Whole Communities—Whole Health

We had a great time at the Burberry Middle School Fiesta today! With performances from the talented ballet folclórico group, mariachi band, drumming group, and lots of great resources. What a great way to start the weekend!

🌟 Community Strategy Team Spotlight 🌟

Meet Maggie Jaime, Executive Director of AVANCE-Austin and a Community Liaison with Whole Communities—Whole Health.

Maggie’s career has focused on walking alongside women, children and families through work in child welfare, intimate partner violence advocacy, early childhood and caregiver engagement.

Today, she leads AVANCE-Austin’s work with caregivers and young children, helping build pathways toward social and economic mobility. Through WCWH, Maggie helps bring family perspectives into research spaces where decisions are being made.

Her work reflects a core belief that health outcomes are shaped by the environments and opportunities families can access, and that research should listen to community voice and turn data into action.

💬 Why did you join WCWH?
“I believe in research that listens to community voice and turns data into action.”

💬 What does community mean to you?
“Community means not walking alone. It’s about showing up for one another, sharing strength and creating spaces where everyone has the chance to thrive.”

💬 What are you proud of?
“Being part of a team that centers families and young children in everything we do.”

💬 What have you learned from being a Community Liaison?
“That data should be accessible and meaningful to the communities it represents. WCWH brings information back to families in ways that empower them.”

We’re grateful for Maggie’s leadership and the family-centered perspective she brings to WCWH.

Looking for something fun to do with the family this Saturday? ☀️

Springfest is happening at Fisherman’s Park in Bastrop this Saturday, April 18 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Families can enjoy a kids play zone, food trucks, games, music and time with trusted community organizations.

Whole Communities–Whole Health is proud to support this free event, which helps bring families together and encourages conversations around safe, supportive relationships for children. It’s also a chance to connect with local resources and enjoy a day in the park.

Note about the weather: We will be there rain or shine! The event will only close in the event of thunderstorms.

Learn more: springfest.org

🌟 Community Strategy Team Spotlight 🌟

Meet Dr. Charles Moody, Jr., founder of the Community Coalition for Health and a Community Strategy Team member dedicated to advancing equity, connection and opportunity in Austin.

Dr. Moody brings a strong commitment to community engagement and collaboration, working to ensure that research reflects the priorities and lived experiences of the people it serves. Through his involvement with WCWH, he helps strengthen relationships between the university and the community, supporting more inclusive and responsive approaches to research.

💬 Why did you join WCWH?
“I wanted to be part of work that truly listens to the community and values lived experience.”

💬 What does community mean to you?
“Community is about connection, trust and showing up for one another.”

💬 What are you proud of?
“Creating spaces where people feel heard and supported, and where their voices lead to real change.”

💬 What have you learned from the Community Strategy Team?
“That meaningful change happens when people come together, listen and work toward shared goals.”

Thank you, Dr. Moody, for the leadership and perspective you bring to this work! ✨

🌟 Community Strategy Team Spotlight 🌟

Meet Carol Lilly, founder and President/Chair of the Boomers Collaborative Foundation and a longtime leader within Whole Communities—Whole Health.

Carol served on the inaugural Community Strategy Team and now continues her work as a Community Liaison on the Data Return Workgroup, helping ensure research findings are shared back with participants in clear, accessible ways that reflect community experience.

Through the Boomers Collaborative Foundation, Carol is working to develop an affordable shared-equity housing model in Austin that will allow older adults to share resources, collaborate and age in place together. Her work centers on helping seniors share resources, collaborate and age in place together in community.

💬 Why did you join WCWH?
“I believe research should begin with and remain accountable to the people most affected by it. WCWH models how universities and communities can genuinely learn from one another.”

💬 What does community mean to you?
“Community is the fabric that makes life meaningful. It’s people showing up for one another, sharing wisdom and shaping environments where everyone can thrive.”

💬 What are you proud of?
“I’m proud of helping open doors for older adults whose voices are often overlooked. Seeing ideas take root from real community conversations means a great deal to me.”

💬 What have you learned from the Community Strategy Team?
“That steady, long-term collaboration matters. When community voices are consistently included, the work becomes more grounded, compassionate and effective.”

