Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

Convened February 20, 2025

Building Health and Resilience Research Capacity in the U.S. Gulf Coast: Elevating Partnerships
Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Addressing the complex challenges to increased extreme weather impacts on communities in the Gulf Coast region requires connected and interdisciplinary approaches, in addition to strong institutional partnerships. Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) bring essential community knowledge, research expertise, and long-standing regional engagement that can enhance the design and implementation of public health and resilience strategies in preparation for future climate emergencies.

In 2024, the Gulf Research Program (GRP) at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, convened a workshop planning committee whose purpose was to design two workshops with the goal to explore the participation, competitiveness, and leadership of Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in community-engaged health and environmental research. The workshops centered around topics related to applied research opportunities for climate change effects on human health, informing and improving public health data systems, and enhancing community resilience to climate and environmental stressors. This convening series was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and complemented previous RWJF-GRP funding opportunities and programming centering on HBCU and MSI leadership in research. The first workshop,¹ held in October 2024, examined existing infrastructures supporting research at HBCUs and MSIs and explored opportunities for them to lead climate, health, and resilience research efforts. The second and final workshop, held on February 20, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana, focused on strengthening partnerships, increasing research capacity, and addressing institutional barriers in the Gulf region. It explored opportunities for HBCUs and MSIs to expand their leadership in community-engaged research on extreme weather events and environmental stressors on human health and resilience. Hearing from community leaders and researchers who have built lasting partnerships, participants discussed strategies for advancing HBCU and MSI involvement, improving public health data systems, and enhancing community resilience. This workshop occurred in a hybrid format, allowing for presentations to be given virtually, as well as in person.

The workshop planning committee co-chairs welcomed participants with introductory remarks. Shamarial Roberson, President at DSR Public Health Foundation, Inc., opened the workshop by highlighting the environmental, economic, and health challenges facing the Gulf region,

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particularly in the aftermath of disasters such as hurricanes. She emphasized the need not only to build research capacity at HBCUs and MSIs, but also to recognize their critical role in fostering collaboration, developing solutions, and training future researchers and leaders. Reflecting on the first workshop, she highlighted discussions on both the essential contributions of HBCUs and MSIs to community-engaged research and the challenges they face in these efforts.

Berneece Herbert, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Urban and Regional Planning at Jackson State University, reinforced the importance of fostering collaboration, sharing insights, and strengthening partnerships. She underscored the importance and value of long-term partnerships, community engagement, and expanding MSIs’ research capacity to lead innovative solutions for health and resilience.

This Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief provides a high-level summary of presentations and discussions from the hybrid workshop.²

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: ADVANCING PUBLIC HEALTH THROUGH RESEARCH, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS

Deanna Wathington, Executive Director of the Consortium of African American Public Health Programs (CAAPHP), President of the American Public Health Association, and Clinical Director of REACHUP Inc., highlighted public health’s wide-ranging impact and achievements. Despite progress in maternal and child health, she noted that the leading causes of death have remained unchanged for decades. Quoting Adewale Troutman, she urged maintaining a focus on “the causes of the causes”³—which is to say, the upstream factors shaping health outcomes. Referencing Healthy People 2030,⁴ she underscored its vision devoted to fostering environments where all individuals can achieve their full health potential.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR), she explained, is essential for fostering collaboration, enhancing our understanding of community needs, and promoting meaningful policy change. Unlike traditional research, CBPR actively involves communities in shaping research questions and interventions—thus avoiding the “parachute” approach where researchers collect data and leave. She distinguished CBPR from general community engagement, stressing that true partnerships require mutual benefit, intentionality, and respect for community autonomy. Effective multi-sector partnerships, Wathington emphasized, are essential for advancing public health. Integrating social resources and addressing social determinants of health can lead to meaningful and lasting public health improvements.

A coalition of public health programs at HBCUs, CAAPHP fosters leadership, collaboration, and research partnerships with the aim being to improve health outcomes through advocacy, education, mentorship, and community-driven initiatives. HBCUs are increasingly engaged in large-scale health and environmental research, with notable initiatives including the Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems-II,⁵ Bethune Cookman University’s We Invest in your Needs-Health Projects (WIN-HP),⁶ and the Research Center on the Impact of Climate Change and Environmental Factors on Health at Morehouse School of Medicine.⁷ Emphasizing that improving health outcomes for vulnerable populations benefits everyone, she underscored the importance of a bottom-up approach to public health interventions.

