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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kimberly Wagoner, MPH¹, Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, CHES², Ashley Wagoner¹, Cynthia Miller¹, Robert H. DuRant, PhD³, and Mark Wolfson⁴. (1) Division of Public Health Sciences/Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 W. First St., Winston-Salem, NC 27104, (336) 713-4223, kwagoner@wfubmc.edu, (2) Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Public Health Sciences, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1063, (3) Departments of Pediatrics and Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 W. 1st Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27104, (4) Div of Public Health Sciences/Dept of Social Sciences & Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, 2000 W. 1st Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27104

Background: Community organizing has become a successful method for groups to share resources and build capacity within communities to tackle key public health problems. Numerous studies have successfully used coalitions to target underage alcohol use and associated health consequences. However, documentation of how community organizers (CO) systematically create community based efforts is rare.

Methods: This study examines the community organizing process through analysis of in-depth interviews that followed a semi-structured interview guide. Sites visits with COs who are part of an NIAAA-funded study in North Carolina (NC) were completed in Fall 2004. Interviews were audio- recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed a grounded theory approach.

Results: Five full-time campus-community COs who are part of an NIAAA-funded study in North Carolina were interviewed. Four main categories of themes emerged from the interviews: (1) definitions of and (2) facilitators to success, (3) challenges faced, and (4) resources garnered.

Discussion: Study results suggest that the COs are confident in their skills and identify similar challenges in college campuses across NC as they build campus-community capacity to prevent high-risk drinking. Results also suggest that one CO can serve as the starting point to create positive change in a community, especially in terms of a difficult issue.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Define community organizing and the sytematic approach community organizers take to create change in their community.
• List common successes and challenges experienced by community organizers.
• Identify potential resources to assist in community building.

Keywords: Community Building, Coalition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No