SCHOOLS OF STUDY
School of Business
School of Liberal Arts
School of Science
School of Pharmacy
School of Nursing
School of Medicine
UNIVERSITIES UNIVERSITIES
In 2023, COCCI hosted five Community Conversations, adding three accredited universities to the roster, hosting the first Community Conversations for University Faculty, and returning to Xavier University of Louisiana for a second year.
Xavier University of Lousiana (80 attendees)
University of Maryland Eastern Shore (114 attendees)
Delaware State University (126 attendees)
Howard University (72 attendees)
Total Participation: 392 attendees (26% increase)
CHALLENGES CHALLENGES
Pre-event survey responses
Pre-event survey responses
Understood what a Chronic Illness was
Shared that this was their first time attending an event focused on digestive diseases
STUDENT REACH STUDENT REACH
Admitted to struggling with their mental health
Admitted they experience stomach pain, bloody stool, or other gastrointestinal symptoms
*Community Conversation Emails with flyer were sent to all campus students
Total Reach: 31,151 Total Reach: 31,151
Note: Flyers were also shared via social media platforms however account reach was not provided
Unfortunately, while Bowie State University was scheduled as a partner for 2023, a school shooting affected our ability to host the program. We are working to reschedule Community Conversations at their school and hope to add them in 2024.
Previous challenges, like delayed communication, limited staffing, and the time invested to secure partnerships, still plague the ability to increase the number of schools within a semester. For additional details, please reference the 2022 Impact Report.
IMPACT OF PROGRAM IMPACT OF PROGRAM
Maintaining the attention of students for the duration of the program proved to be difficult and we experienced an extremely large drop-off that prompted us to change our program format By incorporating more interactive segments and relaxing the format of each segment, we were able to keep more than 95% of the students in the room throughout each event This shift drastically increased the number of students who were positively impacted by the information shared and to date, our average open rate for Community Conversation emails is 60%.
For the first time, raised awareness about digestive
For the first time, raised awareness about digestive disorders and chronic illnesses to university faculty disorders and chronic illnesses to university faculty through a Lunch & Learn session. We tackled how the through a Lunch & Learn session. We tackled how the lack of information not only impacts their connection lack of information not only impacts their connection to the student experience, but also how their own to the student experience, but also how their own mental health plays a role in the development of mental health plays a role in the development of sstudents. tudents.
Increased awareness of the intersections between gut health and mental health, creating a safe space for students and faculty to acknowledge their state of health and ways to improve it.
43% 65% 93% 25%
TOP
0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 XULA UMES DESU HU BSU
COGI Mission
Our mission is to improve the quality of life for BIPOC who are affected by IBD, Digestive Disorders, and associated Chronic Illnesses; through Community, Research, Education, and Advocacy.
COGI Vision COGI Vision
An equitable healthcare system freed from the seeds of racism, providing the space and opportunity for all individuals to be regarded as such, to have their care delivered based on needs and best opportunities for optimal outcomes.
Community Conversations Community Conversations
Leadership Leadership
Melodie Narain-Blackwell COGI Founder and President
Marilyn Sawyer, CEM Director, Events & Communications, COGI
Nakia Thomas Manager, Events, COGI
Dr. Darrell M. Gray II, MD, MPH, FACG President and CEO, Wellpoint Maryland
Matthew McCurdy, MPH, PMP Executive Director and Co-Founder, BLKHLTH
Dr. Joshua Anthony MD, MBA Psychiatry Resident “The Therapy Doc”
Rwenshaun Miller
Psychotherapist and Founder, Eustress Inc.
Community Conversations Community Conversations
Presenting Sponsor: Presenting Sponsor:
What information stood out to What information stood out to students during the event? students during the event?
The reality that IBD can affect your body inside and out.
The relation between mental health and gut health. The difference between IBD and IBS.
How well the speakers connected with the audience. Program
The inspiring and personal stories from speakers.
The safe space to talk.
The mental health check in.
The organization of the event.
COGI Mission
Supported by: Program Supported by:
