Turning Lessons Into Action: A National Convening Introducing the RADx-UP Public Health Emergency Preparedness Playbook

Join us for the national convening introducing the RADx-UP Public Health Emergency Preparedness Playbook, where expert panelists will share insights on how to effectively apply the RADx-UP Playbook in real-world settings. This session will introduce the RADx-UP project and how resources were compiled into a playbook to guide a community-engaged approach for pandemic response. The purpose is to help spread the playbook lessons to local networks and communities.

This webinar will have Spanish language and ASL interpretation, and recordings will be made publicly available in both English and Spanish interpretation.

Panelists

Angella Dunston is a servant leader with a heart for people. She is a dedicated community change champion and policy advocate who has a demonstrated history of working to bring about effective statewide change in the nonprofit and government sector. She began her training in environmental justice fighting as an activist for the removal of toxic cancerous chemicals dumped in rural Warren County, where she grew up. She is the Director of Community Engagement and Advocacy for Dunston Leadership Consulting; in that role, she ensures that low-income communities are provided a seat at the decision-making table alongside government leaders, as well as public- and private- sector representatives.

Dunston previously served as Director of Community and Faith-Based Outreach for former Gov. Beverly Perdue. In that role, she was responsible for building a network of statewide advocates that included black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and the faith-based community. For more than 10 years, she was director of the Education and Law Project at the NC Justice Center. Dunston currently serves as the co-chair of fund development on the Board of Lillian’s List, which supports progressive women running for legislative office, and on the advisory council for Volunteers of America Carolina Council. She is a professional with more than 20 years of experience in government relations, community engagement, and social advocacy. She has expansive skills in leadership development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is currently utilizing those skills to bring about effective change and enhance community impact in North Carolina. Dunston is a proud mom and aspiring author. In her spare time, she takes care of her loving family, which includes a Pomeranian pup named Mr. Polo “THE Personality.”

With almost 10 years of experience as a community engagement consultant for federally funded, community-based participatory research projects, I have a passion for and expertise in patient-centered research, diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care. As a STAR CRN Patient Co-Principal Investigator in Phase 4 of PCORnet, I work with a multidisciplinary team to design and implement innovative strategies to engage and empower diverse communities in research and health improvement initiatives. My authentic lived experience as a patient on the PCORnet Steering Committee and Executive Management Team informs my participation in governance and contributions to PCORnet Workgroups.

Additionally, in my role as Director of Engagement and Community Education in the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) and as Director of Education and Engagement with the Tennessee Community Engagement Alliance (TN CEAL), I draw on my skills in non-profit management, community outreach, public speaking, and pastoral care to cultivate meaningful relationships with communities, partners, and participants. I have contributed to developing and refining community engagement models, training materials, and curricula for researchers and community members. Additionally, I have coauthored publications on clinical translational science and community-based participatory research. My mission is to advance health equity and inclusion through collaborative and impactful research that addresses the needs and priorities of the communities I serve.