Cultural Solutions to Collective Problems

Interventional programs that seek to improve residents' quality of life in North American and globally underserved communities most often base their approaches on externally derived models, methods, and expertise. In contrast, approaches that emphasize the identification and use of intra-community social and cultural resources receive less attention despite their potential for greater effectiveness and sustainability.

This presentation and Q&A with Stephen L. Schensul will focus on anthropological methods for identifying these cultural resources, participatory action research strategies for engaging community residents and incorporating these cultural resources into public health programs. Examples from communities in the U.S. and South Asian cities will illustrate methods, content and outcomes.

About the speaker

Stephen L. Schensul received his MA and PhD degrees in anthropology from the University of Minnesota. The first two decades of his career focused on health and mental health issues in underserved African American and Hispanic communities in Chicago, Miami and Hartford, Connecticut, using participatory action research to assist in developing community-run health institutions and programs.

The last three decades have focused on global research and intervention to prevent and treat HIV/STI in Sri Lanka, Mauritius and India with funding from the U.S. National Institutes of Health. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Career Award (2010) from the Society for Medical Anthropology, the University of Connecticut Provost's Faculty Award for Excellence in Public Engagement (2008).

Presented as part of the Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Learning Speaker Series by Concordia University's Centre for the Study of Learning and Performance (CSLP)