Establish partnerships
within the community
In the United States, COVID-19 has taken its toll on almost every community. But some groups — especially African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, immigrants and Native Americans — have suffered more than others. The Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against Health Disparities is a national network of community-engaged researchers, community-based organizations, government officials and public health experts working to reduce the burden of the disease on those who are hardest hit by it. Funding for CEAL comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The Colorado Community Engagement Alliance Against Health Disparities (CO-CEAL) is a partnership between the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, several community-based organizations, and dozens of trusted local community members. Our mission is to impact health disparities through active community engagement and outreach, capacity building, and long-lasting community partnerships to improve diversity and inclusion in health research. We currently work with the following communities: Urban Latina/o/x community in Pueblo and Metro Denver, Rural Latina/o/x community in the San Luis Valley, Urban Black/African American community in Metro Denver, Rural African Immigrant community in Ft. Morgan and Greeley, and the American Indian/Alaska Native community in Metro Denver, Front Range, and southwest Colorado.
As part of CO-CEAL, we are working to understand and address the spread of health information in communities by conducting weekly surveys of community members in participating regions. This initiative, iHeard Colorado, helps to build knowledge in communities about the health-related topics being surveyed.
Establish partnerships
within the community
Address misinformation
within communities of color
Grow an understanding
and trust in science
Accelerate the uptake
of beneficial treatments
Community | Location |
Rural Latino/a/x | San Luis Valley |
Urban Latino/a/x | Denver/Pueblo |
Urban Black/African American | Denver Metro |
Rural African Immigrant | Morgan/Weld Counties |
American Indian/Alaska Native | Denver Metro, Front Range, Southwest Colorado |
CEAL Contacts |
Donald Nease, MD University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus |
Ricardo Gonzalez-Fisher, MD Servicios de La Raza |