What's Happening in Winston-Salem, NC…

A Women of Vision Health Equity Award from the YWCA has been given to Dr. Cynthia Williams Brown of Winston-Salem State University (WSSU).

Dr. Williams Brown is the Interim Associate Dean of Quality Assurance, Education, and Community Engagement in the College of Arts Science, Business, and Education Business at WSSU.

Women who use their leadership, knowledge, and creativity to enhance the way of living in their communities are recognized by the award. Announcements of such accolades are often made known throughout a community with banner printing.

Dr. Williams Brown has worked for over 10 years to raise awareness to the factors that cause disparities in health, and empowers people to create healthier lives for themselves and their families.

Her interest in physical education led her to focus on creating healthy outcomes for those in her community. The United States Department of Agriculture awarded her grant funding to create the Rams Fitness Academy at WSSU. She has worked with the Simon Green Atkins Community Garden to teach parents about growing and selecting healthier food options. The Hosea Project was also launched by Dr. Williams Brown and it works with over 12 churches to raise awareness about diabetes and heart disease, which affect black people at disproportionate rates.

Director of Development at the YWCA, Casie Hammons, said that the voting committee of the YWCA saw Dr. Williams Brown as the ideal candidate for this award given that her career has focused on inequities in health.