Welcome to the School of Health Professions Center for Community Engagement!
As a group of health professionals, we are committed to furthering the vision of Carlos Vidal, PhD, who created the Center for Community Engagement (CCE) in 2014 to address social and health-related disparities within our local communities. Dr. Vidal’s commitment to the community, through direct engagement with dedicated university faculty and staff, predates the launch of the CCE by over 40 years. Without question, he was ahead of his time and dedicated to equity, education, and engagement at a level that continues to inspire.
The CCE has continued through the leadership of Dr. Brooke Ellison, Dr. Stacy Jaffee Gropack, and Jessica Rotolo, MA. Their leadership has supported the members of the CCE to continue Dr. Vidal’s vision of an inclusive, equitable, and diverse society of engaged citizens. It is my great honor to continue to support the CCE and its mission.
An overview of the Center Projects speaks to the unwavering dedication by the CCE community. School of Health Professions faculty, staff, and students seek to address the specific and self-identified needs of our communities. Through co-constructed initiatives, CCE members strive to strengthen our society with a focus on youth, individuals with disabilities, and underserved communities. Resultant from these collaborations are programs such as the Health Careers Academic Readiness and Excellence (HCARE) Summer Institute which provides education and exposure to the health professions for high school students. The Long Island Digital Inclusion Coalition was created to address access to the internet, viewed as a right, not a privilege. Community health fairs will continue to provide accessible healthcare awareness and services to communities across Long Island. In addition, an inaugural conference, Inclusion Done Right! is the direct result of input from children with disabilities and their families and caregivers regarding the need to promote inclusive opportunities within local communities for meaningful recreation and leisure activities. The list of projects continues and we firmly believe there is more to be done!
Community engagement must involve the community. Although this is an obvious statement, the CCE can only exist through partnerships with our community members. Whether you are part of an organization, an individual looking for more information, or have an idea for collaboration with the School of Health Professions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you and keeping you updated on our events and projects throughout the year.
With gratitude,
Agnes McConlogue Ferro, MAPT, DPT, PhD
Director of the Center for Community Engagement and Leadership Development
