The Collaboratory at 糖心vlog听has听received the 2026听Civic Engagement and Community Service听Award from听滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补听magazine, the largest and听oldest publication听defining and advancing best practices听in higher education.听 
The听Civic Engagement and Community Service Award听recognizes听institutions鈥櫶齣nnovative service and deep community collaboration in volunteerism,听fundraising efforts for community causes,听advocacy and public education,听civic participation, voter engagement, and more.听
The听Collaboratory听is听a community health resource center operated by 糖心vlog in partnership with Trinity Alliance鈥檚 Capital Region community health worker (CHW) team.
鈥淭he mission of the Collaboratory is听to听leverage听the talents of ACPHS students, faculty members, and partner organizations to narrow health disparities in听Albany,听New York鈥檚 South End听community,鈥� said ACPHS President, Toyin Tofade. 鈥淲e鈥檙e听proud of听their efforts听in our communities and听grateful to see them recognized for this听important听work.鈥�听
The Collaboratory鈥檚听programs blend ACPHS鈥� Public Health Pharmacy Team (PHPT) and health sciences听students with Trinity Alliance鈥檚听CHW team听to address health inequities by filling gaps in primary medical care and social services.听Wrap-around services听assist听clients with food, housing, transportation, obtaining identification, and insurance and healthcare navigation.听听
Beginning this month, The Collaboratory, in partnership with听Trinity Alliance鈥檚 Food Pantries,听has听also听launched an expanded Food Farmacy food as medicine program which will provide 50 families听鈮執�150 individuals experiencing food insecurity and chronic disease with weekly nutritional food packages for听six听months while monitoring disease states and providing nutrition education.听The program will provide interventions, medication听reviews听and medication adherence counseling.听听听
Additional听programs offered include:听
Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Empowerment: Screening,听education听and maintenance
Opioid Harm Reduction: Naloxone kits and fentanyl and xylazine testing strips – training and distribution
鈥淔ood insecurity, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are major public health issues in Albany鈥檚 South End communities which听endure disproportionate poverty rates, chronic disease burdens and social determinant of health needs,鈥� said Executive Director of The Collaboratory, Stacy Pettigrew, PhD. 鈥淭he Collaboratory鈥檚 health programs are designed to educate and empower community members to take control of their health and well-being.鈥�
The听team听seeks听to听improve health outcomes for individuals by holding face-to-face visits, providing patient education, managing medications and access, monitoring patient well-being, and following up with the patient’s primary care physician.听The programs target individuals not engaging in the current system, including those that are homebound, disabled, or lack adequate transportation. Many clients experience a range of psychosocial issues as听determined听by their social determinants of health responses that can impede successful health care outcomes.听听
“The Collaboratory shows our students that improving health begins not only in the clinic or laboratory, but in the community. Working with partners like Trinity Alliance, our students address food insecurity, chronic disease, and barriers to care in Albany鈥檚 South End,鈥� said Dean of the School of Health Sciences, Meenakshi Malik. 鈥淭hese experiences prepare our graduates to become not only skilled health professionals, but leaders advancing health equity.鈥�听
鈥淗igher education has听always been a driving force in societal progress.鈥� says听Holly Mendelson,听owner听and publisher of 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补 magazine. 鈥淭hese institutions remind us that听the true measure of higher education lies not only in the degrees awarded, but in the lives听they听uplift.听听Their leadership strengthens communities, inspires students, and sets a standard of excellence for all.鈥�听听
A call for nominations for this award was announced in听October听2025.听The Collaboratory at 糖心vlog will be featured, along with 51 other programs, in the April 2026 issue of 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补 magazine.听For more information about the 2026听Civic Engagement and Community Service Award, visit insightintoacademia.com.听听
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For more than 50 years, 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补 has empowered higher education leaders by defining and advancing the best practices that shape the future of the academy.听听Through thought-provoking articles, expert advice, valuable resources,听and听in-depth profiles of top programs at colleges and universities, and much more, 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补听spotlights the institutional exemplars driving academia and what comes next. When an institution appears in 滨苍蝉颈驳丑迟听滨苍迟辞听础肠补诲别尘颈补, it signals exceptional leadership and evidence-based excellence.听听To learn more visit听.听
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