Research is often a dirty word in communities. The harm caused by academic researchers can only be counteracted by building trust and relationships in an authentic way. And that doesn't mean just offering a gift card for all their data! It means prioritizing the strengths and needs of communities in addition to fairly compensating them for their time.

Today we are joined by The Community Lady herself, Ms. Ede Crittle – a seasoned professional in community engagement, partnership development, and coalition building. With over 20 years of experience, Ede's passion for grassroots organizations as the foundation for change has led her to promote equitable health through research partnerships since 2011. 

In today’s conversation, the John Hopkins’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award recipient walks us through her professional background, how she gained her affectionate nickname, and a rundown of Project E-RACE and the other work she’s currently involved in. Then, we dive into how she is building relationships between communities and academic researchers, what true partnership looks like, and we discuss why academic researchers need to better understand the role and power of communities. To end, Ede walks us through her Beyond the Gift Card community conversation series, and we discover why she’s at her happiest when the people around her are working together.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing The Community Lady herself, Ms. Ede Crittle. [01:04]

• Ede’s professional background and the work she’s currently involved in (Project E-RACE). [02:02]

• How she became ‘The Community Lady’. [03:35]

• Taking a closer look at how to improve research in community-based organizations. [06:40]

• The difference between community-based and community-driven research. [13:20]

• Exploring the relationship between academic researchers and their community partners. [15:20]

• The ins and outs of Ede’s Beyond the Gift Card community conversation series. [20:14]

• What brings her joy in her work. [25:50]

• More details on Project E-RACE. [26:28]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review!  For more transcripts, show notes, and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-podcast-season-3/