Community is Medicine: Public Health, Engagement, and Trust-Building with Domenica Perrone

This episode aired on 12/04/24 on WICN 90.5FM

Introduction: In this episode of Public Hearing, we continue our conversation with community engagement practitioner Domenica Perrone to explore the intersections of health equity, community engagement, and institutional accountability. Domenica brings her wealth of experience as the Director of Community Engagement and Outreach at UMass Chan Medical School’s Collaborative in Health Equity to discuss the challenges and opportunities in fostering meaningful relationships between institutions and historically marginalized communities.

Join us as we unpack how trust, transparency, and restorative practices can reshape our cities, heal past and present harms, and build a future rooted in equity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• What Community Engagement Really Means
  Domenica explains the depth and complexity of community engagement beyond traditional perceptions, emphasizing equity, reciprocity, and trust-building over transactional relationships.
• Historical and Present Harms in Community Relationships
  We discuss the importance of addressing both historical injustices and ongoing harm caused by institutions to rebuild trust with marginalized communities.
• The Role of Institutions in Advancing Equity
  Insights into UMass Chan’s Collaborative in Health Equity, which is building pathways for community-driven health solutions, workforce development, and inclusive research.
• The Balance Between Advocacy and Institutional Change
  How practitioners like Domenica navigate tensions between community accountability and institutional pushback while staying values-driven.
• Youth Engagement and Pipeline Development
  The critical role of creating spaces and opportunities for young people to step into leadership and health equity careers.
• A Call to Action for Listeners
  Domenica challenges us to find our role in community work and to embrace collective responsibility, whether as advocates, organizers, or bridge-builders.

Chapter Markers:

• [00:00:00] Introduction: Joshua introduces the episode and welcomes Domenica back.
• [00:02:03] What is Community Engagement?: Domenica reframes community engagement as a practice of trust-building and reciprocity.
• [00:04:45] Acknowledging Harm in Community Work: Addressing historical and present challenges between institutions and communities.
• [00:08:49] The Role of Institutional Commitment: Domenica shares UMass Chan’s approach to health equity.
• [00:13:25] Navigating Advocacy and Accountability: Balancing community trust with institutional change work.
• [00:21:56] Collaborative Goals: Building pipelines for youth and advancing health equity with community coalitions.
• [00:26:32] Dinner Table Conversation: Domenica’s call for intentional engagement and community-focused action.

Conclusion:
This episode emphasizes the need for intentionality and accountability in how we engage with and support our communities. As Domenica says, “Community is medicine.” By fostering relationships and addressing harm, we can collectively advance equity and create spaces for all voices to thrive.

Tune in, reflect, and take action! You can listen to Public Hearing every Wednesday at 6 PM on WICN 90.5 FM or wherever you get your podcasts. What do you want to hear on the show? Reach out at QueerForCities.com! 

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Created & Hosted by Joshua Croke