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Engaging Residents to Address Environmental Injustices and Socioecological Factors in Boyle Heights
Connie Valencia1, Brittany Morey1, Dalia Calva1
1Dr. Connie Valencia is Sustainability Solutions Community Engagement Fellow at Environmental Justice Research Lab, Department of Population and Public Health Sciences Keck School of Medicine, USC University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA. Dr. Brittany Morey is Assistant Professor at the Department of Health Society & Behavior, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA. Ms. Dalia Calva is at Program in Public Health, University of California Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA. Mr. Ernesto Cortes is at Department of Biology, University of California Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA. Dr. Lindsay Donaldson is at Cultural Studies, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, California, USA. Ms. Ruth Rodriguez is Community Organizer/Parent Wellness Coordinator Legacy LA at Los Angeles, California, USA. Ms. Lucy Herrera is Executive Director Legacy LA at Los Angeles, California, USA. Dr. Sora Park Tanjasiri is Professor at the Department of Health, Society & Behavior, UCI Program in Public Health Associate Director, Cancer Health Equity & Community Engagement, University of California Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA. Alana M.W. LeBrón is Associate Professor at the Department of Health Society & Behavior; also Associate Professor at Chicano/Latino Studies, Affiliated and Environmental & Occupational Health, University of California, Irvine (UCI), Irvine, California, USA.
Study Objective:
Segregated Hispanic/Latino communities experience poor residential air quality. Toxic air pollution has been linked to higher mortality risk and chronic illnesses, including asthma. This qualitative study sought to develop a comprehensive understanding of facilitators and barriers to civic engagement among community organizers from a low-income community affected by environmental injustice who worked to develop an air pollution mitigation project.
Methods:
Environmental justice community organizers (n = 21) affiliated with the Natural Park Air Pollution Solution project were interviewed. Participants were eligible if they (a) were current or former residents of Boyle Heights and thus, familiar with the neighborhood; (b) were between the ages of 18 and 75; and (c) participated in activities related to Legacy LA's Natural Park Air Pollution Solution project.
Data Analysis:
The socioecological model (SEM) and flexible coding were used to analyze interviews.
Results:
Four themes emerged related to project involvement: (a) personal factors and civic engagement, (b) interpersonal relationships, (c) organizational support, and (d) community-based resources. Knowledge, perceptions, and multiple responsibilities emerged as personal factors affecting civic engagement. Organizational support included opportunities to gain skills and access to information. Community partners, including elected officials, were identified as community-based resources affecting civic engagement.
Conclusions:
This study suggests the need to address factors at the personal, interpersonal, organizational, and community levels to increase civic engagement among predominantly Hispanic/Latino communities to advocate for clean air and relevant environmental justice issues affecting vulnerable neighborhoods.
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