Sharing Space for Equitable Design: Engagement Plan to Intentionally Elevate Historically Excluded Perspectives

<h3>Introduction</h3> Community engagement has been considered a fundamental component of past outbreaks, such as Ebola. However, there is concern over the lack of involvement of communities and ‘bottom-up’ approaches used within COVID-19 responses thus far. Identifying how community engagement approaches have been used in past epidemics may support more robust implementation within the COVID-19 response. <h3>Methodology</h3> A rapid evidence review was conducted to identify how community engagement is used for infectious disease prevention and control during epidemics. Three databases were searched in addition to extensive snowballing for grey literature. Previous epidemics were limited to Ebola, Zika, SARS, Middle East respiratory syndromeand H1N1 since 2000. No restrictions were applied to study design or language. <h3>Results</h3> From 1112 references identified, 32 articles met our inclusion criteria, which detail 37 initiatives. Six main community engagement actors were identified: local leaders, community and faith-based organisations, community groups, health facility committees, individuals and key stakeholders. These worked on different functions: designing and planning, community entry and trust building, social and behaviour change communication, risk communication, surveillance and tracing, and logistics and administration. <h3>Conclusion</h3> COVID-19’s global presence and social transmission pathways require social and community responses. This may be particularly important to reach marginalised populations and to support equity-informed responses. Aligning previous community engagement experience with current COVID-19 community-based strategy recommendations highlights how communities can play important and active roles in prevention and control. Countries worldwide are encouraged to assess existing community engagement structures and use community engagement approaches to support contextually specific, acceptable and appropriate COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Community engagement: learning from low-income countries

Stroke is becoming a leading cause of disability and death, and a major public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) seeks to comprehensively characterize the genomic, sociocultural, economic, and behavioral risk factors for stroke and to build effective teams for research to address and decrease the burden of stroke and other non-communicable diseases in SSA. One of the first steps to address this goal was to effectively engage the communities that suffer high burdens of disease in SSA. This paper describes the process of SIREN project's community engagement activities in Ghana and Nigeria. The aims of community engagement (CE) within SIREN are to: i) elucidate information about knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices (KABP) about stroke and its risk factors from individuals of African ancestry in SSA; ii) educate the community about stroke and ways to decrease disabilities and deaths from stroke; and iii) recruit 3000 control research subjects to participate in a case-control stroke study. CE focused on three-pronged activities-constitution and interaction with Community Advisory Board (CABs), Focus Group Discussions (n=27) and community education and outreach programs (n=88). FGDs and outreach programs indicate that knowledge of stroke, as well as risk factors and follow-up evidence-based care is limited and often late. Almost all indicated that genetic testing could help health provider’s better treat stroke and help scientists better understand the causes of stroke. Over 7000 individuals have received education on cardiovascular risk factors and about 5,000 have been screened for cardiovascular risk factors during the outreaches. The CE core within SIREN is a first of its kind public outreach engagement initiative to evaluate and address perceptions about stroke and genomics by patients, caregivers, and local leaders in SSA and has implications as a model for assessment in other high stroke risk populations.

This manuscript focuses on the recruitment efforts and pilot testing of a culturally tailored motivational interviewing intervention associated with the AAKOMA Project, a 2-phase treatment engagement intervention trial for depressed African American adolescents and families. The research team used strategic community engagement as reported in other research derived from AAKOMA. For the pilot study, the research team recruited 23 youth, enrolled 17 youth and randomized 16 of those youth to either the intervention or a delayed control group. Findings indicated that success in recruiting and retaining African American youth was sustained from earlier strategic engagement during Phase I of the project and that schools and self referrals were the largest referral sources. Pilot intervention findings highlight the preliminary utility of the intervention (100% of youth completing the intervention initiated depression treatment compared to 75% of the delayed control group) and factors that support the recruitment and engagement of a typically difficult to reach population (depressed African American youth and families). Overall, findings set the stage for further intervention development and testing in larger samples.

