/collaboratives with social scientists, doctors, elected officials, community members, etc. to hold additional focus groups, town halls, and more?

You are doing a great job with your video of getting the word out. I'm going to click on the link right now and do the survey.

This topic will continue to resonate and be relevant. I hope you get useful results that help find ways to reach and build trust in under served communities.

I am heartened to see this kind of project presented here at this Showcase. The problem that you are addressing affects so many throughout our African American communities.  I, for one, will be looking forward to your suggestions for effective dissemination of your findings. I hope that they can be inculcated into a community strategy that will be ongoing;  our communities desperately need it. Thank you for taking  on this project.

A very worthwhile study! Thank you for sharing Attorney James.

Thank you for an excellent presentation about the value of creating and disseminating accurate public health messaging that is especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Keep up the great work at Tuskegee University.

 I do not know if it is possible to contact those who leave comments on your work once the showcase ends, but if so, I would love to be notified when the results of your study are published.

Thank you for your comment and your interest in our program.  You may contact me at cjames@tuskegee.edu or Dr. Melvena Wilson who serves as the Program Director at mwilson@tuskegee.edu to get on our list for distribution of findings.

It's obvious that your project generates high interest and rich discussion, making it a success already.

It's a total coincidence, but we're just now passing through NW Alabama (on the Natchez Trace) on a big circle trip to see family. I hope that someday I can return for a longer visit, including Tuskegee!

Hi Crystal, such important work. Not only a cultural mindset, but a systemic shift in mindset. I'm interested to know how/if the results of data shared can impact the wider medical community in upholding their responsibilities towards dismantling abuse, bias, and harm in BIPOC communities, especially African American men and women. What do you think should be the next steps in the "long game"?

This is important work and  should  continue beyond the pandemic.

Great job Crystal! Proud to know you as a long time friend!

I'll be very interested in your results.  Our project, COVID-inspired data science for youth, will ask middle school kids in underrepresented communities to think up data-based messages for various audiences. It will be interesting to compare results!