Epidemiology and Health Behaviors Assistant Professor Tiwa Ajibewa, PhD, has been awarded both the Alliance for Research in Chicagoland Communities (ARCC) Research Pilot Grant and the Osher Center for Integrative Health Community-Academic Partnership Pilot Grant to advance community-engaged research focused on the health and well-being of Black immigrant communities in Chicago.
The project is driven by both Dr. Ajibewa's personal connection to the work and his recognition that Black immigrants are often overlooked in broader immigration narratives despite facing unique challenges. These include disproportionate rates of contact with the criminal and immigration systems, detention and deportation, linguistic isolation, high rates of uninsurance, limited familiarity with U.S. healthcare systems, and increasingly hostile anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Through these pilot grants, Dr. Ajibewa will partner with the United African Organization to identify the most pressing health priorities within Black immigrant communities. The project will also adapt the Friendship Bench, an evidence-based mental health intervention delivered by trained community health workers, to better meet the needs of Black immigrants in Chicago.
These pilot grants will lay the foundation for future research and community partnerships aimed at reducing health disparities and expanding access to culturally relevant support for Black immigrants.
Congratulations, Tiwa!
