Team Members
- Brian Goldfarb, PhD (PI) brings methodological/analytic tools for approaching health communication in cross-cultural contexts. He employs mixed qualitative/quantitative research methods for understanding cognitive and sociocultural dimensions of literacy and civic engagement. He has carried out community-based participatory action research in a variety of community contexts nationally and internationally, and has developed novel uses of participatory audio-visual and digital media practices that provide effective modes of community engagement with issues related to health and learning.
- Sahra Abdi (Co-investigator): Public Health education, programming, and policy advocacy; community organizing, outreach and support; cultural competence training. UWEAST, under Ms. Abdi’s leadership, frequently provides multi-lingual translation for community programming and research.
- Kate Murray, PhD, MPH (Co-investigator) brings expertise on the role of acculturation, stress, and health behaviors in contributing to mental health and chronic disease concerns among immigrant and refugee communities. Her current research includes the cultural adaptation and evaluation of physical activity and wellness interventions for adult East African men and women utilizing community-based participatory research methods.
Others involved in the project include:
- John Kuek, MFTI, MS, PhD (Consultant) is the first East African therapist in San Diego County and provides therapy to families, individuals, children, and couples with psychological issues from diverse backgrounds. He will provide cultural consultation and guidance in the training of facilitators.
- Sol D'Urso, MA, MFT (Graduate Researcher) works as a therapist for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with a wide range of challenges including depression, anxiety, stress management, trauma, immigration/acculturation, child and adolescent problems and relationship issues. She will provide guidance in the development of the intervention manual and supervision of group facilitators.
- A community action advisory board will provide joint supervision, and aid in presenting a public face for our efforts, comprising the UCSD/UWEAST interdisciplinary research group, La Maestra Community Health Center, target population members, representatives of religious, educational, and community organizations serving the target population.
Partnership History
Sahra Abdi (Community Leadership Partner) has established working relationships with Brian Goldfarb, Kate Murray, and John Kuek. She has collaborated with Kate Murray on several funded projects (total funds over $400,000), including a randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention funded by the American Cancer Society, a mental health grant by the California Wellness Foundation, and UCSD pilot funds examining East African diet and nutrition. Ms. Abdi has been working closely with Dr. Brian Goldfarb, initially through his supervision of two NIH PhD fellows working on needs assessment with UWEAST, and over the past year developing and conducting workshops for UWEAST members focused on sharing and discussing underlying factors contributing to individual and family mental health. A series of workshops were conducted for mothers and for children that employed storytelling, performance, and creative visual activities as a central medium for knowledge sharing. These activities were the basis of discussions among the partners that lead to our initial conception of the current project.