Calling for direct, multi-year funding, Wathington advocated for simplified applications and participatory grant-making. MSIs, she argued, do more than conduct research: they live the realities they study, making their contributions essential to advancing policy, health, and community impact.

In response to a question about funding mechanisms and partnership conditions that support MSIs as primary research institutions, Wathington highlighted initiatives

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that prioritize community-driven metrics and outcomes. Stressing the importance of direct support, she encouraged MSIs to actively pursue funding from foundations and philanthropic entities.

When asked about expanding research beyond urban centers, Wathington noted that many HBCUs are located outside urban centers, making their research highly relevant to rural health challenges. Their geographic reach and deep community ties, she emphasized, uniquely position them to effectively address these gaps.

PANEL 1: INTERDISCIPLINARY PARTNERSHIPS AMONG HBCUS AND MSIS

The first panel examined interdisciplinary partnerships among HBCUs and MSIs, focusing on strategies to foster collaboration and strengthen research and workforce development. Discussions centered on building cross-institutional partnerships, leveraging consortia, and creating connections to support health and infrastructure-related workforce training. This panel was moderated by Berneece Herbert.

Cross-Institutional Partnership Model for Workforce Development

Babatunde Oyajobi, Professor and Program Director of the San Antonio Biomedical Education and Research (SABER) Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, introduced the IRACDA postdoctoral training program as a cross-institutional partnership workforce development model. The program requires a research-intensive institution to collaborate with one to three MSIs to train postdoctoral researchers while fostering sustainable partnerships that build research capacity at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs).

The IRACDA program prepares postdoctoral participants who are based at research-intensive institutions for future faculty leadership by providing mentored teaching experiences and helping develop teaching skills, while integrating research-based curricula at PUIs. The aim of the program is to increase the number of students who enter graduate programs in biomedical science. Participants also serve as role models, promoting undergraduate research and encouraging students—particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds—to pursue graduate studies. Another key objective of IRACDA programs is to foster research collaborations among consortium faculty while supporting the professional development of faculty at PUI partners. Nationwide, nearly two dozen IRACDA programs have been established.

Oyajobi highlighted the SABER IRACDA program, funded since 2015, which operates as a consortium with four partner institutions, three of which are Hispanic-Serving Institutions: Our Lady of the Lake University, St. Mary’s University, and the University of the Incarnate Word. The fourth, the University of Texas Health Science Center, though not an MSI, provides valuable educational programs. Governance includes an oversight committee with program directors and coordinators from each institution, an internal steering committee with senior leadership, and an external advisory committee.

Reflecting on a decade of lessons learned from the SABER IRACDA program, Oyajobi emphasized that trust and respect are essential for sustainable partnerships. Engaging all partners as equals, defining clear roles and shared objectives, and maintaining transparent communication help ensure program success. Addressing competition among PUIs and conducting continuous evaluations, including annual external reviews, have further strengthened the program. He concluded by underscoring the potential of this model to support long-term institutional collaboration and capacity building.

Sustaining HBCU-Led Initiatives for Lasting Impact and Transformative Change

Robert Bullard, Professor and Founder and Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University, highlighted the strength and impact of HBCUs and HBCU-Community-Based Organization (HBCU-CBO) consortia in driving transformative change. He underscored HBCUs’ critical role in training future educators, scientists, and leaders, particularly in the Gulf South—a region disproportionately impacted by environmental degradation. Their involvement in research and action is essential for addressing disparities and environmental risks, with their leadership in this field dating back to the early 1990s.

Bullard emphasized that HBCU-led research has influenced policies at every level, from local initiatives to national efforts. Research has gone beyond tradi-

tional cost-benefit analyses to assess vulnerability and inform policy responses to both natural and human-made disasters. While resources have been allocated to support research and workforce training, Bullard argued that resources should be distributed based on need rather than existing power structures. For over a decade, HBCUs have successfully led a community-university model in partnership with MSIs and select Predominately White Institutions (PWIs), reinforcing their roles as key drivers of research and policy change.

