Office of Community Engagement (OCE)
The CFAR OCE partners and works closely with community-based organizations to establish and grow strong relationships based on equity, trust, and accountability. Through these partnerships, the OCE works to translate research findings in to direct applications, to create mutual understandings of research, amplify community voices in research decision-making, and to support community-driven work around HIV/AIDS.
Community members interested in learning more about our work are encouraged to visit the Community Collaboration Board, Education, and Resources tab, or contact Alicia Diggs.
The OCE is part of the UNC CFAR Administrative Core.
Community Partners
HBCU Partners
UNC Partners
UNC CFAR Community Collaboration Board
Communicative, outreach and advisory relationships are strong and defining features of the UNC CFAR Community Collaboration Board (previously Community Advisory Board). Community stakeholder input and their investment in the worth, conduct and products of the UNC CFAR research agenda are transformative in that there will be apparent, able and engaged community voices guiding the research process. The UNC CFAR Community Collaboration Board is managed and coordinated by the OCE.
Comprised of 45 local stakeholders, the UNC CFAR Community Collaboration Board (CCB) is critical to the success of the CFAR endeavors and is an independent source of guidance and feedback for the Principal Investigator, the program leadership and researchers. In order to provide community-based guidance and input into the conduct, research agenda and outcomes of the UNC CFAR, the CCB meets 3-4 times per year with communications in-between meetings.
Anyone interested in joining the UNC CFAR Community Collaboration Board should contact Alicia Diggs.
National CFAR CAB Coalition
The OCE serves in the National CFAR CAB Coalition, which represents CFAR Community Advisory Boards as a national group of key stakeholders in HIV research and provides resources and guidance to CFARs on community engagement. The NCCC serves as a resource for the creation, development and sustainability of CFAR Community Advisory Boards.
With 60+ members from 16 CFARs across the country, the National CFAR CAB Coalition is a lively and active body that pursues its mission through four primary working groups: Mission & Operations; Community Engagement; Mentorship and CAB Development; and SBSRN.
If you are a member of a CFAR Community Advisory Board and interested in joining the National CFAR CAB Coalition, please contact Alicia Diggs.
HIV/AIDS Course
The widely-celebrated “campus-wide HIV/AIDS Course” at UNC offers undergraduate, graduate, continuing studies, and professional student participants a multi-disciplinary perspective on HIV/AIDS — its etiology, immunology, epidemiology and impact on individuals and society. The various mediums the HIV/AIDS course is offered has afforded the opportunity to educate a larger number of individuals about the basis of HIV transmission, risk factors, safety, and Global Statistics. Enrollment has nearly doubled since the CFAR’s coordination of the course, from 245students to 460 students.
The filled-to-capacity course enjoys support from the UNC Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP), and from the Deans of all Five Health Affairs Schools at UNC. The reach of the HIV/AIDS Course continues to expand via open source videos of the guest lecturers online through media websites such as iTunes University and Reddit.com. The UNC HIV/AIDS Course has been listed in the “Top Downloads” and the “Top Collections” for iTunes University.
Recordings of the classes are used by local colleges and universities, agencies, and community-based organizations. As we move through the semester, videos of each class will be posted
World AIDS Day Symposium
World AIDS Day, started in 1988, is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, increase awareness, combat stigma, and improve education. Taking place around World AIDS Day, December 1st, the World AIDS Day Symposium features presentations by UNC faculty members, expert research and medical professionals, and panel discussions, and draws over 200 attendees, ranging from research professionals and clinicians to case managers and grassroots advocates.
To request a service from the OCE, please contact Alicia Diggs.
Services provided by the OCE:
- HIV Test counseling
- Educational Opportunities, including HIV 101, capacity building, curriculum and content adaptation, focus group facilitation, program planning)
- CDC EBI Training Facilitation (Parents Matter, Voices/Voces, SISTA)
- Coordination and planning for HIV/AIDS awareness events
- Assessment of Needs, Assets, and Capacity for Health Education
- Plan, implement, conduct evaluation and research related to health education
- Coordinate provision of referral resources
- Communicate and advocate for health and health education