[stim-yuh-luh s]  - something that excites action, feeling and thought.

Public Policy

"With a focus on health equity and the overall drivers of health outcomes (health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment), these indicators and targets will help drive state and local-level activities, provide a springboard for collaboration and innovation, and develop a new vision for public health in our state to improve the health and well-being of all people of North Carolina."  Source:  HNC 2030 Report 

Healthy North Carolina  2030 Community Input Sessions

"As a component of the Healthy North Carolina 2030 project, the NCIOM staff traveled to 8 counties across North Carolina to solicit community input on a select list of population health indicators."   Working together with diverse public health stakeholders and cross sector collaborators across the region [ including our local former Director of Public Health, the Late William Smith ]  Robeson County hosted 34 participants representing 11 counties at the regional input session at UNC Pembroke on MAR 6 2019 @ 12:00p-2:30p.  [ Robeson Co. Input Session Summary ]

Several years prior to serving as a member of the Healthy NC 2030 Taskforce Jay increasingly gained the attention of a growing number of diverse local, state, and national public health stakeholders across a myriad of sectors including government, healthcare, public health, business, education, philanthropy, nonprofit, community development, and the community synergized by  effective system change through public policy advocacy,  efficiently composed letters that connect dots multi-dimensionally,  public health education statements,  public health data and policy translation briefs, and high velocity cross-sector community engagement initiatives.  As result, Jay has demonstrated and continues to help lay a firm, tangible foundation that is producing "A Bold New Model of Health." :) 

Relevant Timeline & Links:   

• TheStimulus.org |  2017 County Health Rankings: Robeson in last place for 2 consecutive years [Released: MAR 2017] 

• 2017 Robeson County Community Health Needs Assessment  [Released: SEP 2017] 

• HNC 2030: Robeson County Community Input Session Summary  [Released JAN 2020] 

• 2023 Robeson County Community Health Needs Assessment 

• 2022 SVI Map NC

• 2022 SVI Map Robeson County

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• 2011-2025 Robeson, NC County Health Rankings & Roadmaps -   This consolidated document featuring 15 years of data [ produced by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute - UWPHI , with primary funding and support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation - RWJF ]  provides evidenced based data that details how the collective local, county, and regional healthcare ecosystem both has and continues to struggle to manage the scale of chronic disease and a vast array of other health factors and health outcomes in both in Robeson County and throughout the Southeastern and Northeastern region of the state. 

• NC Pandemic Recovery Office  NCPRO.gov   The  NCPRO  Robeson County Summary, Published Feb 2025 -   "In 2022, Robeson County achieved a Resilience Score of 1, which is weak as compared to the North Carolina State average.  The healthcare component examines the availability and quality of healthcare facilities, services, and professionals, which are critical for maintaining a healthy and productive workforce. Robeson County's performance on this dimension is weak when compared to other North Carolina counties, ranking 96th in the state."   - The document is titled  "Robeson County Summary," and is sometimes referred to as the "Pandemic Recovery Focus Group Report: Robeson County Summary"
  
  

• NCPRO Robeson County Summary, Published Feb 2025 (PDF)

• Pandemic Recovery Focus Group Report

• 2023 NC State Health Improvement Plan

• 2024-2025 NC SHIP Community Council Scorecard

• 2025 NC SHIP Community Council Annual Meeting Slides [ July 16, 2025 ] 

• 2025 NC SHIP Community Council Annual Meeting / VIDEO  [ July 16, 2025 ] 

• 2024-2025 NC SHIP Community Council Scorecard

Disaster Preparedness

On Saturday, AUG 17 2019 Jay interviewed the former Director of NC Emergency Management Mike Sprayberry, and the former Director of Robeson County Emergency Management Stephanie Chavis at the largest "Disaster Preparedness Expo" in the state in 2019 that he helped to coordinate in collaboration with diverse local, county, regional, and state stakeholders.  In this interview Director Sprayberry & Director Chavis share why Disaster Preparedness Expos and cross-sector collaboration is so important!  

Jay is a two  time Hurricane /  Flood  survivor,  and  has significant  experience  in  coordinating  public health responses  to  disaster  ―  not only limited to his work before, during and after Hurricane Matthew (2016), Hurricane Florence (2018), and the COVD-19 global pandemic in 2020 but also in ongoing and emerging disasters.

