The purpose of this presentation is to explore, discuss and reflect on community-based learning as a form of civic education. This interactive workshop will highlight students’ perspective on learning, service, and collaboration with the on-campus learning garden and PCC sustainability initiatives. The garden provides experiential education and life-long learning opportunities for students, faculty, staff and community members. Presenters will share the teaching-and-learning activities they have developed, their work with faculty colleagues, student responses, and the challenges that have emerged.

Methods: Students completed a survey and provided feedback through informational interviews regarding their CBL experience.

Results: Preliminary responses are positive. Students' self-report of their experiences indicates that on-campus CBL opportunities promotes interdisciplinary academic achievement, leadership development, sustainable food systems and community building. Additional results will be provided.

Following new USDA guidance, University of Minnesota-Extension SNAP-Ed Educators seek to increase healthy choices in the community by combining direct nutrition education with policy, systems and environmental (PSE) approaches. Two case-studies implemented in partnership with community-based agencies show promising results toward increasing food access and food skills for low-income participants.

Methods:

A partnership with Healthy Communities used Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares from a school garden to provide produce to a local food shelf.  Additionally, food shelf clients were provided with food skills education on how to make quick and healthy meals with the available produce. Another partnership with Choose Health had physicians refer low-income patients to a free CSA program combined with cooking classes in order to increase client consumption of produce.

Results:

Healthy Communities’ surveys indicated an increase in the amount of fruits and vegetables (F&V) taken home from the food shelf. Clients reported improved confidence in preparing and trying new F&V. Choose Health results showed that most participants (n=28) increased the amount of produce eaten each week, 29% decreased their blood pressure, and 71% indicated overall health as good or better post-intervention.

Conclusion:

SNAP-Ed Educators leveraged community-based partnerships to increase food access for low-income families in two counties. Increased food access was combined with nutrition education to help families build skills and increase consumption of produce. Initial results suggest that direct education, combined with PSE changes created through community-based partnerships, have the potential to lead to behavior changes and better health outcomes for low-income populations.

The ARCC steering committee (SC) of Chicagoland community and faith-based organizations, public agencies and Northwestern faculty has decision-making power in planning ARCC’s strategic directions, programs, and budgeting. The SC recognized early on that while only a limited number of community and academic partners can serve on the SC, ARCC serves a much larger set of current and potential partners. ARCC has hosted five annual open Town Halls to invite input from a broader group of community and academic voices on program priorities, activities and future directions. 

Each town hall agenda includes sharing ARCC activities/outcomes to date, showcasing an ARCC-supported partnership, and facilitating group discussions. Town halls are held diverse locations across Chicagoland and are led and facilitated by ARCC community and academic SC members. Town halls are well attended and input has led to changes in ARCC activities/directions. They’ve also successfully engaged Northwestern institutional leaders directly with a wide range of partners. Community and academic presenters will share town hall logistics, input impact, and strategies for replication.

Methods: Over a three-year period, a healthcare system expanded access and community participation in physical activity programs through development of policy and partnerships.  The system’s recent Community Health Needs Assessment identified 68% of Miami-Dade residents were overweight or obese and 35% reported lack of physical activity or sedentary behavior (higher than the state average of 25%) with adults 65 and older demonstrating the highest rates of sedentary behavior.  To address existing barriers, the system implemented a plan to improve access to physical activity programs by converting fee-based programs to free while expanding partnerships with local municipalities and private partners.

Results: The strategy has expanded access by measure of participation and programs offered across the community.  In 2012, prior to policy changes, 49-weekly exercise programs drew 38,000 participants. Two years after the conversion, participation has grown to 74,000 with waitlists for most classes. In 2015, 112 weekly exercise programs are offered with participation expected to reach 145,000 community members. The change in strategy has expanded evidence-based exercise programs such as yoga and tai-chi targeted to older adults for healthy aging, balance, fall prevention and social health.  Partnerships with local community organizers created run clubs targeting young professionals of all skill levels to promote running in built environments, helping to diversify audiences.

Trends in funding for Community Based Participatory Research recognize the vital contribution of community members in guiding the research. The inclusion of a Community Advisory Board for academic/community research partnerships ensures the necessary leadership to inform research studies in the most culturally appropriate way. Through the development and implementation of an effective CAB, comprised of a diverse group of community members, the CAB is able to provide expertise and advice about the impact of research on the community for whom an intervention is intended.  The workshop will explore the essential role of Community Advisory Boards in community engaged research and the role that academic institutions can play in elevating the community voice through research partnerships.

Local community organizations collaborated with university researchers to explore whether the potential risk posed by hair product use was a community concern, and ways to address it. To prepare, we held several capacity-building events including IRB, qualitative data collection, and data-analyses training. Following CBPR principles, partners were involved in all phases of the study. Over 100 individuals participated in 52 interviews and focus groups triangulated by respondent type (women with and without BC, stylists, salon owners, male partners); data was analyzed using Grounded Theory and coded using QDA Miner.

While much concern exists, there are different levels of awareness in younger/older and lower income/higher income respondents. Hair stylists expressed special concerns for finance-limited clientele, who may improperly use products at home leading to higher exposure; some younger men worried about the attractiveness of alternative styles. Overall, respondents wanted more information, education, and guidance on solutions and alternatives.

Although more research is needed to better understand the hair product and BC risk relationship, this research reveals clear concern about the issue in the AA community. With concern about chemicals in beauty products mounting nationally, findings from this research could inform policies regulating hair products.