However, Bullard warned that without sustained investment, the progress made by HBCU-led initiatives is at risk. He called for long-term funding models, including endowments, to ensure financial stability and lasting impact. “Endow the work, endow the centers, endow the consortium, endow these collaborations and collaborators,” Dr. Bullard stated, further emphasizing the importance of securing the future of these initiatives that have demonstrated effectiveness in addressing environmental challenges.

Strengthening Research Partnerships Through Funding, Collaboration, and Leadership

An audience member asked Oyajobi to explain the IRACDA model’s partnership requirements. He described how the program requires a research-intensive institution to form a consortium with MSIs, ensuring mutual benefits. Postdocs dedicate at least 25 percent of their time to teaching while also strengthening curricula, expanding research opportunities, and addressing health disparities in local communities.

When asked about other institutions joining IRACDA, Oyajobi noted that cross-state partnerships are challenging due to postdoctoral teaching commitments. Most partnerships remain local to balance teaching and research responsibilities. While some institutions manage distant partnerships, they require extended on-site stays, which he said is not ideal. Any institution can apply to establish an IRACDA program, but Oyajobi noted that securing funding is crucial for sustainability.

The conversation shifted to challenges and successes in consortiums, with Bullard rejecting the common assumption that top-tier institutions must always lead research. He emphasized that HBCUs established environmental justice research infrastructure long before funding or recognition, and their models are now being replicated by PWIs. As an example of success, Oyajobi highlighted the San Antonio Alliance, where four MSIs collaborated and were able to secure a grant on the first try. According to Bullard, clear agreements, defined roles, and recognition of institutional strengths are key to ensuring long-term success.

Co-identifying issues and co-producing solutions emerged as another critical concept. An audience member cited technical assistance programs as essential for bridging the gap between government funding and community needs. Rather than filtering funds through state or municipal governments, Bullard argued for direct investment in communities.

A participant raised a question about steps to endow research centers. As an example, Bullard described securing a $5 million grant and negotiating to $1 million for an endowment, later matched by a partnering university. Long-term sustainability, he emphasized, requires advocating for endowment funding rather than relying solely on short-term project grants.

A participant shared how a pilot grant, requiring both an academic and community principal investigator, helped her sustain engagement while balancing her teaching responsibilities. Rather than developing partnerships solely through transactional grant requests, she stressed the importance of allowing them to evolve organically. Smaller collaborations, she noted, can often lead to larger funding opportunities.

ACTIVITY: STRATEGIES AND RESOURCES FOR CREATING AND SUSTAINING PARTNERSHIPS

A small group activity encouraged participants to exchange ideas on best practices for building and sustaining collaborations. Discussions focused on two key topics: strategies for creating sustainable partnerships between researchers at academic institutions and leaders of community-based organizations (see Table 1) and key steps, engagement methods, and resources to help ensure these partnerships are sustainable (see Table 2).

TABLE 1
Suggested Strategies for Creating Sustainable Partnerships

TABLE 2
Suggested Steps, Engagement Methods, and Resources for Sustainable Partnerships

PANEL 2: STRENGTHENING RESEARCH IMPACT THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

The second panel focused on frameworks for building external partnerships to strengthen the research impact of MSIs and HBCUs. Panelists discussed collaborations with higher education institutions, community-based organizations, industry, and government, highlighting how these partnerships operate and what is needed to sustain them. By exploring models of balanced, mutually beneficial relationships, panelists identified strategies for fostering meaningful, long-term connections that advance research, improve health outcomes, and enhance community resilience. This panel was moderated by Shamarial Roberson.

A Market-Driven Approach to Advancing Energy Innovation in Louisiana

Ashwith Chilvery, Director of Use-Inspired Research and Development at the Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL), described the initiative designed to position Louisiana as a global leader in energy innovation. FUEL focuses on use-inspired research and development, technology commercialization, and workforce development to drive place-based innovation.

Built on a partnership network of 51 organizations⁸—including academic institutions, industry, government, community stakeholders, and venture capitalists—FUEL is designed to accelerate the transition from research to market-ready solutions. He explained that FUEL aims to drive use-inspired research and development by fostering industry collaboration to accelerate energy innovation in Louisiana and beyond. It supports workforce development programs that cultivate a skilled talent pool ready to advance the energy sector’s transition to lower carbon emissions. Additionally, unlike conventional academic research, FUEL integrates industry, practitioners, and end-users to ensure projects address real-world needs, and provide entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed for successful commercialization.

