Vulnerable Populations, Lessons from the Field

Teens write, film and act in TV PSAs talking about reducing methamphetamine use as part of a Sound Partners for Community Health project in Eureka, CA. This multi-media community partnership provides opportunities for teens to become the producers of media, not just consumers. Read more about local media partnerships in the on-line publication Local Voices. The February 2006 Local Media Issue is the third
in a series telling stories from the successful projects of Sound Partners for Community Health. Download the 9-page PDF document.

When is a soap opera more than just entertainment? When its characters grapple with physical and mental health issues through compelling and complex storylines that speak directly to the experience of its audience of at-risk African Americans. The on-going radio soap opera, "Bodylove" is just one of the community health tools created through the "Making Sense of Mental Health" partnership. Read more about it in the multi-media online publication "Local Voices." The January 2006 Local Media Issue is the third in a series telling stories from the successful projects of Sound Partners for Community Health. Download the 9-page PDF document. (1.6 MB PDF)

Maliha Zulfacar, who left Afghanistan as a young mother in 1979, reunites with old friends and brings their stories to the radio as part of a four-part series exploring how U.S. immigrants give back to and make a difference in the homelands.

Ten journalists write about the stories that have driven -- and affirmed -- their devotion to their work in this Poynter Online column by Butch Ward. Most are newspaper writers on sports, medical, or politics beats. NPR's Daniel Zwerdling chimes in as do a few television reporters. Their words are worth the read. And the links to their stories will inspire you to do better journalism.

"National Kidney Foundation researchers recently found that using patients trained to educate their peers about planning for end-of-life decisions is an effective strategy for providing culturally sensitive information to dialysis patients who are members of racial and ethnic minority populations, according to a study published in the July American Journal of Kidney Diseases." (Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)

New Eyes on Community is an eleven-year retrospective of the work of the Pew Partnership for Civic Change. Joining with hundreds of community partners the Pew Partnership has built a wealth of knowledge and experience about the kinds of programs and processes that will change communities for the better. This booklet tells the story of the evolution of the organization's thinking and programs. Download a large (1M) PDF file.

Wisdom of the Elders Radio (WOTE) launches it's second series this week. (Apr. 26, 2005) Interviews with indigenous elders, historians, storytellers, and song carriers from thirteen nations living along the eastern portion of the Lewis and Clark Trail will be featured in the new series of eight one-hour programs. WOTE's third series will explore nations along the western portion of the Trail and will feature 5-minute Health and Healing segments on Preventing Diabetes from Sound Partners LCUW-LP and the Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center.