141st APHA Annual Meeting

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292004
Bringing tequio, sencilles, and humilidad to silicon valley: Acting globally and thinking locally for health

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 8:50 AM - 9:10 AM

Kathleen M. Roe, DrPH, MPH , Department of Health Science and Recreation, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
Saúl Aragón Ramírez , Ecoalebrijes Association, Oaxaca, Mexico
Maziel Giron, MPH(c) , Health Science Department, San José State University, San José, CA
German Blanco, MPH , Department of Health Science and Recreation, San José State University, San José, CA
The best international health programs incorporate local values and priorities with commitments of the public health profession. This presentation will discuss the evolution and impact of a unique and thriving international program that brings core Mexican cultural concepts, particularly Zapotec values, to a community-based program in Silicon Valley. This domestic application of international health lessons provides a rich foundation for work with struggling immigrant communities in one of the wealthiest but most stratified regions of the United States. Our collaboration begins with the Intercambio - a partnership between the Ecolalebrijes Association of Arrazola, Oaxaca, Mexico and a public health program of a public university in San José, California. For 8 years, artisan families and US students have been engaged in an ongoing exchange ("intercambio") that annually brings the students to Oaxaca and artisans to California. These deeply engaged relationships introduced the U.S. partners to concepts deeply rooted in Mexican culture that expand our approach to public health practice in Mexico, but also at home. Of particular impact have been the values of confianza, humilidad, sencilles, and the Zapotec value of tequio. This expanded conceptual framework is the foundation of our long-standing communty-based program Salud Familiar en McKinley, a multi-layered intervention designed to co-create the cultures, confidence, environments, and resources for health. Salud Familiar priorities are drawn from local health needs and value commitments we learn in Mexico. The impact of this expanded conceptual framework on local community health, leadership development, community capacity, and college health promotion curriculum will be discussed

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Identify 3 Mexican cultural values informing health interventions in immigrant communities in the U.S.

Keywords: Cultural Competency, Global Education

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Founder and director of project to be discussed
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.