Chilvery emphasized that fostering partnerships, incentivizing innovation, and developing novel value propositions—such as intellectual property and commercialization pathways—are critical enablers of use-inspired research. He also stressed the importance of integrating end-users into the research design process to maximize both economic and environmental impact, ensuring that FUEL’s innovations lead to tangible benefits for industry and communities alike.

Community-Driven Public Health Partnerships: Lessons from the Jackson Heart Study

Victor Sutton, Chief of Community Health and Clinical Services at the Mississippi Department of Health, highlighted the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), a long-term research initiative launched in 1998 to examine the disproportionate impact of cardiovascular diseases on African Americans and reduce health disparities through effective communication and outreach promoting cardiovascular health. The study, involving more than 5,300 participants across three counties, is a collaboration between Jackson State University, Tougaloo College, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and the Mississippi Department of Health. Sutton emphasized the role of the JHS Community Engagement Center in empowering communities, promoting lifestyle changes, and expanding outreach statewide. He described how their community engagement model evolved from simply informing and consulting communities to involving, collaborating, and empowering communities to ensure solutions are community-driven. Effective public health initiatives, he noted, require partnerships beyond traditional health sectors to drive meaningful behavior change.

Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Sutton discussed how cross-sector collaboration with higher education, industry, government, and community organizations contributed to vaccine equity in Mississippi. HBCUs such as Jackson State, Alcorn State, and Tougaloo College played key roles as trusted sites for vaccinations and health education. “It starts with trust,” he emphasized. “Organizations don’t partner—people partner.”

Effective engagement strategies to build trust and empower local leaders have included health ambassadors, barbershop-based health initiatives, Mayoral Health Councils, and healthy housing partnerships to build trust and empower local leaders. Programs like BROTHERS (Barbers Reaching Out to Help Educate on Routine Screening) address hypertension risks among Black men, while Beyond the Barbershop leverages barbers and stylists as trusted advocates for mental health. Sutton also highlighted the Community Research Fellows Training, a 10-week program equipping

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community members to understand how to use research as a tool to improve community health outcomes. Innovative community engagement efforts have also included a choir competition integrating health screenings and TED-style talks. Stressing the need for shared resources, he stated, “If there’s a dollar involved, that means sharing that dollar with the community as well.”

Strategic Partnerships to Expand the Impact of HBCUs, MSIs, and Community Colleges

Joan Hendrix, Associate Vice President for Nursing and Health Professions at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC), discussed strategies for building external partnerships to strengthen workforce development, economic impact, and healthcare innovation. Academia has traditionally been seen as isolated from real-world applications—the so-called “Ivory Tower.” Breaking down this barrier, she stated, is essential for fostering mutually beneficial collaborations.

She highlighted three key strategies for building strong partnerships. First, successful collaborations rely on trust, transparency, and shared values. Early trust-building leads to more sustainable partnerships, as seen in Howard University’s collaboration with Google.⁹ Second, faculty engagement is crucial and partnerships thrive when faculty see their value, as demonstrated by Spelman College’s STEM initiatives with Microsoft.¹⁰ Finally, clear communication of goals and impact is essential. The National Science Foundation reports that 60 percent of successful partnerships stem from transparency in outcomes, including clear metrics such as graduation rates.

Hendrix outlined six principles for successful partnerships: aligning research with community needs, simplifying processes to remove bureaucratic hurdles, fostering engagement beyond academia, demonstrating value through data, creating clear but flexible partnership models, and leveraging technology for digital collaboration.

With 14 programs in health professions and a large student population, MGCCC plays a critical role in bridging gaps between academia, healthcare, government, and industry. Frequent faculty and administrative meetings help maintain alignment with institutional goals. “When academia and external partners are equally vested, the results are very impactful for everyone,” she emphasized. To address healthcare workforce shortages, MGCCC has implemented apprenticeship models and bridge programs for transitioning into nursing careers. The college was the first in Mississippi to launch a nursing apprenticeship program, one of only a few in the region.

