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Forge AHEAD Center

Partnering with Communities to Improve Health and Well-Being

Forge AHEAD Center

Partnering with Communities to Improve Health and Well-Being

Forge AHEAD Center

Partnering with Communities to Improve Health and Well-Being

A Collaborative Center for Community Health Research

 

The Forge AHEAD Center is a regional research center focused on improving the prevention and management of cardiometabolic conditions—including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—that impact many individuals across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Through collaborative research and strong community partnerships, we work to support healthier outcomes and expand access to evidence-based health solutions.

Funded by a grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), Forge AHEAD Center is a part of the Health Equity Action Network.  

Institutional Partners Advancing Community Health Research

Forge AHEAD Center is a partnership between institutions working together to develop the best approaches to research, education, and community engagement.

Our Vision for a Healthier Future

The vision of the Forge AHEAD Center is to improve health outcomes related to diabetes, obesity, and hypertension across the South through collaborative research, training, outreach, and education. We pursue this vision by building strong partnerships with academic institutions, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to expand access to effective, evidence-informed health strategies.

Guiding Principles for Improving Health Outcomes

 

 

Teamwork

Belonging, Access, and Collaboration

EXCELLENCE IN RESEARCH

TRUSTWORTHINESS

Transparency

Innovation

Advancing Better Health for All Through Data, Partnership, and Local Solutions

The Forge AHEAD Center is committed to addressing urgent health challenges affecting communities across our region. Cardiometabolic conditions—including obesity, diabetes, and hypertension—continue to impact individuals at high rates, particularly in the Deep South. This region experiences some of the highest prevalence of these conditions in the United States, along with lower average life expectancy.

These health challenges are especially pronounced among individuals living in under-resourced areas and among Black Americans in the region. Through research, partnerships, and community engagement, our goal is to support meaningful improvements in health outcomes and expand access to effective prevention and care strategies. This will require a precision public health approach, best viewed as “providing the right intervention to the right population at the right time.” This approach acknowledges the importance of context, culture, individual beliefs, and preferences, and emphasizes the needs for intervention on multiple levels addressing several areas of health and wellness.

 In The News & Local Events

Forge AHEAD Center welcomes champion for community engagement in Louisiana

The Forge AHEAD Center is excited to welcome Andrea Pickett, Louisiana Clinical and Translational Science Center (LA CaTS) Community Engagement and Outreach Program coordinator at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, to our growing team.

Forge AHEAD Center launches Community Micro-Grant Program to strengthen health initiatives across the deep south

The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to announce the launch of its Community Micro-Grant Program, an initiative designed to support organizations in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi that are working to improve health outcomes related to diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

Enhancing food access in Mississippi: How Stewpot and Mississippi Food Network are driving community solutions

What if accessing your next nutritious meal was uncertain? For nearly one in six Mississippians, this is a daily reality.

Bridging science and action: three scholars tackle heart health challenges

The March event featured three Forge AHEAD scholars who shared their research on addressing cardiovascular health through behavioral interventions. Their work, spanning financial wellness, food insecurity, and maternal health, highlights the need for integrated solutions that go beyond traditional public health approaches.

Exploring genetics, nutrition, and food access in Baton Rouge

Where you live shouldn’t determine your ability to access fresh, nutritious food. But for many in North Baton Rouge, it does. In parts of Baton Rouge—especially North Baton Rouge and Scotlandville—accessing fresh, nutritious food is a challenge rather than a choice.

Follow-up: how nutrition is transforming maternal health in Alabama

Last year, Forge AHEAD featured the work of Camille Worthington, Ph.D., RDN, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, who is studying how home-delivered meals could improve pregnancy outcomes for Medicaid-eligible women in Alabama.

Tuskegee leads exploration of AI’s role in improving health outcomes in the deep south

Tuskegee University (TU), a Forge AHEAD Center (FAC) partner, led discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare and public health at a recent bioethics forum marking its 10th anniversary.

The 2025 Birmingham Black Male Summit: Empowering, Connecting, and Driving Change

The 3rd Annual Black Male Summit in Birmingham was an inspiring and transformative gathering that brought together thought leaders, professionals, and community advocates from across the region. Focused on strengthening and supporting Black men and the communities they belong to, this year’s summit featured engaging discussions, interactive workshops, and valuable networking opportunities.

Heart health takes teamwork: How Forge AHEAD and one UAB researcher are creating lasting change

High blood pressure silently affects over 42% of adults in Alabama, often without noticeable symptoms, making it a serious health risk. Managing this condition can be challenging, especially when striving for lasting changes that improve health.

Spotlight on the Birmingham Black Male Summit: Promoting health equity and community wellness for Black Men

The Birmingham Black Male Summit is on a mission to enhance the quality of life for Black men in Birmingham by addressing critical areas of mental, physical, emotional, and financial health.

Our Projects

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People & Partners

Work With Us to Improve Health Outcomes

Contact us today to learn more about the Forge AHEAD Center, our research, and how to partner with us.

Cite Forge AHEAD's Grant

Forge AHEAD Center is a regional comprehensive research center funded by a P50 grant from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD). Click below for citation information.

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