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Abstract
Caribbean Latinos are the largest Latino group in Boston, primarily located in the Jamaica Plain (JP) neighborhood. There are various macro-level public health issues that result from the built environment in JP, factors which can create and sustain health disparities. Caribbean Latino youth are a priority group in JP, and it is important to address the causes of disparities early in life to promote good health. Presented here is an integrated research-and-action model to engage community stakeholders and researchers in designing an intervention to mitigate the negative health effects of the built environment and maximize community assets. The approach operates from a community empowerment model that allows public health practitioners, policy makers, researchers and residents to take an up-stream approach to improve health by focusing on the built environment, which is integral to community development.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by funding from National Institutes for Health, National Centers for Minority Health and Health Disparities (Grant #1-R24-MD-005095-01). Many thanks to our partners at the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, the Latino Health Institute, the Center for Social Justice at the Boston Public Health Commission, the Southern Jamaica Plain Community Health Center, the Hyde Square Task Force, and the Mary Curley Middle School. In addition, we would like to thank the individual members of the Community Advisory Board for their leadership, motivation, and commitment collaboration to create change. Finally, we would also like to acknowledge our mentors and co-investigators on this project, Dr Doug Brugge, Dr David Gute, Mr Elmer Freeman and Dr Katherine Tucker for their support, mentorship and belief in this approach to intervention research.