With more than 100 clinical affiliation agreements, 30 community partnerships, and multiple national accreditations, MGCCC has improved student retention and maintained nursing licensure pass rates of 97 percent or higher for the past three years. These efforts have earned state and regional recognition, and the college is now pursuing a Center of Excellence designation. Hendrix emphasized the importance of research-driven engagement, reducing bureaucratic challenges, and using technology to expand educational access.

Capacity-Building Efforts at MSIs

The discussion opened with a question on how to navigate the complexities of aligning different missions, priorities, and goals across partnerships. Chilvery emphasized that vision alignment and managing competing priorities are key to sustainable collaboration. Drawing from his work with FUEL, he highlighted the need for a shared vision tied to regional assets and stressed the importance of open communication to move beyond transactional relationships. Sutton reinforced this point, noting that bringing all stakeholders to the table for open discussions is essential. Too often, he explained, partners focus solely on their own objectives.

Next, the conversation turned to funding models that ensure MSIs receive adequate resources in partnerships. Sutton observed that primary recipients often control the bulk of the funding, leaving others with only trickle-down allocations. Upfront discussions on financial commitments, he added, are critical to recognizing MSIs and community-based organizations as key stakeholders rather than just supporting partners. Roberson echoed this concern, pointing out that grant applicants frequently request letters of commitment from MSIs without clearly defining partners’ roles post-funding. Engaging all partners early in the grant-writing process, she

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noted, can help align funding structures with the contributions and needs of each partner.

When asked how external partnerships can help build long-term research and development capacity at MSIs, Chilvery underscored the strategic advantages of meaningful collaborations. Such partnerships, he explained, allow institutions to develop complementary capabilities and contribute proactively to larger research initiatives. He noted that seven out of ten FUEL projects involve HBCUs, reflecting their growing role in regional and economic development. Sutton stated that capacity-building efforts should leverage each partner’s strengths, highlighting HBCUs’ deep community ties as a major asset in research collaborations. While larger research institutions may focus on publications and data analysis, he stressed the importance of partnerships where MSIs are actively engaged in decision-making and research dissemination.

The role of technology and digital tools in sustaining cross-sector collaborations was also explored. Hendrix cautioned that over-reliance can hinder engagement, making it essential to integrate digital solutions strategically, as seen in initiatives like telehealth training and advanced simulation centers, which have not only enhanced curricula but also unlocked funding, scholarships, and workforce opportunities in underserved areas. Sutton highlighted the need to meet students where they are, pointing to eSports, gaming, artificial intelligence (AI), and interdisciplinary applications as tools for engaging students. Institutions, he noted, are integrating AI into research, demonstrating the potential of emerging technology to accelerate student engagement and innovation. Roberson provided an example of an initiative using technical assistance from the National Renewable Energy Lab to introduce rural students to agrivoltaics, the combination of solar energy and agriculture. This effort led to regional science fair success, illustrating how applied technology can drive long-term educational and economic impact.

PANEL 3: ENGAGING IN AND SUSTAINING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS

The final panel explored not only the importance of community engagement in research but also strategies for building and sustaining meaningful, long-term partnerships. Discussions focused on community-based participatory research (CBPR), insights drawn from community leaders, and institutional mechanisms that support community-engaged research. This panel was moderated by Lance Hallberg, Program Director for Environmental and Public Health Education and Engagement at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.

Confronting Environmental and Health Challenges in Port Arthur, Texas

Hilton Kelley, Founder and Director of the Community In-Power and Development Association (CIDA) in Port Arthur, Texas, discussed his organization’s efforts to combat oil and gas industry pollution and health impacts. Home to several major oil refineries and chemical plants, Port Arthur faces severe air pollution. Stating that exposure to industrial toxins has contributed to disproportionately high cancer rates, Kelley pointed out that nearly every single Port Arthur resident knows multiple people who have died from cancer. He went on to address the shifting landscape of environmental regulation, noting that policy changes have often prioritized industry expansion over public health. The lack of oversight, he argued, has allowed pollution to persist with devastating consequences.

Beyond air quality concerns, the region is increasingly affected by rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events such as hurricanes and tornadoes. Kelley pointed out the destruction of roads and infrastructure due to land erosion and noted that hurricanes have become more frequent and severe. Additionally, with industries benefiting from tax abatements choosing not to reinvest locally, he underscored how economic disinvestment in Port Arthur has left communities struggling. When floods occur, contaminated waters from refineries and chemical plants wash into neighborhoods, further endangering residents.

