At the Maya Angelou Research Center for Healthy Communities (MARCH), education and training are central to our mission. We cultivate a diverse, community-engaged workforce equipped to address complex drivers of health across vulnerable and historically underserved populations.

Our Model Integrates

  • Academic rigor
  • Community partnerships
  • Faith-health collaborations
  • Rural health engagement
  • Translational science and innovation
  • Evidence-based best practices

From high school students to senior faculty and community leaders, MARCH provides structured pathways to prepare individuals to lead in research and community health. 

Training Continuum

MARCH offers a structured, multi-level training pipeline designed to build sustained capacity across academia and communities.

Community and Faith Leader Health and Research Training

MARCH is committed to bi-directional learning and co-created solutions.

  • Faith-integrated health education
  • Sustainable health ministry frameworks 

Our model respects cultural context, faith traditions and community knowledge, while maintaining scientific rigor and evidence-based practices.

Rural Health Research Education 

Recognizing the disproportionate burden of chronic disease in rural communities, MARCH prepares trainees and community partners to:

  • Conduct community needs assessments
  • Implement culturally responsive interventions
  • Engage with medically underserved and HPSA-designated areas
  • Develop sustainable rural health research partnerships