Building Capacity for Community-Academia Research Partnerships by Establishing a Physical Infrastructure for Community Engagement: Morgan CARES

Payam Sheikhattari (), Emma Shaffer, Rifath Ara Alam Barsha, Gillian Beth Silver, Bethtrice Elliott, Christina Delgado, Paula Purviance, Valerie Odero-Marah and Yvonne Bronner
Additional contact information
Payam Sheikhattari: Prevention Sciences Research Center, School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Emma Shaffer: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan CARES Community Engagement Core, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Rifath Ara Alam Barsha: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan CARES Community Engagement Core, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Gillian Beth Silver: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Bethtrice Elliott: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Christina Delgado: Tola’s Room, 4212 Sheldon Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21206, USA
Paula Purviance: Hillen Road Improvement Association, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
Valerie Odero-Marah: Center for Urban Health Disparities Research and Innovation, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA
Yvonne Bronner: Prevention Sciences Research Center, School of Community Health and Policy, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 19, 1-16

Abstract: Research partnerships between universities and communities following the principles of community-based participatory research (CBPR) have the potential to eliminate cycles of health disparities. The purpose of this article is to describe the process of establishing a community-campus network with a distinct mission and vision of developing trusting and successful research partnerships that are sustained and effective. In 2019, Morgan CARES was established to facilitate community engagement by founding a community center “within” a low-income residential neighborhood as a safe and accessible hub for creating a vibrant learning community. A community needs assessment and asset mapping was conducted and several necessary resources and services were provided to maximize networking opportunities, nurture innovative ideas and proposals, and provide seed funding. Lessons learned informed the optimization of a theoretical model that has guided the development and implementation of the program’s key components. By December 2021, Morgan CARES had recruited 222 community and 137 academic members representing diverse expertise from across Baltimore City. We also successfully established new partnerships and funded a total of 17 small community-academic awards. Although in its early stages, Morgan CARES has established a dynamic learning community following a conceptual framework that could guide future similar initiatives.

Keywords: community engagement; community-based participatory research; academia-community partnership; building capacity; underserved communities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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