Exploring New Opportunities for Partnership Between SRA and Purpose Built Communities
Upstate NY SRA sponsored a Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) webinar on April 6th, 2022, that explored potential partnerships between SRA and Purpose Built Communities (Purpose Built) including the ‘community quarterback’ organization Blueprint 15 in Syracuse, NY.
Such partnerships between these inter-disciplinary organizations could provide synergy for more effectively supporting holistic, integrated, long-term efforts to revitalize and transform neighborhoods that have suffered from decades of disinvestment. The webinar began with a comprehensive presentation on Purpose Built and Blueprint 15 leaders in the first hour, followed by 20 minutes of dialogue exploring potential partnerships with SRA leaders.
The panelists from Purpose Built include the following leaders. Click on their names for their LinkedIn profiles.
Ginneh Baugh, Vice President of Impact and Innovation at Purpose Built Communities;
Ashley Bozarth, Knowledge Manager at Purpose Built Communities; and
Raquan Pride-Green, Executive Director of Blueprint 15, the ‘community quarterback’ organization of Purpose Built located in Syracuse, NY.
In addition, SRA leaders joined the discussion. Again, click on their names for their LinkedIn profiles.
Peg Coleman, Upstate NY SRA President, moderator;
Phil Goodrum, principal toxicologist, GSI Environmental Incorporated, visiting adjunct professor, SUNY ESF, Upstate NY SRA member;
Mary O’Reilly, adjunct assistant professor, University Albany, Upstate NY SRA member; and
Robyn Wilson, professor of risk analysis and decision science, Ohio State University, Past-President of SRA.
Click in the image below to view the recording of the webinar.
For a brief introduction, Purpose Built was founded in 2009 to replicate a new model for community re-development based on successes in the East Lake neighborhood in Atlanta. Click on this link for more information about the current network of 28 ‘community quarterback’ organizations working at locations illustrated in the figure below, including Blueprint 15 as the first Network Member in NY state.
The 2019 report on the 10th anniversary of Purpose Built Communities provides a review of the science and research that impacts work to date. The review lamented ineffective ‘silo reforms’ and noted the error of the assumption that 'the world is governed by simple cause-and-effect, highly linear relationships' (page 13 of the review). Some discussion explored how SRA risk practitioners, regional organizations, and specialty groups might help facilitate development of emergent strategies and models considering spatial interdependence to replace overly simplistic 'solutions'.
The SRA webinar discussion focused on gaps identified within and between communities, particularly needs for collecting data and translating often complex data for effective dialogue with neighborhood residents. One SRA member highlighted Paul Slovic’s work and the importance of ‘telling the story’ in terms that residents can relate to rather than presenting typical outputs of risk assessments that are not easily communicated to the public. The transformations of communities are viewed as long-term projects, perhaps exceeding10 years, with periodic updating of needs assessment and data collection needs over time.
Three SRA Specialty Groups in particular were mentioned in the discussion as providing very relevant expertise: Risk Communication, Justice Equity and Risk, Occupational Health and Safety. Also mentioned was the importance of considering both work and home environments, as described in the NIOSH Total Worker Health Program.
Upstate NY SRA members look forward to continuing conversations with Blueprint 15 leaders and other partners in Syracuse, including SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) faculty, staff, and alumni.
Interested in exploring partnerships in Syracuse and beyond?
Contact Peg Coleman to connect with Upstate NY SRA and the Racial Equity Committee of the ESF Alumni Association, Ashly Bozarth to connect with Purpose Built, and Raquan Pride-Green to connect with Blueprint 15.