The creative process in the creation of musical works is a multifaceted journey that begins with the acquisition of ideas or inspirations. These ideas are transformed into musical concepts, which are then meticulously developed into compositions that are played using a variety of instruments, each representing the unique vision of the creator or composer. This transformation reaches its conclusion in the realisation of the compositions in the form of live performances, which may be experienced as both audio-visual experiences and music recordings. It is also noteworthy that this creative process has the additional function of serving educational purposes. Such activities have the potential to encourage collective action and community engagement, thereby strengthening social solidarity among participants. This research employs an interpretative qualitative methodology, drawing upon literature studies, audio-visual sources, and the empirical experiences of the researcher as both a musician and educator in the field of music. This interpretative approach entails a meticulous examination of selected and organized data through the triangulation of multiple sources. The interpretative phase is enhanced by a synthesis of creative processes and theoretical frameworks, thereby facilitating a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between musical creation and its cultural implications. This study illuminates the significance of the creative process in both individual and communal contexts, demonstrating its capacity to shape musical identity and foster social connections.

This study explores the impact of health misinformation in digital environments. The proliferation of misinformation on platforms like social media has a significant effect on public health behaviors. Understanding the sources, impacts, and strategies for addressing health misinformation is crucial for developing effective public health communication strategies. A mixed-methods approach was used, beginning with qualitative interviews involving healthcare professionals, public health officials, and community members to gather insights on misinformation sources, its impacts, and existing countermeasures. The quantitative phase involved a survey of 200 participants, focusing on misinformation exposure, trust in health information, and demographic factors. Data integration was achieved using a joint display matrix, combining qualitative themes with quantitative survey results. The study found that social media was the primary source of misinformation, with younger participants reporting higher exposure and emotional impact. Trust in health information was influenced by trust in local leaders and government or academic sources. Training also emerged as a key facilitator in improving confidence in identifying misinformation, with trained participants showing higher confidence in recognizing false health claims. The study highlights the importance of culturally relevant communication strategies and community engagement in addressing misinformation. Findings suggest that trust-building with local leaders and targeted training can improve public health efforts to combat misinformation.

Community engagement and mobilization are central to effective crisis response, strengthening both operational outcomes and community resilience. This article explores strategies for partnering with local leaders, mobilizing volunteers, fostering two-way communication, and ensuring inclusive outreach to vulnerable populations. Drawing on tools such as community mapping, social network analysis, and volunteer management practices, it demonstrates how local knowledge and participation enhance trust and cohesion. Case studies from Bangladesh, Nepal, Uganda, and Puerto Rico illustrate practical applications in health interventions, disaster response, and inclusive communication. The findings emphasize that participatory approaches improve both immediate crisis response and long-term community resilience.

Diverse and contested local interests and the complexity of climate change make adaptation to climate change risks at the coast challenging. Even in similar settings, adaptation experiences and prospects can differ markedly. Why? This paper provides empirical evidence of comparative adaptation experiences in two regions of Aotearoa-New Zealand - the Coromandel Peninsula and the Hawke's Bay coast. We critically examine how local barriers and enablers influence the trajectory of adaptation in two regions that face similar risks, have essentially the same institutional architecture, and yet have had very different adaptation experiences. We investigate the situational differences and similarities, and their implications for adaptation in each region. We found that the evolution of adaptation is shaped by the perceptions of the actors, especially local authority leaders, and opportunities that arise at a context-specific point in time. Such perceptions and opportunities can amount to barriers in one location and enablers in another. Growing concern about coastal hazard risk, improving levels of trust and legitimacy, community engagement, and collaborative governance were key to innovative long-term adaptation planning in the Hawke's Bay but their absence has led to short-term business as usual practices in the Coromandel. Yet even in the latter case, change is underway and longer-term adaptation planning is commencing. We conclude that there is a ‘rising tide’ of adaptation action in the face of escalating climate risk – with long-term planning and local action triggered by cumulative hazard experience and / or extreme events that raise public concern and make climate change salient to local community members and leaders. Both local and regional interests and concerns shape local response appetites. Proactive, local authority-led engagement and long-term strategic planning are foundational for mobilizing effective adaptation responses. Enabling national policy, guidance and institutional provisions are key to prompting and sustaining such efforts, and to facilitating broad consistency in locally appropriate responses. Notwithstanding efforts to foster locally appropriate but nationally aligned adaptation responses, our research shows that coastal communities and their local authorities follow pathways consistent with local risk appetites, understanding about climate change, and the political will and capacity of local government to mobilize key governance actors around long-term strategic planning.

