Role of communities in post disaster research

Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation (MQVN CDC) was established to address immediate relief and long-term community rebuilding post-Hurricane Katrina. MQVN CDC serves New Orleans East, a community comprised of Vietnamese Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, and non-Hispanic Whites. One third of the migrant community is limited-English proficient with Vietnamese as native language and about 70% of adults are highschool- educated or less. Approximately 26% of the population lives below the poverty level and 40.6% are temporary housing renters.  MQVN’s hallmark,- Return, Rebuild, Reclaim-, is embodied by their nationally-recognized track record in community planning, infrastructure development which includes a federally qualified community health center, community assistance programs, and in promoting healthy food sources- from seafood to produce.

Since their existence, MQVN has played an integral in research, collaborating with academic partners to address wide-ranging disaster-related problems. We will discuss case examples of collaborative research with the Tulane University’s environmental health team regarding disaster-related consequences and impacts associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The presentation will examine the role of community- academic partnerships in addressing complex community health concerns and realizing post-disaster economic opportunities while protecting public- and ecosystem health. We will outline prerequisites of community- academic partnerships including consistent and transparent communication among non-profits, communities, and academics.  Lessons learned will be shared through the lens of environmental justice, a legacy of marginalization and cultural insularity. In the context of both natural and technological disasters the presentation will examine how environmental health problems and perceptions are shaped and reshaped.