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 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 Grassroots: Cambodian Women’s Group Two generations Identify and address root causes Develop awareness of health in social context Cambodian Women’s Group 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 Community Garden ◦ Healthy, restful place to meet ◦ Exercise ◦ Reconnect with rural origins Cambodian New Year Celebrations 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 Language needs ◦ Simultaneous translation and interpretation Mixed educational experiences ◦ Team facilitation ◦ Non-verbal means of conducting analyses Traumatized population ◦ Aim to reduce conflict and tension in group ◦ Additional support may be needed Safe space ◦ Confidentiality reminders Analyses grounded in lived experiences ◦ Holistic view across generation divide New insights about health ◦ Individual and family wellbeing closely connected to community wellbeing New ideas about how to improve health ◦ Community center and component features ◦ Engage youth with adults to bridge gaps Innovations in research and program design ◦ Complex interventions may synergistically address complex and interrelated health issues 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 Photo credits: Roland S. Moore, Sean Kirkpatrick, Kampheak Va, S. Nadia 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 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 Sean Kirkpatrick Community Health for Asian Americans, 268 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610 sean.kirkpatrick@chaaweb.org; 510-282-7550