Despite these challenges, Kelley emphasized not only the power of community advocacy but also how partnerships with academic institutions such as Texas A&M University and the University of Texas Medical Branch have helped in studying and addressing pollution-related health impacts. He called for stronger policies designed to hold industries accountable and protect Port Arthur as well as other similarly affected communities.

The Community-Driven Public Health Project in Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas

Ayodeji Iyanda, Assistant Professor of Geography at Prairie View A&M University, discussed his research on

environmental health disparities in two of the largest predominantly Black communities in the Gulf Coast: Beaumont and Port Arthur, Texas. With its aim being to inform policies and interventions that promote health equity, The Community-Driven Geospatial Approach to Improving Public Health Data Systems project examines how spatial social determinants of health contribute to disparities.

Key objectives include strengthening community partnerships; engaging residents in understanding health disparities; incorporating community input into research design; collecting neighborhood-level air pollution and health data; and translating findings into targeted interventions. The project focuses on two main areas: social determinants of health—particularly the built environment—and a community-level air pollution monitoring campaign using community-based participatory research (CBPR). By fostering collaboration between researchers, stakeholders, and community members, this approach ensures data is shared, jointly analyzed, and translated into interventions and policies that are relevant to community needs.

Building trust has been a challenge, as Iyanda noted that many residents remain skeptical of external researchers collecting community data, reinforcing the need for partnerships prioritizing local involvement and community-led research. To establish credibility, his team engages in educational workshops, interactive learning sessions, and participatory mapping exercises. In order to foster community ownership and empowerment, local residents have been trained as community scientists using Environmental Protection Agency-standardized equipment to collect air quality data.

Highlighting financial challenges, Iyanda urged the need to plan for the future by establishing grants that will allocate funding directly to community partners. Sustained collaboration beyond individual projects, he stressed, is essential to maintaining engagement and lasting impact.

Community-Led Resilience: The Community Lighthouse Model for Disaster Preparedness

Joshua Cox, Chief Executive Officer at Community Power South, highlighted how science can support community resilience, showcasing New Orleans’ Community Lighthouse Program as a possible national model for disaster preparedness. Because hurricanes and storms frequently impact the region, prolonged power outages are a major cause of disaster-related deaths in Louisiana and the broader Gulf Coast. After Hurricane Ida in 2021 left the city without power for over two weeks, community groups—particularly churches led by Together Louisiana—came together and launched this initiative. Equipping community institutions with solar panels and battery storage, the program not only lowers energy costs and reduces carbon emissions under normal conditions, but also provides, when needed during disasters, emergency relief hubs. Collaboration with city, state, and federal officials has secured funding to expand the program. Currently, 15 lighthouses are active, with the long-term goal being to provide 86 sites to ensure no resident is more than a 15-minute walk away from one.

Cox emphasized the dual benefits of resilience and decreasing greenhouse gases, especially as extreme weather events become more frequent. Using a carbon emissions calculator, he highlighted the long-term environmental benefits of solar installations, showing an estimated 891,378lbs of avoided carbon emissions from the 15 community lighthouses. During Hurricane Francine, a category two storm occurring in September of 2024, the lighthouses provided critical services. Nine sites were opened, providing assistance to 2,300 people by distributing more than 1,800 meals and 4,000 bottles of water. Volunteers conducted need assessments for nearly 2,000 individuals and reached more than 150,000 people through text messaging. The program also mobilized volunteers to coordinate refrigeration for essential medications like insulin, as well as transportation for those unable to travel on their own.

Disaster preparedness, Cox stressed, must be community-led since government responses, when relied upon as the exclusive relief provider, are often insufficient. “Communities have to mobilize to save themselves,” he emphasized. Commenting on how relief will always be necessary, and relying solely on federal, state, or local government will not be adequate, he called for further research into the project’s long-term public health impacts, given how it is still in its early years. Cox advocated for the initiative’s national expansion in order to

build resilience beyond traditionally high-risk areas such as New Orleans before disaster strikes.

