CMG Spotlight: Food Is Medicine – Edwards Street Fellowship Center Brings Fresh Solutions to Diabetes Care in Hattiesburg

Community Micro-Grant Spotlight: Food is Medicine – Edwards Street Fellowship Center Brings Fresh Solutions to Diabetes Care in Hattiesburg

In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Edwards Street Fellowship Center has long been a place where compassion meets action. Through its Fellowship Health Clinic, the Center provides free medical, dental, and pharmaceutical care for uninsured and underinsured adults in Forrest and Lamar counties. Every service, every interaction, shines with the Center’s mission to extend a helping hand to those who need it most and to reflect the light of faith.

The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to support this mission through a Community Micro-Grant awarded to Edwards Street Fellowship Center for their project, “FOOD IS MEDICINE: Health Outcomes Based on Consistent Access to Fresh Produce for Diabetic, Obese, and/or Hypertensive Patients of a Free Clinic.” This initiative puts fresh fruits and vegetables directly into the hands of patients who need them most and tracks how that access supports their health.

A Fresh Approach to Managing Chronic Conditions

For many of the Fellowship Health Clinic’s patients, barriers to health are not just medical; they are practical. Every patient in the program qualifies as low-income, and consistent access to fresh, quality food is a daily challenge. This reality makes managing conditions like diabetes and hypertension especially difficult.

That is where the Food Is Medicine project comes in. As the start of the project, ten patients diagnosed with diabetes and/or hypertension are receiving produce vouchers to redeem at a local grocery store. In addition to their free medications and supplies, participants meet regularly with registered nurse educators, including volunteer professionals, instructors, and nursing students from the University of Southern Mississippi, for personalized chronic condition education.

Through these one-on-one sessions, patients learn how diet, exercise, and daily habits directly influence their health. Graduate students from the University’s nutrition program have also joined in, providing individualized nutrition consultations, diabetic cookbooks, and “My Plate” portion control tools to help patients put new habits into practice.

Tracking Health, Building Hope

This project is about more than providing resources; it is about measuring real change. Over a twelve-month period, the team is tracking each participant’s weight, A1C levels, and blood pressure to assess how consistent access to fresh produce impacts their overall health. So far, results are promising, and the enthusiasm is contagious.

“Our patients are delighted to receive their fresh produce vouchers,” said Ann McCullen, Executive Director of Edwards Street Fellowship Center. “The grocery store we partner with provides detailed receipts for every voucher, so we know patients are buying fruits and vegetables and enjoying them.”

Monthly check-ins for weight and blood pressure, along with quarterly A1C tracking, are painting a clear picture of how nutritional support translates into improved outcomes. The team has also shared the project’s progress with community groups, donors, and board members, sparking broader conversations around food access in Hattiesburg.

Nourishing Bodies and Communities

While the data collection continues, the project has already achieved something powerful: it has connected the dots between food security, education, and long-term health. It has also shown how collaborative community partnerships between local organizations and universities can drive meaningful change at the local level.

As National Diabetes Month shines a spotlight on prevention and management, Edwards Street Fellowship Center’s work is a timely reminder that health starts with access to care, to knowledge, and to nutritious food.

“We are grateful for the opportunity for improved health that this Forge AHEAD micro-grant provides for our patients,” McCullen said. “It’s opening doors to better health, one grocery basket at a time.”

The Forge AHEAD Center is honored to partner with community organizations like Edwards Street Fellowship Center to advance health across the Deep South. To learn more about Edwards Street Fellowship Center, visit their website.

Written by: Carol Agomo, Ph.D.

Community Micro-Grant Spotlight: Pinktopps – Building a Healthier Future after Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to create awareness and honor the millions of lives affected by breast cancer (WHO, 2025). For Alabama’s Pinktopps, this month is also about honoring people who have faced breast cancer and to spotlight programs that help survivors thrive. The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to support Pinktopps Inc. through our Community Micro-Grant Program for their project, “Pinktopps Building a Healthier Future after Breast Cancer”. This community-based wellness initiative focuses on the real work of returning to life as normal as possible, one step at a time.

