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A Scoping Review of Capacity-Building Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Concerns

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  • Dana H. Z. Williamson

    (Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Emma X. Yu

    (Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Candis M. Hunter

    (Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • John A. Kaufman

    (Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Kelli Komro

    (Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Na’Taki Osborne Jelks

    (Environmental and Health Sciences Program, Spelman College, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA)

  • Dayna A. Johnson

    (Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Matthew O. Gribble

    (Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
    Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Michelle C. Kegler

    (Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

Abstract

Environmental justice (EJ) efforts aimed at capacity building are essential to addressing environmental health disparities; however, limited attention has been given to describing these efforts. This study reports findings from a scoping review of community–academic partnerships and community-led efforts to address environmental inequities related to air, water, and land pollution in the United States. Literature published in peer-reviewed journals from January 1986 through March 2018 were included, and community capacity theory was applied as a framework for understanding the scope of capacity-building and community change strategies to address EJ concerns. Paired teams of independent analysts conducted a search for relevant articles ( n = 8452 citations identified), filtered records for content abstraction and possible inclusion ( n = 163) and characterized selected studies ( n = 58). Most articles implemented activities that were aligned with community capacity dimensions of citizen participation (96.4%, n = 53), community power (78%, n = 45), leadership (78%, n = 45), and networks (81%, n = 47); few articles identified a direct policy change (22%, n = 13), and many articles discussed the policy implications of findings for future work (62%, n = 36). This review synthesizes three decades of efforts to reduce environmental inequities and identifies strategic approaches used for strengthening community capacity.

Suggested Citation

  • Dana H. Z. Williamson & Emma X. Yu & Candis M. Hunter & John A. Kaufman & Kelli Komro & Na’Taki Osborne Jelks & Dayna A. Johnson & Matthew O. Gribble & Michelle C. Kegler, 2020. "A Scoping Review of Capacity-Building Efforts to Address Environmental Justice Concerns," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:11:p:3765-:d:363122
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    References listed on IDEAS

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