The CCUH’s community and policy engagement efforts ensure that our research, dissemination materials, and plans are informed by policymakers and impacted urban communities. CCUH seeks to understand the perspectives, priorities, and data needs of multiple stakeholders to shape our research agenda and evidence dissemination strategy. The Community Engagement Core works to ensure that evidence produced by CCUH is responsive to local needs and is delivered effectively to inform policy-making. The Community Engagement Core works closely with the Research and Capacity Building Core to support training for project researchers in strategies for effective research translation.

CCUH’s Community and Policy Advisory Board was formed to bring together stakeholders from across local, national, and international levels across our pilot cities to guide and inform our work. Specifically, board members provide feedback on two core aspects of the project: 1) dissemination products and 2) evidence needs and future research directions. Board members include:

Community and Policy Advisory Board:

• Rodrigo Perpétuo, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), Brazil.
• Alejandro Barahona, Executive Secretary of the Council of Ministers of Health of Central America and the Dominican Republic (SE-COMISCA), El Salvador.
• Gerardo Ortiz, Ministry of Health and Social Assistance, Guatemala.
• Indira Barreno Colindres and Ana Paula De León, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Guatemala.
• Atala Milord, Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Health of Panama.
• Alex Skula, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, United States.
• Chrissie Juliano and Lonias Gilmore, Big Cities Health Coalition, United States.

Research Translation Workshop

This workshop was organized by the CCUH'S Comunity Engagement Core and held in October 15th, 2024, in Mexico City with members of the SALURBAL-Climate team. The half-day workshop provided theoretical and practical tools to support the effective communication of research findings for non-academic audiences.

Prior to the workshop, participants reviewed a SALURBAL publication examining the intersection of climate change and urban public health. During the workshop, a series of exercises guided participants through techniques for adjusting format and framing to share key findings with different audiences. A mock interview allowed participants to practice strategies for communicating with the media. 

Approach and context:

• CCUH and SALURBAL-Climate are producing evidence with policy relevance.
• Team members have varying levels of experience engaging with non-academic actors and in policy processes.
• We want to support effective translation of research findings for multiple audiences, and to support advocacy.