The Community Collaborative Core is dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of community members to shape the direction of climate change and health research, education, and action. Rooted in principles of ubuntu, equity, co-creation, and respect, this core ensures that communities are not only participants in research but also co-leaders in generating knowledge and driving change.
Community Collaborative Core
We are committed to multi-directional community collaboration as an ongoing process of learning, training, and co-creating knowledge with the community. For us, this takes many forms:
Community Advisory Board(CAB)
The CAB guides the creation, implementation, and dissemination of research projects. It is composed of 12 members with diverse expertise, including specialists in climate change, health, mental health, and violence prevention; representatives from public benefit organizations, local government, and health clinics; intervention practitioners; and community representatives such as community health promoters (CHPs), informal community leaders, and community champions.
Community Consultation Groups
These groups bring together local stakeholders to adapt and refine interventions. While their membership qualifications are similar to those of the CAB, there is a stronger emphasis on being embedded in the community. The 24 members live and/or work in the communities where the research is conducted and include health clinic staff, CHPs, and survivors.
Community Team Training and Retreats
These sessions focus on promoting well-being among team members. Topics include recognizing and addressing vicarious trauma and burnout; developing self-care practices and positive coping strategies to strengthen resilience; and building skills for working effectively in groups, including understanding and fostering healthy group dynamics.
Community Research Team
Our current Community Research Team is made up of 16 informal leaders, health promoters, and community champions. They play a vital role in both conducting and shaping our research. In addition to carrying out research activities in the field, they help determine future research priorities, guide the development of data collection tools (e.g., survey design), and contribute to data analysis through group discussions and collaborative lab sessions. They also support paper writing for interested members, co-lead the dissemination and translation of research findings, and mentor new and emerging team members.
Looking Ahead
The Community Collaborative Core is expanding! We are growing our efforts to employ, train, and empower community members as health champions, researchers, and climate adaptation experts across East Africa. Plans include establishing and strengthening Community Collaborative Boards in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to ensure cultural relevance and local leadership in Center operations. The Core will also support new communities in leading the translation, application, and dissemination of findings, reinforcing the role of community voice in shaping future research, education, and policy. We have plans to expand to eighteen communities across East Africa soon!