He continues to work with stakeholders in all sectors to build on preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, resilience, capacity building, social cohesion, communication, proactive community engagement and more to nurture all community initiatives focused on a "All hands on Deck, All Hazards Approach" that promote sustainability and life for the Whole of Humanity locally and globally.  For example, The Disaster Preparedness Expo on Saturday, AUG 17 2019  was both facilitated and successfully delivered via broad spectrum of diverse multi-sector stakeholders including the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Coalition,  NC Emergency Management, Robeson Emergency Management,   The National Weather Service Office Wilmington NC,  Robeson Community College, The Public Schools of Robeson County,  Hope 4 NC,  numerous elected officials from municipalities across Robeson County, a myriad of  non-profit and community based organizations,  families and community members across the area, and many more!  

Disaster Recovery

In the video above Jay records an interview with former NC Governor Roy Cooper as he met with fellow local flood survivors, local elected officials, and members of the community to discuss ongoing Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence recovery efforts that continue to this day. 

Demonstrating again how Jay is committed to helping all communities, the video above features collaboration with Church World Service, The Public Schools of Robeson County, and the Robeson County Disaster Recovery Coalition to maximize and expand access to critical disaster recovery resources to  everyone in need. 

The 2019 Tar Heel Bus Tour

“We are particularly excited about the Southeastern bus coming to Robeson County
to learn more about disaster relief in the area. "

  This screenshot features a moment in the video above when former Superintendent
Dr. Shanita Wooten of The Public Schools of Robeson County  and Jay catch a quick breath while
enjoying the collaborative engagement of the whole community  after they shared presentations in
Lumberton, on the way to Red Springs, and at the Red Springs Community Center about
ongoing Hurricane Matthew & Hurricane Florence recovery efforts and more. 

Seed to Plate
Addressing Food Insecurity, Resilience, & More! 

The Seed to Plate teaching garden is a community-based collaborative that focuses on addressing food insecurity, sustainability, resilience, and expanding access to:

• Science Technology Engineering  Arts &  Math education;  

• Increased physical activity & the consumption of fresh fruits & vegetables; 

• Overall health, nutrition & safety education; 

• Facilitating pollination and the production of honey through the attraction of native bees;

• via An interactive learning environment that builds social cohesion.

► Click here to learn more about Seed to Plate.  thestimulus.org/seedtopate 

Hope4NC 

Within days after the immediate impact of Hurricane Matthew [OCT 8 2016] and the deadly flooding that followed,  Jay  joined other local, state and federal public health advocates to help shift the decision of 一  Some 一  officials during former Governor McCrory's last months in office who believed that the need for North Carolina to apply for federal disaster related behavioral health funds provided via SAMHSA ISP & CCP grants was unnecessary.  Due in no small part to that advocacy the McCrory administration indeed shifted priorities and initiated the application process to secure federal funds to provide disaster related behavioral health services through a platform that later became known as Hope4NC.  

Since that time the North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services [NCDHHS] via Hope4NC have
helped people all across North Carolina following numerous disasters including Hurricane Florence [2016], 
COVID-19 [2020], and Hurricane Helene. [2024]

Related Links:

• NCDHHS Receives Federal Funding to Expand Hope4NC and Help People Rebuild and Recover

• Hope4NC Helpline 

Related Links:

• NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai Tours Western North Carolina, Touts Hope4NC and Healthy Opportunities Pilots for Supporting Hurricane Helene Recovery

>  Between September 2024 and May 2025, Hope4NC has supported western North Carolinians and delivered more than 11,300 individual or group counseling services and supportive contacts, more than 200,000 assessments, referrals and media outreach contacts, and answered more than 7,300 calls to their free, confidential 24/7 helpline. Click here to Learn More.  

• NCDHHS Receives Federal Funding to Expand Hope4NC and Help People Rebuild and Recover
  
  > The NCDHHS [ on Thursday October 24, 2024 ]  announced $2.9 million in federal funding to help increase crisis counseling services for people impacted by Hurricane Helene. The funding is part of the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program administered by the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which is available to states to address behavioral health care needs and support relief for people in disaster-impacted communities.  Click here to Learn More.
  
