Promoting Environmental Health Policy Through Community Based Participatory Research: A Case Study from Harlem, New York

Abstract

Community-academic partnerships have demonstrated potential for studying and improving community and environmental health, but only recently have their policy impacts been systematically studied. This case study highlights the evolution, research, and policy processes and outcomes of a community based participatory research (CBPR) partnership that has had multilevel impacts on health policy concerning diesel bus emissions and related environmental justice issues. The partnership between West Harlem Environmental ACTion, Inc. (WE ACT) and the Columbia University Center for Children's Environmental Health was explored using a multimethod case study approach. The conversion of New York City's bus fleet to clean diesel and the installation by the EPA of permanent air monitors in Harlem and other Bhot spots^were among the outcomes for which the partnership's research and policy work was given substantial credit. Lessons for other urban communityacademic partnerships interested in using CBPR to promote healthy public policy are discussed.

Can we Build on Social Movement Theories to Develop and Improve Community‐Based Participatory Research? A Framework Synthesis Review

“…That is, the term “community‐based participatory research” is primarily used in North America, including a major CBPR center in Berkley, California. The eight projects encompassed a great variety of partnerships: they were implemented in rural (Jernigan, Salvatore, Styne & Winkleby, 2012) and urban settings (Vasquez, Minkler & Shepard, 2006) and involved grassroots community members (Cheatham‐Rojas & Shen, 2003) or already well‐established community organizations (Fawcett, Collie‐Akers, Schultz & Cupertino, 2013). One was conducted in partnership with an Indigenous community (Jernigan et al., 2012), whereas two capitalized on youth as agents of change (Cheatham‐Rojas & Shen, 2003; Vasquez et al., 2007).…”

“…For instance, the Earth Crew project initially framed air pollution as an environmental justice issue: “City‐wide benefit of public transportation services is Northern Manhattan's burden” (Vasquez et al., 2006, p. 103). Then, one of the solutions implemented by the partnership involved initiating a legal complaint against a public agency; in this context, the problem was reframed as in the context of racial discrimination: “Charging the [Metropolitain Transportation Authority] with siting diesel bus depots and parking lots disproportionately in minority neighborhoods in Northern Manhattan, WE ACT and its collaborators invoked Title VI's prohibition of racial discrimination (…)” (Vasquez et al., 2006, p. 106). However, framing processes in CBPR also take into account strategic and practical considerations in line with the general context of the action.…”

“…This is not surprising given the closely intertwined action and research components of a CBPR project, which necessitate a significant set of competencies as well as expert and experiential knowledge. In the Earth Crew project, highly specialized knowledge and technical skills were required to monitor exposure to air pollution in the neighborhood (Vasquez et al., 2006). Significantly, research and its results seem to be often used as resources in and of themselves, to raise awareness of the cause in the community, and to better decide on a solution, as in the previously mentioned project (Vasquez et al., 2006).…”

“…In the Earth Crew project, highly specialized knowledge and technical skills were required to monitor exposure to air pollution in the neighborhood (Vasquez et al., 2006). Significantly, research and its results seem to be often used as resources in and of themselves, to raise awareness of the cause in the community, and to better decide on a solution, as in the previously mentioned project (Vasquez et al., 2006). Because of the highly contextualized nature of CBPR, another equally important resource is deep experiential knowledge of the problem, the community, or the local context, which helps ensure relevance in designing and implementing the intervention.…”

“…This phase may involve raising awareness of the cause in the general population (sometimes by disseminating baseline research results, as in the New Castle project; Minkler et al., 2006) and mobilizing further partners and community members in defining or validating an acceptable action plan. One CBPR project, the Earth Crew project, also used policy‐oriented research during this phase to identify targets, allies, and opponents, and to develop an appropriate policy target and policy advocacy strategy (Vasquez et al., 2006). …”