Dr. Luci Fernandes, Dr. Shahna Arps, and Dr. Ricardo Contreras

East Carolina UniversityGreenville, NC

Communities look within at their strengths, assets and resources

Provides tools for deliberately collaborating to shape and create the kind of community in which people want to live, work, and play

Accessible and relevant healthcare is tantamount in creating a vibrant and successful community

It is an ongoing organizational learning process, a research approach that emphasizes co-learning, participation and organizational transformation. (Greenwood et al, 1993)

It [PAR] is about jointly producing knowledge with others to produce critical interpretations and readings of the world, which are accessible, understandable to all those involved and actionable.

(Paul Chatterton, Duncan Fuller & Paul Routledge, 2007)

• Design diet and exercise programs that are straightforward to follow and that are culturally appropriate

Bridging the University community and the local community

Building alliances that are mutually beneficial

Implement attainable lifestyle changes

Works within the structure of daily schedule

Community support system

Women cook and are care giversShop for family groceriesOrganize the schedule in the householdTreat the family when they are ill

Experiential education is learning activities that engage the learner directly in the phenomena being studied, with systematic and ongoing reflection and integration (Christopher Ross).

Lifestyle (changes in diet and exercise)

Culturally Competent (coincides with values and beliefs of the Hispanic population)

Familiarity (something that feels like home)

• Minimize stress

AMEXCAN (Asociación de Mexicanos en Carolina del Norte) which has developed a diabetes awareness program in Pitt County, NC

Focus groupsAdults, range of ages, from different regions of Mexico

InterviewsIn both local churches (n=11) and community

centers (n=12) in and around Greenville

Through the assistance of students at ECU (Dance Majors and members of S.A.L.S.A.)

Participants wanted dance classes using Latin styles of music and dance – include their children

Design an exercise program

Cultural relevance and familiarity

Not all groups felt comfortable with dancing

One program does not fit for all people in the Latino community

Find alternatives that are appropriate

Walking Groups

Soccer

Develop and reinforce social networks

All participants stated that they ate healthier in Mexico

New recipes/New ideas for cooking

Share and exchange

Cooking ideas for their children

Community Gardens:One woman has a garden. She plants

Tomatoes, squash/pumpkin, chiles, garlic, cilantro

Making handicrafts: Future: could be something where we can partner with “Emerge”.

Community projects that are designed with participants are more readily adopted and successful overall

Community members are part of the design and decision making process at all levels

Somebody within the community will be in charge of making sure that it is ongoing

Aware of a more sedentary lifestyle and high fat diet in the US

Expressed desire to create a dance class, walking group, and a “soccer day” where adults and children can participate

Recipes and cooking tips, using both American style foods and Latino dishes

Additional activities: Gardening and Crafting

Implementation of culturally appropriate strategies:

Dance/exercise programs Train exercise instructors within the communityConnect with ECU students /faculty

Healthy Cooking/Eating (Including: recipe exchange, (booklet, listserv, recipe contest)

“Soccer Day”

Walking Groups