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“Mejorando Nuestras Oportunidades”: Engaging Urban Youth in Environmental Health Assessment and Advocacy to Improve Health and Outdoor Play Spaces

Author

Listed:
  • Flavia C. Peréa

    (Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Nina R. Sayles

    (Mindich Program in Engaged Scholarship, Harvard College, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA)

  • Amanda J. Reich

    (Center for Surgery and Public Health, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA)

  • Alyssa Koomas

    (Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Portland, OR 97201, USA)

  • Heather McMann

    (Groundwork Lawrence, Lawrence, MA 01840, USA)

  • Linda S. Sprague Martinez

    (School of Social Work, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

Abstract

Youth can be valuable partners in community health improvement efforts. Latino youth from Lawrence, MA were engaged in research and health promotion over an 11-month period. Utilizing their knowledge of the community, youth assessed local parks and carried out evidence-based health promotion efforts to communicate community resources to encourage physical activity, nurture community ownership of parks, and advocate for park improvements. Health promotion efforts can engage youth in strategies to address critical public health issues by leveraging their unique perspective and distinct location within communities. The communications developed by the youth were distributed within the community, benefiting residents directly. Youth were motivated to engage in the project by a sense of civic obligation, and upon completing the project, they expressed that they had gained research and communication skills and were inspired to continue to support their community. Youth engagement in applied research and health promotion at the local level can provide a foundation for community health improvement efforts that are relevant for distinct communities, while fostering the positive development of youth, and nurturing community-driven efforts to help create a healthier environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Flavia C. Peréa & Nina R. Sayles & Amanda J. Reich & Alyssa Koomas & Heather McMann & Linda S. Sprague Martinez, 2019. "“Mejorando Nuestras Oportunidades”: Engaging Urban Youth in Environmental Health Assessment and Advocacy to Improve Health and Outdoor Play Spaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:4:p:571-:d:206445
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Samantha Teixeira, 2016. "Beyond Broken Windows: Youth Perspectives on Housing Abandonment and its Impact on Individual and Community Well-Being," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 9(3), pages 581-607, September.
    2. Linda Sprague Martinez & Ellin Reisner & Maria Campbell & Doug Brugge, 2017. "Participatory Democracy, Community Organizing and the Community Assessment of Freeway Exposure and Health (CAFEH) Partnership," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-11, February.
    3. Cohen, D.A. & McKenzie, T.L. & Sehgal, A. & Williamson, S. & Golinelli, D. & Lurie, N., 2007. "Contribution of public parks to physical activity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 97(3), pages 509-514.
    4. Sprague Martinez, L.S. & Gute, D.M. & Ndulue, U.J. & Seller, S.L. & Brugge, D. & Peréa, F.C., 2012. "All public health is local: Revisiting the importance of local sanitation through the eyes of youth," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 102(6), pages 1058-1060.
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    Cited by:

    1. Brenda B. Lin & Susan Thompson & Richard Mitchell & Thomas Astell-Burt & Evelyne De Leeuw & Bin Jalaludin & Xiaoqi Feng, 2023. "Policymaker and Practitioner Perceptions of Parks for Health and Wellbeing: Scoping a Holistic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.

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