** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE USDA'S NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (NIFA) IS PARTNERING WITH SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER (SUAREC) AND ITS 1890 CENTER OF EXCELLENCE FOR NUTRITION, WELLNESS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE (COE-NWQL) TO ESTABLISH THE FIRST USDA PILOT NUTRITION HUB. THE NEW HUB WILL CONTINUE THE WORK ON FOOD, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH-RELATED OUTCOMES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.THIS ENDEAVOR IS ALIGNED WITH USDA STRATEGIC PLAN FY 2022-2026, INCLUDING GOAL 2: ENSURE AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM IS EQUITABLE, RESILIENT, AND PROSPEROUS; AND GOAL 4: PROVIDE ALL AMERICANS SAFE, NUTRITIOUS FOOD. IT ALSO ALIGNS WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES OF SUAREC AND THE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.THE NUTRITION HUB WILL INTEGRATE AND COORDINATE THE COLLECTIVE WORK OF REE AGENCIES TO IMPROVE FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY AND REDUCE THE BURDEN OF DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASES, ESPECIALLY IN UNDERSERVED, AT-RISK COMMUNITIES. FOUR MAIN GOALS ARE PROPOSED: (1) BUILD CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCE CAPACITY FOR TRANS-DISCIPLINARY APPROACHES BETWEEN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION; (2) DEVELOP COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT SERVE THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE REAL-WORLD OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES AROUND FOOD, NUTRITION, AND DIET-RELATED HEALTH DISPARITIES; (3) DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE SCIENCE-BASED NUTRITION INFORMATION AND CONNECT COMMUNITIES WITH FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY AND ECONOMIC VITALITY PROGRAMS; (4) FOSTER RESEARCH AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN HUMAN NUTRITION RESEARCH, PARTICULARLY IN UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES.THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL LEVERAGE RESOURCES FROM THE USDA-NIFA AND SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TO ENSURE ALL GOALS AND PROPOSED ACTIVITIES ARE ACHIEVED AND MAKE THE INTENDED IMPACT ON THE TARGET STAKEHOLDERS.