Building Trust, Embracing Technology: Collaborating with Community to Advance Health

Jan 19 11:46am | Jasmine Souers | @jasminesouers

For Clarence Jones, executive director and community health strategist of Hue-Man Partnership and co-chair of the FAITH! Community Steering Committee (CSC), participating in the Techquity by FAITH! study was a “no brainer.” The study is supported by C2DREAM (Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Engagement Across Minnesota) and led by LaPrincess Brewer, M.D., a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine within the Mayo Clinic Department of Cardiovascular Medicine in Rochester and co-chair of the FAITH! CSC.

FAITH! (Fostering African American Improvement in Total Health) began in 2008 to explore differences in health outcomes. The 15-member CSC is an example of community based participatory research. Members direct initiatives and provide feedback on every aspect of research—from recruitment to dissemination. Community members, including Jones, have co-authored papers, spoken at conferences, and shaped the development of the new app being studied in Techquity by FAITH!.

The idea was prompted in part by community members asking for a better way to share information with their families and friends. The app was developed with community input as a tailored way to address differences in health outcomes and to give people in the community the tools to take charge of their heart health. The study involves 150 participants from 20 churches. It represents more than the effectiveness of technology; it’s about trust, collaboration, and community empowerment.

Trust built over time and with intention

A trusting relationship does not happen quickly or by chance, especially when new technologies are introduced to address long-standing differences in health outcomes. Years of working with Dr. Brewer and Mayo Clinic have shown Jones what’s possible when authentic voices guide the process. “When you demonstrate to people that their opinions matter and their voices are being heard, they bring their A-game to the conversation,” Jones says. “Authentic voices, influences, accountability and responsibility create a legacy that people can see where they contributed and how it has progressed.”

Clarence recalls a pivotal moment at a community meeting in 2024: “I could sense it. I could feel it. I saw it.” After months of dialogue, something shifted. People began to embrace the possibilities with excitement. “They started talking about themselves, about engaging others. New people in the room caught the energy and said they could help too. It was a profound moment for me.”

Keeping community at the heart of healthcare technology

As artificial intelligence (AI) and technology become more prevalent in healthcare, Clarence hopes to ensure these innovations are developed and introduced in ways that respect and reflect community voices, which isn’t always easy. “We had to acknowledge the speed people were willing to move,” Clarence notes. “It takes time to develop transparency and trust and ongoing work to build on that.”

Despite challenges, Clarence sees faith-based settings as safe spaces for these conversations. “A familiar setting is a safe space to expose the community to the future,” he says. For Clarence, that moment in 2024 was proof of what’s possible when trust and technology meet. “It was as if a door opened and people walked through saying, ‘I am a part of this. I feel valued. My contributions are important.’” Seeing the community build solutions to address long-standing gaps is, for him, deeply rewarding.

“That is the name of the game.”