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This study examines the development of an urban space, from a vacant lot to a usable public space as a public park, in order to analyze how the transformation of space affects meaning for the surrounding community. I ask: In what ways does this transformation empower individuals to take advantage of subsequent reuse opportunities? Does the process by which the change takes place influence subsequent community engagement opportunities? I argue that how the spatial transformation is organized influences the potential environmental and social justice opportunities that can be created for community members, and thus its impact on the community dynamic of the defined space. For this analysis, I examine how the transformation of space affects human social interaction in a community which, historically, has been racially and economically marginalized. The development of the space was spurred by organizers who felt a public "pocket park" would add value to the community, as well as provide a space for social interaction to take place between community residents. Implemented with little engagement from community residents, I document the transformation of this space-and the positive and negative consequences of the transformation for residents-using participant observation, in-depth interviewing, and content analysis.

The focus of this study is the role of health narratives play in mobilization when shared among community members experiencing exposure to air pollution from numerous sources of industrial pollution. Grounded in the practice of community-based participatory research, The Stories Project (as the collection of narratives has been colloquially named) highlights various aspects of both the process and outcome of community and academic partnerships. Drawing attention to the process illustrates the complexity of such relationships in the field, and how an understanding of these relationships is vital to successful engagement of community members in such studies. The process of storytelling became the tool for successful mobilization in this community. Narratives became strategies and vehicles for social justice. Throughout, the reflexivity of the researcher also informed the process. It is this complexity that serves as the primary focus of the study, for intertwined in a reflection of storytelling and empowerment is the role the researcher plays in such outcomes.