Ruby Mendenhall is Professor in Sociology and African American Studies. She is an Associate Dean for Diversity and Democratization of Health Innovation at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.  Her research examines how living in racially segregated neighborhoods with high levels of violence affect the mental and physical health of youth and adults using surveys, interviews, crime statistics, police records, data from 911 calls, art, phone apps, wearable sensors and genomic analysis. She is currently working on a project that trains high school students and young adults as community health workers (CHWs) who will assist young people to heal from racial trauma. The community health workers are co-creating a Wellness Store with high- and low-tech tools identified by the youth and supported by science.