The Ignite the Spark Scholars Program (ISSP) was funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson to advance understanding of the impact of structural racism on health. This one-time, 15-month program aims to build a critical mass of interdisciplinary scholars focused on measures and approaches to understanding and dismantling structural racism. Each scholar received grant support for a pilot study with a partner community organization. Throughout the program, Spark Scholars will engage in a supportive peer-learning community that fosters exchanges with leading scholars in the field while working from their home institutions.
The Spark Scholars Cohort
Dr. Leia Belt, PhD, MA
Home Institution: University of California, Merced
Partner Organization: Iowa Black Doula Collective
Dr. Marybel Gonzalez, PhD, MS
Home Institution: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Partner Organization: Comité Organizador Latino de City Heights (COLCH)
Dr. Alana LeBron, PhD, MSc
Home Institution: University of California, Irvine Public Health
Partner Organizations: Orange County Environmental Justice, Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers, & GREEN-MPNA
Dr. Leah Lomotey-Nakon, PhD, MEd, MTS
Home Institution: Baylor University
Partner Organization: Waco Family Medicine
Dr. Dorian S. Odems, PhD, MPH, CHES
Home Institution: University of California, Davis
Partner Organization: Breast Friends Lactation Support Services
Dr. Mudia Uzzi, PhD, MSc
Home Institution: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Partner Organization: Newark Community Solutions
Program Overview
The mission of the ISSP is to build capacity among early and mid-career scholars (less than 10 years post-doctoral degree) committed to developing novel measures and approaches to studying the impact of structural racism on population health (e.g., measurement issues related to sampling, study design, data collection, construction and validation, and analysis of structural racism measures). The program’s vision is to expand the knowledge base on the impact of structural racism on health by creating learning communities of practice that provide space, time, and support for a new generation of scholars interested in dismantling structural racism through research, advocacy, and policy change. Each scholar will develop a plan that allows for mutually beneficial collaborations and the intellectual freedom to pursue individual research projects.
- Funding to support pilot studies on structural racism and population health (e.g., salary support for Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, statistical and support staff) and other project expenses including consulting expenses, project development support, data acquisition, publication costs, community partner honorariums, and travel and accommodations to attend the annual convenings
- Dedicated time to be part of a supportive community of scholars interested in developing innovative methods and approaches for studying the impact of structural racism on population health
- Tailored training and support via seminars and professional development opportunities (e.g., traveling to national conferences, consultation with experts in the field, etc.)
- Generation of pilot data for independent grant applications to government funding institutions and private foundations
- Research exchanges with scholars, practitioners, and community partners engaged in antiracism research
Spark Scholars activities include:
- Participate in Monthly Peer Learning Communities of Practice
- Engage in Quarterly Seminars and Workshops
- Attend Two National Antiracism Convenings and Retreats
- Advance Research on Measuring and Studying Structural Racism
- Complete their Spark-funded projects within the grant period
- Submit a final project and a financial report one month following the end of the grant
Want to learn more? Please contact Dr. Sativa Banks (banks276@umn.edu) for more information on ISSP. You can also learn more about the types of work by exploring the Spark Scholar’s partner organizations.
Funding Recognition ISSP is funded by an award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Rhonda Jones-Webb is the Principal Investigator and Administrative Director. Dr. Rachel Hardeman previously served as the Principal Investigator.
