The Faith Compass Center

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Winston-Salem, NC
The Faith Compass Center

Our aim is to collaborate with Christian and interfaith partners to deepen their understanding of and engagement with their communities’ health challenges.

The Faith COMPASS (COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing Health Disparities in Southern States) Center at Wake Forest University School of Divinity advances the capacity of faith communities to address HIV/AIDS and other health inequities. The Faith COMPASS (COMmitment to Partnership in Addressing Health Disparities in Southern States) Center at Wake Forest University School of Divinity advances the capacity and organizational resiliency of faith communities to address HIV/AIDS in the US South. Through transformative storytelling, informative educational offerings, strategic grantmaking, and broad dissemination, we partner with faith organizations to shift narratives away from stigma toward life-enhancing possibilities.

12/01/2025

This World AIDS Day, we lift up the global role faith communities play in challenging HIV-related stigma and advancing health equity.

Tomorrow, we will gather for the 10th Annual John W. Hatch Lecture and Symposium hosted by Wake Forest University School of Divinity. This year’s theme explores the powerful intersections of faith, health, and the environment.

And next week, our Executive Director, Dr. Stacy Smallwood, will be in Statesboro for an engaging conversation on reshaping the HIV landscape in South Georgia.

Together, let’s continue to

11/21/2025

Happy Friday from the FCC team! As we enter into what many consider the holiday season, we encourage you to sow in your community!

A few weeks ago, we had the opportunity to utilize space at the Winston-Salem Foundation to do some strategic planning for 2026!

Over the years we’ve planted many seeds alongside faith leaders, scholars, and medical practitioners across the US south and beyond.

These seeds have grown into initiatives that have combated stigma and transformed the story of HIV in so many communities!

We look forward to continuing to share innovative scholarship, uplifting practices, and generative resources at the forefront of faith and HIV work!

11/17/2025

Wake Forest University School of Divinity will host the 10th Annual John W. Hatch Lecture and Symposium on December 2, 2025, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Register Today: https://web.cvent.com/event/93b92c4a-02c5-4678-98ed-6bacfd624111/register?rt=CIgQH173kUypDDkNedT6Xw

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The theme for this year’s program, “Faith, Health, and the Environment: The Demands of Justice,” will examine the interrelated dynamics of faith, health, policy, and the environment as critical domains for advancing justice and the common good.

The event which brings together scholars, public officials, faith leaders, and experts in public health will feature keynote addresses by Dr. Robert D. Bullard, Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy and Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University and Dr. Dayna Bowen Matthew, Dean and Harold H. Greene Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School.

The symposium is a collaboration with the General Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, the National Association of Community Health Centers, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, and Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

The Hatch Lecture and Symposium is named in honor of the pioneering work of Dr. John W. Hatch, William Rand Kenan Jr. Professor Emeritus, Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. Dr. Hatch's esteemed career includes over 50 years of experience in the areas of faith, health, and community organization with a special focus on underserved communities and social justice.

We hope you will be able to join us for this momentous occasion and critical conversation.

11/07/2025

We are grateful for our time this week at the APHA Annual Meeting and the opportunity to contribute to a variety of panel discussions!

APHA serves as a convenor, catalyst and advocate to build capacity in the public health community.

11/04/2025

We’re at APHA this week! Grateful to be alongside some of our COMPASS partners. ☺️

Today, we had the honor of sharing our poster presentation:

“Seeing the invisible:” Supporting faith leaders to engage congregations and communities in HIV education and advocacy

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10/23/2025

Starting a successful health ministry is one of the best ways faith communities can combat stigma and directly contribute to better health outcomes.

Here’s an adapted version of 10 Steps to Starting a Health Ministry by Gary Gunderson, DDiv, MDiv. To access the full resource, which includes details for each step, use the link below:

https://www.faithhealthtransformation.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Steps-to-Starting-a-Health-Ministry.pdf

If you are interested in starting a health ministry in your community and would like support from our center, please contact us at compass@wfu.edu

10/15/2025

October 15 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), also referred to as National Latine AIDS Awareness Day or National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day.

is an opportunity to help address the disproportionate impact of HIV in Hispanic/Latine communities, promote HIV testing, and stop HIV stigma.

This observance is also a community mobilization effort that helps promote effective ways to prevent, treat, and stop the transmission of HIV among Hispanic/Latine people.

09/23/2025

📣 We are postponing our screening and discussion of GOSPEL. A new date will be determined soon.

09/18/2025

September 18th is National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day.

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD) is observed each year to focus on the increasing number of people who, because of major advancements in HIV treatment, are living long, full lives with HIV. The awareness day also calls attention to the unique health and social needs, as well as the challenges of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care among people who are aging.

09/16/2025

We are rounding out season 2 of the Faith Against Stigma Podcast by highlighting four more episodes featuring health practitioners and faith leaders committed to ending HIV-related stigma.

🎧 Episodes from the second season are available now.

Use the link below to listen today:
https://faithagainststigma.my.canva.site/season-1

09/09/2025

Can you imagine faith communities that rise above stigma? We can!

From strategies to action plans, the Faith Against Stigma Podcast brings together faith leaders and health practitioners to dismantle harmful HIV-related narratives and promote wellbeing .

🎧 Episodes from the second season are available now.

Listen today, using the link below: https://faithagainststigma.my.canva.site/season-1

Address

Winston-Salem, NC

Website

https://faithcompass.wfu.edu/, https://tr.ee/wiSFsyC6ud

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