Community engagement has been identified as a key component for successful conservation efforts. According to community members, key stakeholders, and coral reef restoration practitioners in the Seaflower Marine Protected Area (MPA), the most effective way to engage communities in coral reef restoration is by building local capacity. We used a mixed‐methods approach including interviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, and surveys to assess strategies employed in the Seaflower MPA to involve local communities in coral reef restoration and the motivations and possible barriers that hinder community engagement. The community residing in the Seaflower MPA demonstrated awareness of the importance of coral reefs and their role in their livelihoods. They identified the main challenges to restoration as social dysfunctionality, administrative barriers, and environmental threats, along with a lack of opportunities for the community to participate in coral reef restoration. Our findings identified building trust, promoting equity, transparency, and accountability, fostering collaboration, and improving communication as essential to overcoming these challenges. Empowering local communities through capacity‐building initiatives such as educational programs, economic incentives, equity and inclusion measures, formal certifications, and local leadership would enhance support for coral reef restoration in the Seaflower MPA. In addition to building local capacity, our research identified the need for strategic planning, budgeting, and effective policies for enhancing community efforts in coral reef restoration.

This article aimed to explore engaged scholarship project leaders’ rationales for starting their engaged scholarship project in communities. Community engagement (or engaged scholarship) has become a required part of the academia and increasingly becoming a scholarly endeavor. Academics in the education faculty at one university in South Africa were asked to voluntarily participate in a study exploring their rationales for starting their engaged scholarship projects. Semi-structured interviews were held with project leaders. Responses indicated four factors in rationales, firstly, the context selected for project were closely linked to project leader’s early experiences in education, secondly, project leaders selected subjects that were known for being problematic to teach, thirdly, the challenges within the context motivated project leaders to become involved and lastly, project leaders indicated that their motivation to remain involved in the project stemmed from wanting to develop the project further. The study was limited to project leaders in one faculty and only focused on rationales. Engaged scholarship projects are closely intertwined with personal backgrounds. It is recommended that community engagement project leaders reflect on their rationales to build more robust projects.

Addressing the increasing desire of older adults to age in place and the limitations of traditional health and social care, the UHN NORC Program seeks to transform Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) into vibrant, self-supported communities through catalyzing resident volunteers, providing mentorship and coaching, and increasing access to the right service providers. This initiative aligns with the conference theme of ""Engaging Communities,"" as it reflects a grassroots movement for change led from within the community, incorporating local knowledge and lived experience, promoting self-management, and empowering people to advocate for their own health needs. The NORC Program from the University Health Network in Toronto, Canada, primarily targets older adults residing in NORC buildings, defined as regular residential high-rise buildings with a concentration of 30% or more older adults (65+). Program facilitators work alongside resident ‘Ambassadors’, building their capacity to take an active role in developing and sustaining a mutually supportive, aging in place community in their own building. Ambassadors undergo training in relational care, community development and participatory design and are supported through monthly meetings that follow a structured curriculum, emphasizing starting, doing, and sustaining community initiatives. The program connects NORC Ambassadors with local service providers who can deliver in-building social, health, and wellness programming based on resident interests and needs. Post-program, Ambassadors join an alumni network for continued support and learning. The program emphasizes resilience, flexibility, and community support, showcasing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation alongside older adults and community leaders. The program's success criteria include (1) building and strengthening informal support networks for aging in place, (2) creating social connections and reducing loneliness, (3) developing local older adult leadership and enhancing self-determination over activities, and (4) instilling a sense of ownership among older adults for aging in place initiatives. Personal and public involvement (PPI) is integral, with older adults actively participating in the design and implementation of NORC programming in their own communities and playing an essential role on the program advisory committee. This paper explores the opportunity NORC Programs present, showcasing their potential to transform regular high-rise buildings into connected, supportive environments for aging in place and facilitating continued care closer to home. It delves into the successes and challenges of implementation, highlighting positive cultural shifts, increased community engagement, and improved well-being among participants. Challenges include reaching frailer, isolated residents, potential Ambassador burnout, and the need for clearer engagement strategies for younger generations. The UHN NORC Program has been iterating and maturing its curriculum since 2019 and with more than 25 Ambassador groups representing ~4,000 older adults in Toronto, Canada’s most diverse urban centre. With representation from across the city, including different cultures and income levels, the Program is a model for fostering sustainable aging in place through community engagement and offers a roadmap for how to shift power to people and communities to create lasting, positive change. The paper invites international collaboration and knowledge-sharing to refine and expand this innovative approach, contributing to advancing integrated care and community engagement globally.

