A recent UDaily article features my ongoing interdisciplinary research in Southbridge, an historically African-American community in South Wilmington. Read the UDaily article for information on our collaborative research efforts there, as well as information on how the residents of Southbridge are making big strides to improve the quality of life and environmental conditions in the area:
http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2015/jan/southbridge-environment-012715.html
Public health data, like data on cancer incidence in geographic areas, are instrumental when making claims about the impact of the environment on human health. How does this data end up in the minds of the public? One way is through the local newspaper. Read my new article on how cancer incidence in Delaware census tracts became “cancer clusters” in our state’s flagship newspaper.
I’m part of an interdisciplinary research team that is looking into the potential for sea level rise to have a disproportionate impact on local communities already burdened with environmental pollution. The community of Southbridge, located in South Wilmington, is an historic, black, working-class community with a strong sense of community and resilience to the issues it faces. Southbridge is especially vulnerable to the potential for sea level rise because of its brownfields and legacy pollution. With sea level rise, there is the possibility that existing legacy pollutants in the soil could become mobile. Currently, I am working with the community to determine their level of concern and awareness of sea level rise, flooding, and pollution in the area, as well as the community’s perceptions of the health effects of their local environmental burdens. Here are a few photos from “Southbridge Weekend” in July 2014, a local community event that showcases the positivity, solidarity, and resilience of the community, and one that highlights the importance of addressing important flooding and environmental issues (pictures courtesy of the South Wilmington Planning Network and Perez research team):
For more information on the community of Southbridge, check out these sites:
https://www.facebook.com/southbridge.sbw
http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/coastal/Pages/WilmingtonSAMP.aspx