Pinktopps’ project is exactly the kind of community-first innovation the Forge AHEAD Center aims to lift up. The Center’s efforts place values on programs that are rooted in local culture, led by people with lived experience, and designed to be sustainable beyond the grant period.

Who the program serves and why it matters

Pinktopps targets young survivors and women with limited healthcare access who often face challenges to follow-up care and wellness resources. The program also provides education and support for families and caregivers, so recovery is supported at home. By focusing on younger survivors ages 19 to 45, Pinktopps supports a population that is building families, careers, and community roles while coping with survivorship.

This work matters because the transition from clinic to “life after treatment” is a time requiring increased support. Programs like Pinktopps help survivors move from short-term recovery into long-term wellness through peer-led support, practical skills, and connections to local resources.

A program built from lived experience

Pinktopps was created with the understanding that surviving cancer is not only a clinical journey. It is a life change that touches the body, emotions, relationships, spirit, and daily routines. The program centers lived experience at every level. Facilitators and peer leaders are trained to lead with their own histories in mind. That shared experience creates trust and makes it easier for participants to try new strategies, ask hard questions, and stay engaged. Peer leaders, survivor participants, and family members shape every session and every resource. Their leadership creates programs that are respectful, useful, and ready to be shared across communities.

The program sits on three core principles. First, health promotion that gives survivors practical tools for daily life. Second, community engagement that brings trusted local networks into the work. Third, peer empowerment that values survivor leadership and pushes decision making down to the people the program serves. Together these principles shape a holistic and sustainable model of survivorship care.

The Wellness Wheel: a whole-person curriculum

Pinktopps uses a Wellness Wheel Model that integrates six domains of health. Each domain is taught in ways that are practical, developed with input from community partners to reflect local context, and trauma informed.

Physical Wellness
Strengthening the body through movement adapted from physical therapy principles, good sleep habits, and gentle exercise that meets survivors where they are.

Nutritional Wellness
Practical education on meal planning, cooking on a budget, and ways to use anti-inflammatory foods to support recovery and long-term health.

Emotional Wellness
Group counseling, peer support circles, and journaling workshops that help people process what they have been through and build emotional tools for the future.

Spiritual Wellness
Mindfulness, guided meditation, nature therapy, and gratitude practices that support inner restoration and resilience.

Social Wellness
Safe spaces for social reengagement, relationship building, and reconnecting with family, friends, and community after treatment.

Environmental Wellness
Hands-on activities like growing food, nature-based sessions, and guidance on choosing eco-conscious health products that support a healthier home and neighborhood.

This Breast Cancer Survivor Month, help us spread the word. Share this post with your networks, invite a survivor to a Pinktopps session, or connect a community partner who can help grow the program. When communities and researchers work together, survivors gain both the practical tools and the social support they need to thrive.

Written by: Carol Agomo, Ph.D.

InspireHER Women’s Health Walk: Walking to Wellness

The Forge AHEAD Center is proud to collaborate with community partners to support the InspireHER Women’s Health Walk, taking place on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at Black Creek Park in Fultondale, AL. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m., with the program and walk from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The InspireHER Walk is more than just a morning in the park. It is a celebration of women’s health and wellness, a chance to connect with others, and an opportunity to take steps toward healthier futures. With the theme “Walking to Wellness,” the event invites women, families, and the broader community to come together for a morning of movement, learning, and encouragement.

Group from 2024 InspireHER Walk

Participants will engage with healthcare providers, access health awareness information, and explore practical ways to take charge of their health. October is recognized as Health Literacy Month, which makes this walk even more timely. Attendees will be able to gather resources, ask questions, and strengthen their ability to make informed choices about their health and well-being.

This year, the walk also highlights October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with an emphasis on lifting up survivors and their stories of strength. As Dr. Angela B. Haynes, CEO of InspireHER Global, shares, “October is a month of both awareness and action. By walking together, we honor the journeys of survivors while standing firm in our commitment to build healthier, safer communities for all women.”