BackgroundIt is known that there are inequalities of access to hospice care (Tobin, Rogers, Winterburn, et al. BMJ Support Palliat Care. 2022;12(2):142–51). Community engagement within hard-to-reach communities is of utmost...

Over the past two decades, scientific research on the connections between the health and resilience of marine ecosystems, and human health, well-being, and community prosperity has expanded and evolved into a distinct "metadiscipline" known as Oceans and Human Health (OHH), recognized by the scientific community as well as policy makers. OHH goals are diverse, and seek to improve public health outcomes, promote sustainable use of aquatic systems and resources, and strengthen community resilience. OHH research has historically included some level of community outreach and partner involvement; however, the increasing disruption of aquatic environments and urgency of public health impacts calls for a more systematic approach to effectively identify and engage with community partners to achieve project goals and outcomes. Herein, we present a strategic framework developed collaboratively by community engagement personnel from the four recently established U.S. Centers for Oceans and Human Health (COHH). This framework supports researchers in defining levels of community engagement and in aligning partners, purpose, activities, and approaches intentionally in their community engagement efforts. Specifically, we describe: (1) a framework for a range of outreach and engagement approaches; (2) the need for identifying partners, purpose, activities, and approaches; and (3) the importance of making intentional alignment among them. Misalignment across these dimensions may lead to wasting time or resources, eroding public trust, or failing to achieve intended outcomes. We illustrate the framework with examples from current COHH case studies, and conclude with future directions for strategic community engagement in OHH and other environmental health contexts.

Quick-build projects aim to improve the safety and accessibility of streets, parks, and other public spaces using temporary, lower-cost materials. Community engagement (CE) is critical to ensuring quick-builds address community needs and fit community context. Between 2019–2021, 13 quick-build projects were implemented in Hawai’i communities to support walking, rolling, bicycling, skateboarding, and park activation. The quick-build changes included creating curb extensions painted with street artwork and adding park features. This process evaluation study sought to understand how multisector partners engaged community members in quick-build projects and what they learned. The evaluation team conducted semi-structured interviews in 2021 with a purposive sample of 14 participants who had experience leading or coordinating quick-builds in Hawai’i. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, then iteratively coded by two evaluators. Preliminary findings underwent a member-checking process with interviewees. Interviewees reported implementing a variety of CE activities tailored to the quick-build project’s goal, features, timeline, resources, and partners. Overall, CE efforts focused on the early planning and design phases of quick-build projects. Lessons learned about CE centered on the amount of time to build relationships, the importance of partnerships, ensuring any art component resonated with communities, involving youth, framing the quick-build as temporary and reversible, budgeting for CE resources, connecting through existing community structures, and keeping community volunteers safe. Community members need to be more meaningfully engaged in post-implementation efforts such as maintenance, evaluation, and deciding next steps.

National resource ownership and community engagement in Tanzania's natural gas governance