Community Involvement Influences Policy Decisions: Victories of a Community-Based Participatory Research Partnership

This presentation summarizes accomplishments of a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership. In 2000, the Toxic Waste/Lupus Coalition approached scientists at the University at Buffalo (UB) about the number of their neighbors who had been diagnosed with lupus and other autoimmune diseases and whether it could be linked to the presence of a toxic waste Superfund site in the area. The Buffalo Lupus Project, a CBPR partnership between the Toxic Waste/Lupus Coalition and UB, was formed to address these questions. A major accomplishment of the partnership was successful advocacy for site clean-up. Prior to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) public meeting on remediation of the 858 East Ferry Superfund site, a newsletter was disseminated to over 500 community members in an effort to educate them about the site and remediation options and encourage them to participate in the meeting, voice concerns, and ask questions. Over 50 people attended the meeting, and the remediation plan suggested by the community was adopted by the DEC. Additionally, when the Erie County Legislature canceled the childhood lead poisoning testing program in Buffalo, NY, the Toxic Waste/Lupus Coalition got over 27 block clubs, churches, community organizations, and environmental organizations to sign on to a letter and 1000 community members to call County legislators requesting that they replace the funding. The Coalition also held a press conference with 12 experts on lead and its environmental and health impacts. Within one week, the funding was restored. This shows how coordinated community efforts can substantially influence health legislation.