title: Developing a transcultural academic-community partnership to arrest obesity.
abstract: Innovative and empirically tested strategies are needed to define and understand obesity prevention and reduction in a transcultural society. This manuscript describes the development of Science & Community, a partnership developed over a 3-year period with the end goal of implementing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) trial to reduce and prevent obesity. Outreach strategies focused on promoting the project via existing and new channels and identifying and contacting potential partners using established strategies. Science & Community developed and fostered partnerships by hosting a series of interactive meetings, including three Opportunity Receptions, four Community Open Forum Symposia, and quarterly Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings. Opportunity Reception (N = 62) and Symposia attendees (N = 103) represented the diversity of the community, and participants reported high satisfaction with content and programming. From these events, the CAB was formed and was comprised of 13 community representatives. From these meetings, a Partnership representing 34 organizations and 614 individuals emerged that has helped to guide the development of future proposals and strategies to reduce obesity in Houston/Harris County.
authors.affiliation: Arizona State University, Phoenix.
authors.forename: Rebecca E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Erica G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Soltero
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Scherezade K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mama
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Fiorella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: University of Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Ledoux
authors.affiliation: University of Texas, Houston.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McNeill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration*