Community spotlight: Fayette Community Service Organization builds health from the inside out

The John D. Bower School of Population Health recently welcomed representatives from Fayette Community Service Organization, Inc., for a meeting with SOPH faculty, students and leadership.

The visit grew out of a connection made at the 2026 Mississippi Health Disparities Conference in Biloxi and reflected SOPH’s commitment to working alongside community partners across the state. Community-based organizations play an important role in improving health by building trust, identifying local needs and helping develop solutions that reflect the realities of the communities they serve.

Led by Executive Director Janell Westley-Edwards, FCSO has spent more than 15 years building relationships to improve health in Jefferson County and beyond.

“Community engagement is not an event. It is a relationship,” Westley-Edwards said.

That belief guides FCSO’s signature initiative, the PHAT to Fit Olympic Games™, which stands for Physical Health And Training. The program brings together local businesses, faith-based organizations, schools, health care providers, civic organizations, government agencies and community residents to promote healthier living.

Through health education, physical activity, preventive screenings, gardening and nutrition, family engagement and friendly competition, FCSO works to make healthy choices accessible, engaging and sustainable. Over the years, the organization has conducted nearly 18,000 community health screenings, awarded more than 1,100 bicycles to youth and engaged thousands of children and families.

“Partnerships like this help ensure that our work is grounded in the experiences, priorities and strengths of Mississippi communities,” said Dr. Thomas Dobbs, dean of the School of Population Health. “When we listen to community partners and learn from their work, we are better prepared to support meaningful, sustainable improvements in health.”

Westley-Edwards expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to meet with Dr. Dobbs and the School of Population Health team. She shared her enthusiasm for the possibilities ahead.

"We are deeply grateful to Dr. Dobbs and the entire School of Population Health for welcoming us and taking the time to learn about our work," said Westley-Edwards. "Years ago, attending UMMC's Global Obesity Summit helped inspire the vision that ultimately became our PHAT to Fit Olympic Games. To now have the opportunity to explore a collaborative relationship with the School of Population Health feels like our journey has come full circle. We are excited about the potential to formalize our relationship in the near future and to work together in combining community engagement with research to improve the health of Mississippians."

Both organizations look forward to continuing conversations to explore opportunities for collaboration that leverage the strengths of community engagement, research, education and population health to create measurable and lasting improvements in communities throughout Mississippi.

For SOPH, the connection reflects the value of working alongside trusted community partners. As Mississippi continues to face serious health challenges, FCSO’s work offers a model for prevention, collaboration and community-driven change.