As a planning partner, the Forge AHEAD Center is committed to advancing the message of cardiometabolic health. The walk reflects our shared mission: to promote healthier lifestyles, expand access to health screenings, and support policies that give our community the resources they need to thrive.

Walking improves more than just physical health. It strengthens the heart, reduces stress, boosts mental well-being, and reminds us that a community moving forward together is stronger than any individual walking alone.

We invite you to join us at Black Creek Park on October 18. Together, let’s keep Walking to Wellness and building healthier communities, step by step.

To learn more about InspireHER Global, the walk, and to register, please visit inspireherglobal.com.

Written by: Carol Agomo, Ph.D.

Health Literacy Month: Taking Charge of Your Heart and Health

Vicky, or Ms. V. as many in the neighborhood call her, lives in a small town in Alabama, loves her Sunday gumbo, and keeps the family photo albums on the porch for visitors to see. Last winter she started feeling more tired than usual and sometimes felt lightheaded when she stood up too fast. At first, she blamed it on a busy schedule and caring for her grandchildren. Then her niece, who is a nurse, noticed Vivian’s hands were shaky when she opened a pill bottle and encouraged her to get a checkup.

At her checkup, Ms. V. learned that her blood pressure was higher than it should be. She felt scared and overwhelmed by the numbers and the medical terms. Her niece sat with her during the visit, wrote down what the nurse said, and helped Ms. V. set a reminder to take her medications on her phone. Ms. V. also talked with her pastor, who connected her with the church wellness team. Between her niece, her church friends, and a kind nurse at the clinic, Ms. V. started to feel supported instead of alone.

Over a few months Ms. V. began making small changes. She used a simple pill box, set an alarm for medicine time, and started walking with a neighbor three times a week. At the Sunday potlucks she started asking the cook for a smaller portion and often added a side of greens to her plate. She keeps a little notebook with her blood pressure readings and brings it to appointments. These changes did not happen all at once; they happened step by step with people who cared for her.

Health Literacy Month

The Forge AHEAD Center works with community partners, researchers, and healthcare providers in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to reduce cardiometabolic risk and support healthy living. We are sharing these tips for Health Literacy Month because clear information and small, doable steps help people protect their hearts and reduce risk for chronic diseases. This month we want to spotlight simple tools you can use right away that make it easier to take those next steps.

October is Health Literacy Month, a time when communities nationwide focus on making health information easier to find and easier to use. Health literacy is not about being a doctor. It is about understanding health information and using it to make choices that keep you and your family well. For people in the Deep South, where heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes affect many families, stronger health literacy can help turn fear into action.

Download our one-week Health Literacy Month checklist to help you keep track of blood pressure, medicines, and simple steps you can try this week. [Download the checklist]

What health literacy looks like in real life

Health literacy means you can read a prescription label and know when to take it. It means you can understand what your blood sugar and blood pressure numbers mean. It means you feel comfortable asking your doctor or nurse to explain something again in plain language. It also means knowing how to find trustworthy local resources when you need help.

Good health literacy helps prevent cardiometabolic diseases. The good news is that many of the changes that lower risk are within reach and can be easy shifts to make.

Health Literacy Month Checklist

One week. Small steps. Better health.

Use this checklist during Health Literacy Month to build small habits that help prevent heart disease and diabetes. Pick one or two items to start. Check the box when you do each task. Bring this page to your next clinic visit.

Download the checklist

You do not have to be perfect

Prevention is about progress, not perfection. Remembering to take your medicine twice instead of zero times or walking 10 minutes more each day are all wins. Share what you learn with a neighbor or a community group. That ripple can help families across your town stay healthier.

Ms. V. did not change everything at once. She asked simple questions, leaned on her niece and her church friends, and kept a small notebook of her blood pressure readings. Over time those steps became habits that protect her heart and health.

Download our one-week Health Literacy Month checklist to help you keep track of blood pressure, medicines, and simple steps you can try this week. [Download the checklist]

Written by: Carol Agomo, Ph.D.

