Moving toward equitable community rebuilding: Combatting neoliberal, racist, and classist ideals and practices

Although neighborhood-level factors are understood to affect public health, the field lacks a robust conversation on how the processes of community (re)building and community (re)development impacts health within the contexts of global capitalism and neoliberal policies. As community development initiatives continue to sweep across cities worldwide, with goals of improving safety, decreasing poverty, and increasing quality of life, careful attention must be given to ascertaining whether the benefits from such projects are distributed in an equitable manner, and how community residents, especially traditionally marginalized and vulnerable groups, are involved in the process. The purpose of this session is to foster dialogue on these topics and exchange ideas among an interdisciplinary group of professionals from diverse geographic regions in the US and internationally. Abstracts will focus on the practice and research of community rebuilding and community redevelopment within the frameworks of racism, classism and capitalism. Abstracts that showcase examples where healthy communities are established through community-driven strategies, including community organizing and activism will be included along with community based participatory research, and studies that are informed by, or include, community narratives. Attendees will gain knowledge in specific topics to include, but  not limited to, uneven/territorial/economic development, gentrification, creative destruction, income/wealth inequality, environmental justice, residential segregation, land exploitation, and capital accumulation as drivers and outcomes of rebuilding. Scholars and practitioners from the fields of sociology, urban planning, community development, public health, geography, political science, law, education, and environmental science will present. Presentations which include a community presenter or co-presenter will be highlighted.