Engagement and Education

MRHE Lab is dedicated to providing training opportunities to prepare Community Engagement Specialists for the Public Health Workforce!

Our Community Engagement Specialists are students who interested in a career that primarily involves planning, implementing, and evaluating community-based initiatives or providing direct services to the community. Community Engagement Specialists oversee the planning of Black Maternal Health Week events and the biennial Black Maternal and Reproductive Health Summit at UTA. Community Engagement Specialists are encouraged to attend coalition meetings and complete available trainings or certifications. Finally, there are two student-led initiatives under the MRHE Lab: Reproductive Health Advocates and Preconception Peer Educator Program.

Reproductive Health Advocates

"Logo for 'Power to Decide' with 'Power' in bold, magenta script and 'to Decide' in dark blue capital letters.

This student-led initiative seeks to partner with campus and community groups to address reproductive well-being and justice in Tarrant County. As a part of the Power to Decide Shared Learning Collaborative, this group will work with community partners to (1) implement a Anti-Racism speaker series, (2) implement a Black Reproductive Health & Justice Photovoice Project (ages 18-30), and (3) co-design a community project. The Youth Ambassadors participate in regular trainings and webinars, convenings, and attend trainings.

Fort Worth Report Article

UTA News Release

Youth Ambassadors: Tiara Pratt, Rebecca Jackson
Faculty Mentors: Dr. Jada Reeves, Dr. Brandie Green, Dr. Kyrah Brown

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Three women smiling at the camera while sitting at a table with papers and drinks in a conference room setting.
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UTA Preconception Peer Educator Training & Program (PPEP)

"M F P H" Logo
Logo for Tarrant County, Texas Public Health, featuring a gold circular seal with a star, olive branch, and text.

In partnership with Tarrant County Public Health Division of Family Health Services, Mavericks for Public Health and UTA Public Health Programs, we provide annual preconception peer educator trainings based on an adapted curriculum developed by the Office of Minority Health and facilitate at minimum two student-led educational events/activities per semester. For more information, please email mchequitylab@uta.edu.

TCPH Liaison: Isel Collazo
Program Coordinators: Yarizel Marquez and Kyree Messeh
Faculty Mentors:  Dr. Kyrah Brown, Anita Corbitt, Dr. Brandie Green,

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People gathered around a table engaging in a board game activity, with notebooks and papers scattered on the table in a conference room setting.
A woman giving a presentation in a conference room, standing near a projector screen while attendees sit at tables listening.