Oral

In Southern California, patterns of land use has resulted in health discrepancies created by the cumulative impacts of industrial toxics, international trade operations (ports, rail, truck traffic, warehousing), and the lack of food access in low-income communities of color. Panelists will share examples of community-academic research combined with community organizing that bridge the disciplines of public health, planning and policy to address health disparities in these communities. In Long Beach, community-based health organizers work with medical professionals, labor and community partners to successfully advocate for health protective air quality policies and regulations to address the rising levels of children’s asthma linked to port related pollution. In the City of Commerce and Riverside, EJ organizations have partnered with academic and community-based organizations throughout the region to address the impact of goods movement and rail expansion at the neighborhood and regional level. In National City (outside of San Diego), community organizers worked with the legal clinic at the University of San Diego to develop a health-based land use plan and ordinance that separates industrial from residential uses to reduce the cumulative impact of air toxic emissions. In Los Angeles, communities and universities partner to conduct research on food access and implement solutions that involve private businesses, public institutions, and municipal policies and practices. Panelists will: 1) share lessons for community-based research and organizing partnerships between community, university, and public sector actors and policymakers; and 2) discuss how research combined with organizing have resulted in better health outcomes in environmental justice communities.

Session Objectives: Describe components of action research approaches that address health disparitise through organizing, planning, policy, and institutional change Desribe examples of community/university partnerships that address health dispariaties created by industrial land uses (including refineries, rail yards, warehouses, ports) and lan duse decisions that result in lack of food access.