The Community Participation Board (CPB), made up of seven West Alabama citizens, serves as a vital link between the Center and the Black Belt. Their mission is to empower the citizens of West Central Alabama to improve their health and enrich their lives through projects involving education and citizen participation. We are very pleased that through this partnership, the CPB not only has a long list of achievements such as the establishment of a Farmer’s Market and assisting with the training of community health advisors, but has established its own nonprofit, called the West Central Alabama Community Health League, Inc. Future plans are underway to secure funding and expand available resources related to parenting and preventing teenage pregnancy.
| Sheryl Threadgill Matthews Mrs. Sheryl Threadgill Matthews is currently the president of the Community Participation Board Steering Committee and has worked with UAB to improve the health of various Black Belt Communities for many years. Her dedication and commitment to health, children, and her community serve as a foundation for her role as the board’s leader. | |
| Donald Stone Donald P. Stone serves as a Prevention Research Center Community leader and is a life-long resident of the Black Belt Region. He is well known as a social and political activist, writer and people's historian. Mr. Stone was educated at Snow Hill Institute and Morehouse College. In addition to his work at the Center for Health Promotion, he has worked for UAB’s Center for Preventive Medicine on projects involving the Black Belt region related to hypertension, and cancer. | |
| Ester Jackson Mrs. Ester Jackson is currently a regional extension agent for the Alabama Cooperative Extension where she focuses on 4-H and Youth Development. Mrs. Jackson’s skills and expertise related to youth and health has benefited the Flying Sparks project and she continues to serve residents of Lowndes County, Alabama. | |
 | Ethel Johnson Ethel was born and grew up in the Black Belt. She has worked with UAB for 13 years and is currently serving as the community coordinator and a community health advisor (CHA) for the Flying Sparks Project. Ethel has learned that it’s very important to take care of your body and staying healthy is the key to a longer life. |
| Mary Slater Mary Slater taught school for 36 years and also worked for the Town Housing Authority for 16 years. As a retired educator, children hold a special place in her heart. She has been a volunteer for most of her life and is always ready and willing to help others. She is currently working on an oral health project at UAB and also serving on the Steering Committee for the Flying Sparks project. Mrs. Slater is a very strong pillar of her community. | |
| Diane Abernathy Elizabeth Diane Abernathy received her BSN degree from Florida A. & M. University located in Tallahassee, Florida, in Nursing, and has done further studies at Johns Hopkins University, Essex Community College, and University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where she focused on health education. She has 12 years of experience as a nurse in various capacities. Currently, she is working with CHIP as a Regional Coordinator for area seven. | |
| Mary Jolly Ms. Jolley is a native of Ward, Alabama (Sumter County). After graduating from the University of Alabama, she was in Washington, D. C. for a number of years where she worked primarily in the development of education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives. She has served on a number of national committees and agencies concerned with workforce issues and provide her expertise in management and policy to the Steering Committee. | |
| James May Mr. James May was mayor of Uniontown, Alabama for four years and served a location director for the Perry County School system for eight years. Mr. May has a strong relationship with UAB and has served a project coordinator for an organ donation program along 4 counties and is currently a survey coordinator for the Flying Sparks project among seven counties in Alabama’s Black Belt. | |
 | Rep. Andrew Hayden Representative Andrew Hayden served as the mayor of Uniontown, Alabama for 23 years. He has been very instrumental in serving the Board because of his passion to help others. Rep. Hayden has influenced changed on many levels by serving as chair for various community organizations such as Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama and Quinty Chapel Church located in Uniontown, Alabama. |
| Minister Dale Braxton Minister Dale Braxton is pastor of Snow Hill Christian Church located in Mt. Willing, Alabama. He is former principal and director of Career Technology in Lowndes County. Many Flying Sparks activities take place at his church and he continues to be very helpful on the project. |