Community Outreach and Translation Core
The Community Outreach and Translation Core (COTC) provides a community context for the environmental health sciences research occurring within the Center and supports the Center’s goal to translate its research into public health policy and community capacity. The mission is to improve environmental health of children in low-income, urban communities of color, such as those served by the Center. This is achieved through the development of bi-directional community-academic partnerships. These partnerships communicate environmental health research to community groups, policy makers, healthcare professionals and voice the community’s needs and concerns within the Center. COTC continually raises awareness of environmental health beyond the academic community and provides an avenue for researchers to understand the environmental health needs and concerns of the community. COTC provides four essential functions for the Center: oversee the Community Advisory and Stakeholders Board, provide Community Outreach and Engagement, develop Health Education materials, and facilitate Research Translation which influences Policy Impact.
Specific aims of the COTC are to:
- Engage and expand the Community Advisory and Stakeholders Board (CASB) to include community-based organizations, NYC local community boards, environmental organizations, and NYC government agencies.
- Develop new educational materials that present current knowledge about the risks of endocrine disruptors and communicate the Center’s research findings through educational materials designed for local residents, community organizations, healthcare providers, and policymakers.
- In collaboration with the Center’s Pediatric Health Specialist, facilitate education of public health and clinical professionals working in low-income communities of color.
- Disseminate the Center’s findings using several communication methods.
- Through our partnership with WE ACT for Environmental Justice, expand the capacity of low-income communities of color to advocate for improved environmental conditions by using the Center’s scientific findings and related findings by other investigators.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH & TRANSLATION CORE (COTC)
DAVID EVANS, PH.D.
COTC Co-Project Lead
Professor Emeritus and Special Lecturer of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health, Pediatric Pulmonary Division
PEGGY SHEPARD
COTC Co-Project Lead
Executive Director
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
OGONNAYA DOTSON NEWMAN, MPH
Director of Environmental Health
WE ACT for Environmental Justice
KIMBERLY BURKE, MPH
COTC Program Coordinator
Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health
COMMUNITY ADVISORY AND STAKEHOLDERS BOARD (CASB)
The Center’s Community Advisory and Stakeholders Board represents Northern Manhattan and Bronx residents and includes parents, advocates for children, healthcare professionals, reproductive health advocates, research translation experts, environmentalists, and representative from local government. The bi-directional community-academic partnership is developed through regular board meetings and communications about COTC initiatives such as the organization of community briefings and development of educational materials.
Our CASB of diverse groups is united by their common concern about environmental toxins in our communities, our homes, places of work, and products we use every day. Please take a moment to learn more about each advisor and our COTC staff including our lead community partner WE ACT.
COMMUNITY ADVISERS
EKUA ANSAH-SAMUELS, MPH
Health Education Coordinator
Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership
TRISHA SHEEHAN
Northeast Regional Field manager
Mom’s Clean Air Force
SHOSHANAH BROWN, MS, MBA
Executive Director
A.I.R. Harlem
KATHLEEN CARPENTER, M.S., R.D., CDN, CLC
Breastfeeding Program Coordinator
New York – Presbyterian Hospital WIC Program
REBECCA OFRANE
Children’s Environmental Health & Schools Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
CHRISTINE ASH
Environmental Justice Coordinator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 2
JOANN CASADO, JD
Chief Compliance Officer
Urban Health Plan, Inc.
MELISSA CEBOLLERO
Director of Health and Human Services
Bronx Borough President’s Office
JESSICA CLEMENTE
Chief Executive Officer
Nos Quedamos
TEODORA EVTIMOVA, MBA
Asthma Network Coordinator
East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
ALYCIA HALLADAY, PhD
Director for Environmental Research
Autism Science Foundation
MARIA LIZARDO
Executive Director
Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PARTNERS
ALEJANDRA N. AGUIRRE
Program Coordinator
Columbia Community Partnership for Health
Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
CARLY HUTCHINSON, MA, MPhil
Director of Communications & Community Relations
Harlem Health Promotion Center
MARICELA UREÑO, MPH
Health Coordinator
Columbia University Head Start
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