We’re truly grateful for Carol’s leadership and the perspective she brings to community-rooted research.

🌟 Community Strategy Team Spotlight 🌟

Please join us in congratulating Mia Greer on her promotion to CEO of Community Coalition for Health!

Mia brings a deep compassion and bold vision to everything she does — from building trusted partnerships, to leading transformative community health work. She is also a longtime co-chair of the WCWH Community Strategy Team (CST), where she has helped guide how research connects with and reflects the priorities of local communities.

As a registered nurse with over 35 years of nursing experience and a degree from the University of Alabama, Mia has also led clinical laboratory operations in 13 states and previously served as Vice President of Operations at ProLab, Inc., a Fortune 500 company. Through her work with C2H, she has spent more than a decade empowering families — especially those affected by chronic conditions — with tools, information and a strong support network.

As one of WCWH’s longest standing CST members, Mia continues to help shape how research at UT Austin is guided by and responsive to community insight.

💬 Why did you join WCWH?

“I wanted the communities I serve to understand that the university belongs to them too. I believed I could help connect UT to the people.”

💬 What does community mean to you?

“A trusted space where you can live, love, laugh and grow — with support.”

💬 What are you proud of?

“Helping people feel the collective power they already have. We build open doors and shared responsibilities. That’s what strengthens resilience.”

💬 What have you learned from the CST?

“That institutions can change. UT listened to the community and made real changes based on what they heard.”

Congratulations, Mia — we’re honored to continue working alongside you in this next chapter. 💙

Congratulations to Nicole Chuecas on officially stepping into her new role as Research Study Coordinator for Whole Communities—Whole Health.

Nicole has been a key part of WCWH for the last two years, first as a research associate and now as a coordinator supporting our community partners, families and research teams. Her work helps power the long-term success of the cohort study as we deepen our understanding of child and family well-being in Central Texas.

We’re grateful for her commitment to the project and excited to see her continue to grow in this role.

👏 Please join us in congratulating Nicole!

Did you know your hair can hold clues about the air you breathe each day?

UT researchers Anna Neville and Pawel Misztal are showing how a single strand can capture a months-long chemical snapshot of our everyday environments. In their study, they scanned donated hair samples and detected more than a thousand compounds that build up across days and weeks.

The project received early pilot support from Whole Communities–Whole Health. The team also shared simple steps that can lower everyday exposure, like opening windows for a few minutes or choosing products without phthalates.

📖 Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4ajAD7h

Our Whole Communities, Whole Health team had a wonderful time volunteering with the Del Valle Community Coalition Non-Profit at their annual Turkey Drive. With support from DVCC organizers and community partners, 500 turkeys and meal kits were shared with families ahead of the holiday.

We’re grateful for everyone who showed up to support Del Valle neighbors and strengthen community care. 🧡

🌟 Community Strategy Team Spotlight 🌟

Meet Zobeida Guerrero, a Program Manager at AVANCE-Austin, longtime Community Strategy Team member and Community Liaison for WCWH’s Data Interpretation Workgroup.

Now in her third year on the CST, Zobeida brings over a decade of experience supporting families through AVANCE. She offers parenting education, emotional support and access to community resources. At WCWH she helps ensure that Southeast Austin families are represented not just in research participation but in how data is interpreted and shared back.

💬 Why did you join WCWH?
“To be part of something that listens to the community and creates lasting change.”

💬 What does community mean to you?
“Connection. Community is where we support and uplift one another with love and respect.”

💬 What are you proud of?
“The relationships I’ve built with families. Seeing their confidence grow and knowing I played a small part. That means everything.”

💬 What have you learned from the CST?
“That teamwork is everything. We learn more when we listen, collaborate and show up for each other.”

Thank you, Zobeida, for your care, leadership and commitment to the Southeast Austin community 💙

Feeling stressed? It’s not just in your head. It may be written in your DNA.

Researchers at UT Austin found that how stressed you feel can change how your genes function within just 90 minutes.

Participants who reported higher stress showed rapid shifts in DNA methylation, a process that turns genes on or off, even when their hormone levels did not.

The study shows that paying attention to people’s experiences of stress may be just as important as measuring hormones or other markers when it comes to protecting long-term health.

📖 Read the story: https://bit.ly/4nStrCq