Breaking the silence: why men’s mental health matters

Many men face barriers to addressing mental health concerns, often shaped by longstanding social expectations and personal responsibilities. The Alabama Department of Public Health recently shared several reasons why some men hesitate to seek support. In recognition of Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Jared Ball, MPH, Forge AHEAD program evaluator, and Carol Agomo, Ph.D., Forge AHEAD program director for community outreach and engagement in Alabama, explore these challenges and offer practical, respectful approaches to address them.

Jared Ball, MPH, Forge AHEAD program evaluator

Carol Agomo, Ph.D., Forge AHEAD program director for community outreach and engagement in Alabama

“I’ve learned to deal with it.”

Men often balance work, family, and caregiving responsibilities without addressing their own well-being. This can lead to increased stress and decreased capacity to manage daily demands. Taking time for mental health is not a luxury. It is a foundation for sustainable caregiving and personal health.

“Take some time for yourself to address your mental health needs. You shouldn’t expect perfection every day – your best effort will look different from some days than others. When I worked in palliative care, the fellowship program built in self-care workshops each semester for the fellows. The rationale: if you’re not well, you cannot fully provide adequate care to someone else. Even setting aside 15 to 30 minutes a few times a week for something that helps you recharge—whether that’s a walk, a hobby, or a self-care session—can make a real difference.””

-Jared Ball

“I do not want to burden anyone.”

Men may hesitate to share their experiences out of respect for others’ time or emotional capacity. However, social connection is essential to mental health. Building a small network of trusted individuals, such as a former coworker, a close friend, or a family member, can create space for healthy conversations.

“Build your support cabinet. Identify two or three people you trust—friends from college, a colleague, a sibling—and let them know you might reach out if things get heavy. It’s also helpful to consider counseling. Therapists offer a neutral, supportive space with tools that can complement what friends and family provide.”

-Carol Agomo

“I feel embarrassed” or “There is stigma around this topic.”

Mental health concerns are medical issues, similar to heart conditions or diabetes. Seeking support should be seen as a responsible health decision. Increasing awareness and encouraging open conversations helps reduce stigma and improve outcomes.

“For the men in your life, consider this: strength doesn’t have to mean silence. I believe strength can also mean being willing to face what’s difficult, even when that takes more courage than keeping quiet.”

-Jared Ball

“I do not want to admit I need help” or “I don’t want to appear weak.”

Acknowledging challenges is a sign of self-awareness and resilience. Many men are socialized to value self-reliance, but collaboration and support are also strengths. Growth and connection begin when individuals feel safe to share their experiences.

“Let’s think differently about what it means to be tough. To me, it’s not about pretending everything is fine. It’s about having the honesty and self-respect to speak up when it’s not.”

-Carol Agomo

“I have no one to talk to.”

Feelings of isolation are serious and can increase mental health risks. If you do not currently have someone to talk to, resources are available. Peer support groups, community health organizations, and faith-based initiatives often offer confidential and accessible avenues for connection.

“Let’s continue to show up for the men in our lives. No one should feel alone in navigating mental health. Remind the people you care about that they matter and that support is always within reach.”

-Jared Ball

“As women, daughters, partners, friends, and colleagues, we often witness the emotional load men carry, sometimes without ever speaking about it. This month, let’s move away from the idea that silence equals strength. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Each of us can help create an environment where openness is encouraged, support is available, and seeking help is seen as a basic part of wellness, not a weakness.”

-Carol Agomo

“I do not want to admit I need help” or “I don’t want to appear weak.”

View post shared by Alabama Public Health (@alabamapublichealth)

Why this matters

Men’s mental health influences families, workplaces, and communities. Addressing it is essential for promoting holistic public health. During Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, we can each take part by encouraging conversations, listening without judgment, and sharing resources that foster well-being.

Supporting mental health is not about fixing anyone. It is about creating environments where individuals feel heard, valued, and equipped to seek care when needed.

Written by: Jared Ball, MPH, Carol Agomo, Ph.D.