Community Engagement Strategies in South Louisiana

Arthur Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development—joined by Faye Grimsley, Professor at Xavier University, and Billie Castle, Assistant Professor at Xavier University—discussed the Bridging Resources for Improving Determinants and Green Environmental Equity project. Led by Xavier University (an HBCU), BRIDGE tackles long-standing health and environmental disparities by bringing together community and stakeholder organizations. Johnson emphasized that collaborative research is essential for addressing systemic challenges in historically underserved coastal communities.

Grimsley and Johnson outlined the project’s three key goals:

1. Identifying Social Determinants of Health: The project examines factors such as economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood conditions, environmental quality, social connections, and health behaviors within public health and environmental data systems. Underserved coastal communities face compounded risks from industrial pollution, sea-level rise, and extreme weather.
2. Improving Climate Literacy and Risk Awareness: Community engagement is central to the project, with outreach efforts including neighborhood meetings, town halls, and health fairs. A Community Advisory Board not only ensures continued collaboration beyond its formal timeline but also reinforces the importance of research that delivers tangible benefits rather than just data collection. Place-based learning connects learning to tangible experiences in these communities. Tools like the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) National Risk Index¹¹ support educational efforts. The project also integrates career-based learning which helps students develop skills and explore potential career paths and workforce development opportunities through skill-building classes, résumé workshops, and career fairs. Citizen science initiatives, including tree planting, hurricane preparedness, and air pollution monitoring, further community resilience.
3. Creating a Community Data Repository: A key focus is building an accessible, comprehensive public health data system designed to monitor health disparities and environmental changes. To track health trends, the project aims to establish a community-informed database that would enable targeted interventions and informed decision-making by public health officials, especially regarding vulnerable populations. Resource mapping helps residents identify local services, while data integration with electronic health records, environmental monitoring, and social service agencies can allow for spatial analysis of health disparities.

Pointing out that these challenges require long-term commitment, Johnson highlighted the necessity of sustained involvement. Castle underscored the vital role of HBCUs in research leadership—particularly when it comes to not only serving as data repositories but also hosting environmental data to support proactive planning. Trust in data sources and partners, Johnson emphasized, varies across communities but remains essential for meaningful collaboration. He stressed that given how overburdened areas face significant environmental and economic risks, for this reason, they require ongoing support and strategic intervention to improve long-term health outcomes.

Building Lasting Trust and Reciprocity: Strengthening Community Partnerships

Hallberg opened the discussion by asking about key markers of a true partnership from the community’s perspective. Iyanda emphasized that trust is essential, as partners must rely on each other to collaborate effectively. Johnson highlighted engagement, noting that strong relationships between institutions, communities, and organizations foster long-term commitment. Successful partnerships, Cox explained, require individuals who not only share a common vision but also are dedicated to bringing projects to fruition. Kelley added that in order to strengthen community relationships it is crucial to maintain commitments and follow through on engagements.

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Regarding the role of reciprocity, Grimsley emphasized that true partnerships are mutually beneficial. Incorporating community feedback at every stage—from research design to implementation—ensures engagement will both lead to meaningful health outcomes and directly address community concerns.

When asked about the role of funding agencies and policymakers in sustaining community-engaged research, Iyanda noted that beyond offering financial support, funding agencies can facilitate collaboration by creating platforms and events promoting engagement. Meeting communities where they are and acknowledging their daily struggles, Kelley stressed, is essential for policymakers looking to make a meaningful impact—while at the same time working with academia to address broader challenges. Cox added that research plays a critical role when it comes to legitimizing community-driven solutions, reinforcing their value, and securing continued investment in effective evidence-based practices.

A participant asked what motivated the panelists to engage in community activism and research. Iyanda shared that firsthand experiences with community struggles in Nigeria shaped his focus. Cox said his grandmother’s wisdom conveyed in her saying, “What you do for yourself doesn’t matter; only what you do for others matters,” has guided his commitment to service. Johnson described his advocacy as deeply personal, rooted in not only his family’s history in the Lower Ninth Ward but also his efforts to bridge the gap between communities and decision-makers. Grimsley traced her interest in community engagement to an experience during her doctoral studies, a town hall meeting where she saw how education empowers communities to address environmental hazards. Kelley said growing up in Port Arthur surrounded by industrial pollution, then later returning to witness firsthand the resulting stark health disparities, drove him to want to advocate for communities disproportionately affected by such disparities.

