On the Ground with Community Partners, Researchers and Residents: Learning from One Another to Foster Community Resilience.

This workshop will focus on the experiences of community partners, residents and interdisciplinary researchers working together on a community-centered violence prevention project (ReCAST-Resiliency in Communities after Stress and Trauma). The intervention uses CBPR methods to engage youth and adults to build collective efficacy and community resilience to prevent youth and community violence and improve community wellbeing. It includes a training program for youth and adults, and a community-based project to address issues identified by young people in the training. Participants learn relationship building strategies, restorative approaches to intervene to prevent violence, and ways to advocate for community resources to support community resilience and safety. In this session, researchers along with partners, facilitators and residents from our Sto-Rox community will discuss what we have learned from one another about ways to foster authentic community engagement, build on existing efforts, integrate residents’ lived experiences, focus on community strengths, and elevate youth voice.