Supported by NIMHD Grant R24MD004902
The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this
presentation existed during the past 12 months: No relationships to disclose.
Juliet P. Lee (1), Talaya Sin (1,2), Sean Kirkpatrick (3),
Sotheavy Tan (3), Ann Rojas-Cheatham (3), Shadia Godoy (3),
Roland Moore (1), Angelo Ercia (3), Mona Afary (4)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research
and Evaluation, 1995 University Ave #450, Berkeley, CA
Cambodian Community Development, Inc., 624 Douglas
Ave, Oakland, CA
Community Health for Asian Americans, 268 Grand Ave,
Oakland, CA
Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants, 544
International Blvd, Suite #9, Oakland, CA
Thavery Hov
Sarouen Im
Phannara Khun
Kong Lap
Choun Norn
Maria San
Poly Yat Tep
Monica Then
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Identify a priority health issue with leadership
of Cambodian American women
Pilot test a community intervention with
leadership of Cambodian American women
Build capacities of communities to engage in
research for health improvement, and
scientists to partner with communities
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Grassroots: Cambodian Women’s Group
Two generations
Identify and address root causes
Develop awareness of health in social context
Cambodian Women’s Group
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Trauma - the overarching issue
Problem Alcohol Use
Prescription Drug Misuse
Housing
Education
Employment
Domestic Violence
Social Isolation
Gambling
Sense of Unity
(Community Violence)
Analyzed Need:
Cambodian Community Center
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Community Garden
◦ Healthy, restful place to meet
◦ Exercise
◦ Reconnect with rural origins
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Cambodian New Year Celebrations
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Cambodian Cultural Exhibit
◦ Bridge factions within community
◦ Intergenerational, alcohol-free gathering
◦ Bridge knowledge gap about trauma for youth
◦ Bridge Cambodian and American contexts
◦ Celebrate Cambodian identity
Cambodian Community Gardens
• Two gardens established to date, third in process
• 129 Oakland Cambodians participated during
project period
Cambodian New Year Celebrations
• Celebrations held in 2011, 2012
• Attended by approx. 500 people each year
Survey results
• many older adults are socially isolated
Survey results
• seeing other Cambodians was the best
thing about the event
Cultural exhibit:
Rhythm of the
Refugee: A
Cambodian
Journey of
Healing
Life stories of Oakland Cambodians, contextualized
• Traumas of Khmer Rouge period
• Legacies and new cultural forms in Oakland
Survey results:
Best thing about the exhibit:
Pride in our culture
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Language needs
◦ Simultaneous translation and interpretation
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Mixed educational experiences
◦ Team facilitation
◦ Non-verbal means of conducting analyses
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Traumatized population
◦ Aim to reduce conflict and tension in group
◦ Additional support may be needed
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Safe space
◦ Confidentiality reminders
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Analyses grounded in lived experiences
◦ Holistic view across generation divide
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New insights about health
◦ Individual and family wellbeing closely connected to
community wellbeing
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New ideas about how to improve health
◦ Community center and component features
◦ Engage youth with adults to bridge gaps
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Innovations in research and program design
◦ Complex interventions may synergistically address
complex and interrelated health issues
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Funder: National Institutes on Minority Health and Health Disparities
Collaborative partners: Community Health for Asian Americans (CHAA), Pacific
Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), Cambodian Community Development,
Inc. (CCDI), Center for Empowering Refugees and Immigrants (CERI)
Community gardens hosts: Harbor House of Oakland and City of Oakland Parks
and Recreation
New Year’s Celebrations co-organizers: CWG, CCDI, CERI, CHAA, PIRE, with Asian
Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS), East Bay Asian Youth Center (EBAYC),
UC Berkeley Cambodian Student Association, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, &
SFSU Asian American Studies Program
Exhibit co-curators: CWG, CCDI, CHAA, & Peralta Hacienda Historical Park
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Photo credits: Roland S. Moore, Sean Kirkpatrick, Kampheak Va, S. Nadia
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Thanks to the Community Advisory Board members and the many volunteers
Hussain
and community members who contributed their creative ideas and energy to
the project
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Juliet P. Lee
Prevention Research Center,
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation,
1995 University Ave. #450,Berkeley CA 94704
jlee@prev.org; 510-883-5772
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Sean Kirkpatrick
Community Health for Asian Americans,
268 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610
sean.kirkpatrick@chaaweb.org; 510-282-7550