Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Joyce Pisnanont, MSW¹, Veronica L. Fincher, MA², Chetana Acharya, MS³, Morgan Barry, MA⁴, Emma Catague⁵, Michael Davis², Ticiang Diangson, MS, MA², Ngozi T. Oleru, PhD⁴, Marcella Wilson, BA², and Thomas M. Burbacher, PhD⁶. (1) University of Washington, IDHA, 606 Maynard Ave S., Seattle, WA 98104, (206) 623-5132, joyce@apialliance.org, (2) Seattle Public Utilities, 700 – 5th Av, Suite 4900, Seattle, WA 98104, (3) Community Outreach and Education, University of Washington, NIEHS Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105, (4) Environmental Health Services Division, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 999 3rd Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, (5) API Safety Center, P.O. Box 14047, Seattle, WA 98178, (6) Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, NIEHS Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Suite 100, Seattle, WA 98105

Forming, norming, storming, and performing are the classic stages used in describing group dynamics in Western culture. Theoretically, these stages evolve, spiral and circle back as a group continues to work together. But what are the group dynamics when there are the elements of racial, cultural, and organizational differences? What do the feedback loops look like? What works?

These are the kinds of issues that the Environmental Justice Network in Action faced at its inception in 2002. Funded by the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Seattle Public Utilities spearheaded a needs assessment in immigrant and refugee communities to determine what kinds of environmental health and environmental services and information were needed and relevant in our communities. The Network partners include community-based organizations, nonprofits, universities and other local government agencies.

At an initial meeting, facilitated by a cross-cultural expert consultant, one of the community-based organization leaders challenged the preliminary model: "Why are you going to focus on each immigrant or refugee group separately, instead of working together with the groups in a neighborhood setting? It is divisive and doesn't help with community capacity building."

That is a sample of the learning journey that the partners of the Network have been on for the past four years. This session will focus on what worked in building partnerships, what cross-cultural principles helped sustain the Network, and how the model has evolved. We will also share the measures and outcomes that count in an inclusive cross-cultural, anti-racist partnership.

Learning Objectives: