title: Nuestro Futuro saludable: connecting public health research and community development in partnership to build a healthy environment.
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.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Program, Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, Medford, 02155 USA.
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.affiliation: Community Health Program, Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences, Medford, 02155 USA.
authors.forename: Uchenna
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ndulue
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, 02111 USA.
authors.forename: Flavia C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Peréa
keywords: Caribbean Latinos; Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR); built environment; disparities; health