  

Recognition of the Collaborative Work that We Engage In

2019 Southeastern Health Regional Community Health Awards

In 2019 Jay was nominated for both the "Community Education & Emergency Support Award" and the "Individual Impact Award" at the  "2019 Southeastern Health Regional Community Health Awards" that focused on "celebrating local individuals, churches, businesses, health providers, and educational and governmental agencies who have set outstanding examples toward improving the health of our community."  [ Southeastern Health is currently known now as UNC Health Southeastern ] 

2017 North Carolina Health Equity Impact Awards

In 2017 Jay joined other fellow nominees from all across the state  at  the North Carolina Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities (NC OMHHD)  "2017 North Carolina Health Equity Impact Awards" dinner that was established in order to "recognize individuals and organizations who have successfully implemented a systems-change approach to reduce health disparities and promote health equity."

2013 Southeastern Health Regional Community Health Award

In 2013 Southeastern Health hosted their first "Regional Community Health Awards" and presented their first
"Faith-Based Category Award" to a local church and congregation [where Jay both served as a member and health coordinator ] in recognition of the collaborative efforts of the congregation, the community, other faith-based organizations, and a diverse group of local, county, state and national public health stakeholders including but not limited to:  Duke Heart Center Education & Outreach; Duke Cardiovascular & Cardiology in Lumberton; The Robeson County Health Department; The Robeson County Cooperative Extension; The NC Council of Churches & Partner in Health Wholeness; NC Baptist on Mission; The American Red Cross; The American Heart Association & The American Stroke Association; The American Diabetes Association;  Walgreens in Lumberton, Southeastern Health [ currently known now as UNC Health Southeastern ],  and many more who worked together to improve access to health care, health education; free -- community health fairs, screenings, vaccinations, mobile dentistry clinics; free AED with AED / CPR training; and relevant resources focused on improving population health in All communities and The Whole of Humanity. 

NC TraCS  |  Partner Spotlight Questions 

Featuring Jay Leggette,  The Stimulus   |   June 12, 2018

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and your current work.

I am a Community Health Coordinator and the founder of a  grassroots organization called The Stimulus.  We are involved in many projects to promote a “Culture of Health” and a “Culture of Preparedness” in Robeson County.   One example is my work with NC MedAssist and Southeastern Health on an outreach initiative that provides free over-the-counter [OTC] medicines that include cold, flu, and allergy products.  Last year I helped to facilitate the first Over The Counter Medicine Giveaway in Robeson County.  That event was one of the largest in North Carolina,  drew over 300 volunteers, and served over 1,700 people.  After Hurricane Matthew I submitted a proposal to NC MedAssist and Southeastern Health [our local hospital] that outlined the benefits of integrating this prevention strategy in Robeson County by highlighting our asthma and respiratory related hospitalization rates in children and adults using data from the NC State Center for Health Statistics.   The goal is to try and treat symptoms early and avoid hospitalization by expanding access to basic resources to low-income, at risk populations.  This year I am currently working with NC MedAssist and Southeastern Health to plan our second Free Over The Counter Medicine Giveaway in Robeson County that will be held on June 29, 2018. 

2.  How did you first get involved in community-engagement and what led you to this work?

I worked on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. for a former congressman and our district included a significant portion of the southeastern and northeastern region of our state.  Like now the healthcare debate was a hot topic.  During that time I had access to statistics on population health and other data so I saw a myriad of  gaps and opportunities that exist in vulnerable communities.  That experience helped me to learn more about asset mapping and how to engage with partners to make a difference.   But years later when I returned to Robeson County to help take care of my mother who is  experiencing a series of health challenges my interest in this work increased dramatically.   As I identified solutions that helped my family I also began to share them with the community, and encouraged others to do the same.   Suddenly interest was transformed into advocacy, and advocacy was transformed into action.  In the blink of an eye I was hooked, and I began to help coordinate free mobile dental clinics, immunization clinics, health & wellness workshops, CPR/AED training, and more!  

3. Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to do community-engaged work, or has influenced the way in which you do your work.

