Engaged communication of environmental health science: Processes and outcomes of urban academic-community partnerships

Appl Environ Educ Commun. 2022;21(1):7-22. doi: 10.1080/1533015x.2021.1930609. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

Those who bear the greatest environmental burdens often have the least access to information, and explanations for engaging communities to develop solutions are lacking. We describe, and use a case study to depict, a participatory process of urban academic and community members to co-produce educational and communication tools. Over five years, we interfaced with 763 individuals at eleven events and three times that (n=2,273) through attendees' networks at 109 small group events using snowball methods. The resulting communication tools, paired resources, and mobile dissemination were responsive to residents' circumstances and enhanced their ability to access health protecting information and resources.

Keywords: community engaged research; community engagement; environmental health communication; environmental health literacy; science communication.