ACTIVITY: BEST PRACTICES AND ASSESSMENT METRICS FOR SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS

Another small group activity emphasized the importance of translating best practices into meaningful metrics and evaluation strategies. Designed to identify assessment tools to better monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of academic-community partnerships, the discussion centered on two topics: best practices of academic-community partnerships (see Table 3) and assessment metrics to evaluate the success of these partnerships (see Table 4). Many of the participants’ suggestions are listed below.

TABLE 3
Suggestions for Best Practices of Academic-Community Partnerships

TABLE 4
Suggestions for Assessment Metrics to Monitor and Evaluate the Success of Partnerships

CLOSING SPEAKER: STRENGTHENING HBCU AND MSI PARTNERSHIPS: BUILDING TRUST, RESILIENCE, AND IMPACT

Daniel Blackman, Founder of Renaissance94 and former Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator, Region 4, highlighted the intersection of academia and government, emphasizing the strong presence of MSI and HBCU graduates in leadership roles. He underscored the critical role of MSIs and HBCUs in shaping the next generation of scientists, engineers, and policymakers. Reflecting on the challenges communities face when it comes to driving meaningful change, particularly after disasters like Hurricane Katrina, he stressed the urgency of strengthening these institutions.

Addressing the issue of community trust, and recognizing that there are historical barriers, Blackman acknowledged that discussions and conferences are valuable but emphasized that measurable action matters most. Urging attendees to move beyond networking to ensure that efforts translate into tangible outcomes, he encouraged people to engage directly with nearby communities. True change, he argued, requires collaboration, active problem-solving, and shared responsibility when addressing social and environmental challenges.

“If we’re not thinking globally about how these community partnerships and relationships work,” Blackman stated, “then we’re fundamentally going to get left behind in so many areas.” He stressed the importance of community development and resilience, noting that HBCUs and MSIs fuel the workforce in critical sectors. Elevating their contributions—honoring how they are the institutions where many judges, elected officials, doctors, and lawyers are educated—is, he said, essential for building strong, trust-based partnerships.

Blackman urged attendees to rethink allyship and trust in supporting HBCUs and MSIs. Referencing how financial struggles and competition for funding often hinder collaboration, he noted that prioritizing partnerships—especially in areas such as STEM and agriculture—could yield a greater impact. Emphasizing continuity, he encouraged building on past discussions rather than restarting conversations from scratch. He closed with a call for people to take long-term responsibility and underscored how our planet is borrowed from future generations.

DISCLAIMER This Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief was prepared by Heather Kreidler as a factual summary of what occurred at the meeting. The statements made are those of the author or individual meeting participants and do not necessarily represent the views of all meeting participants; the planning committee; or the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

PLANNING COMMITTEE Berneece Herbert (Co-Chair), Jackson State University; Shamarial Roberson (Co-Chair), DSR Public Health Foundation Inc.; Mona N. Fouad, University of Alabama Birmingham; Lance M. Hallberg, University of Texas Medical Branch; Aurelia Jones-Taylor, Aaron E. Henry Community Health Services Center, Inc.; Erin Lynch, Quality Education for Minorities (QEM) Network; Briana H. Salas, Our Lady of the Lake University; Paul Tchounwou, Morgan State University

REVIEWERS To ensure that it meets institutional standards for quality and objectivity, this Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief was reviewed by Billie Castle, Xavier University; Naira Ibrahim, Jackson State University; Alexis Myers, National Renewable Energy Lab; and Shamarial Roberson, DSR Public Health Foundation. Marilyn Baker, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, served as the review coordinator.

STAFF Alexandra Allison, Research Associate; Daniel Burger, Board Director; Jaye Espy, Program Officer; Francisca Flores, Program Officer; Denna Medrano, Senior Program Assistant; André Porter, Senior Program Officer; Laila Reimanis, Associate Program Officer.

SPONSORS This workshop was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

SUGGESTED CITATION National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2025. Building Health and Resilience Research Capacity in the U.S. Gulf Coast: Elevating Partnerships: Proceedings of a Workshop—in Brief. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/29216.

For additional information about the workshop, visit https://www.nationalacademies.org/gulf/gulf-research-program

Gulf Research Program Copyright 2025 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.