My freshman dorm in college was named after Dr. Charles Drew so I wanted to learn more about him.   His research and the solutions that he developed related to blood plasma storage inspired me as a layperson and motivated me to try and make a difference by utilizing the unique gifts that God has given me.  The research that the university was doing around sickle-cell anemia at the time also helped me to connect the dots.  But watching my grandfather die as a result of pancreatic cancer, my grandmother recover from a triple bypass surgery, and my mother recover from a heart attack and stroke has also  influenced my decision to do community-engaged work in a very profound way.   Moreover, when you  live in the most unhealthy county in the state,  it’s easy to develop the understanding that there are indeed thousands of individuals and  families who are also experiencing diverse health challenges everyday.  So to me community engagement is more than a passion or simple hobby, it's a call to service and a responsibility.  

4. What do you enjoy most about working in community engagement? What do you find most challenging?

The good news is:  There’s  no shortage of talented, passionate individuals who care about this work and are motivated for all the right reasons.  Being around people like that provides a unique form of healing, and working in environments that encourage innovation and creativity is very exciting.  On the other hand, change is slow and trying to shift the paradigm is hard.  History shows us that many of the goals that we set during the course of our lives may not come into fruition in our lifetime.   From my perspective that can be extremely disappointing and a very inconvenient truth, but along the way you learn how to weather the storm by enjoying the small victories. 

5. What is your philosophy towards your work?

It’s easy to get caught up in the play by play tasks of each day and to lose sight of the big picture.   In order to combat this tendency I try to remember that  I am part of a whole, so there’s no need to reinvent the wheel.  After all as humans our contributions are about continuing and promoting a legacy of community-engaged work that began long before we arrived on the scene, and work that will prayerfully continue long after we are gone.   So as I engage with others I try to focus on being present in this season while appreciating how we got here, and what we must do next.   In a nutshell this means that all of us must be guided by the understanding that no one can really buy social capital or trust ‘on the cheap’,  instead we have to make a commitment to roll-up our sleeves and actually do the work. 

6. What three things do you think are needed for community-engaged research to be successful?

We need more proactive community involvement from all sectors including schools, churches, hospitals, and human service agencies.   We also need to increase our efforts to help people understand why community-based research is both necessary and mutually beneficial.  In doing so we must address the stigma and fear that some associate with research in general as a result of legitimate historical concerns.   We can accomplish those things if we open the lines of communication and explain how community-based research has benefited humanity. 

7. What do you think is key to building successful academic-community partnerships?

Diversity.  And it can’t just be a ‘feel good’ buzzword,  it has to be tangible and real.   Of course a diverse research staff is key, [and not just in terms of color, gender, and nationality]  but we also need diversity in perspective, experience, background, adaptive expectation, etc.  And you have to look for diversity in the people you hire from the community.   When that happens you discover things that you might not have otherwise thought of ― or even considered.  Diversity helps to produce an environment that is genuinely innovative and counterintuitive, but it can also produce a synergy that challenges the status quo in a positive and constructive way in order to enhance our collective effort to promote equity and build trust.  

8. What do you wish other people knew about your line of work?

I wish they knew how much community engaged work matters.  A failure to participate really lowers the quality of life for the whole community.  I wish others could appreciate how essential proactive engagement is.  

9. What would you tell someone who is thinking about becoming involved in community-engaged research?

Buckle-up!  When you really want to change the world, the most significant change occurs within you.  And that’s a good thing.  Being involved in  community-engaged research challenges you to think outside of the box and gives you an opportunity to move outside of your comfort zone.  You meet people that you have never met before and learn things about your environment that changes the way you look at both yourself and the world that we live in.  You will see the good, bad, and the ugly, but you will also see a lot of promise and potential.  So you have to be ready to come to terms with that, and be professional.  

10. What do you think will change about the field of community engagement over the next five years?

I think we’re trending towards more community engagement.   As we look at what is happening all over the country I think more people are beginning to understand that engagement is not an option, it’s a necessity.   For example, look at how our young people are responding to school safety issues today.  Across all sectors, and all walks of life – more and more people in the community are recognizing that we are the missing piece of the puzzle.  

11. What do you do when you aren't doing this type of work?

[Laugh out loud] I’m never not doing this type of work.  I am always looking for ways  to help out,  and I’m always looking for opportunities.  It’s a blessing so I keep myself busy, and there’s a lot of work to do.

Imagination. Collaboration. Innovation.