Los Alamos National Laboratory Research Articles

The Role of Aboriginal Kidney Health Mentors in the Transplant Journey: A Qualitative Evaluation.

Whilst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia experience disproportionately high rates of chronic kidney disease, they have lower rates of kidney transplantation and face many barriers to accessing culturally safe health care. Aboriginal kidney health mentors with lived experience of transplantation have been proposed to improve the patient journey and increase health promotion, but there has been limited evaluation of the role of mentors. A qualitative evaluation of the 'Hunting Kidney Transplant' patient mentoring project implemented by Purple House in the Northern Territory involved in-depth interviews, focus groups and participant observation with Aboriginal kidney health mentors and renal staff. Data analysis methods included inductive thematic coding and collaborative synthesis of emerging themes with Aboriginal co-researchers. Aboriginal kidney health mentors play a holistic and multi-directional role helping people to navigate the transplant process. The role of mentors encompasses both visible and invisible work and is centred on a 'Right Way Working' approach, including building trust, respect and taking time during the work-up period. Key enablers include kinship and community connections and ongoing support from Purple House. Key barriers include COVID-19 and institutional racism within the mainstream health service. Aboriginal health mentors with lived experience of chronic conditions can play an important role in supporting people and promoting cultural safety in health services. SO WHAT?: Further support and funding are needed to develop, evaluate and embed the mentor role into policy and practice to improve patient journeys, health promotion, transplant rates and health outcomes.

Iain Peatarsan (1916-1990), Neach-chruinneachaidh Bearnaraidh na Hearadh

A native of the Isle of Berneray, Ian Paterson (1916-1990) was among Scotland’s most prolific voluntary fieldworkers in the latter half of the 20th century, undertaking nearly two decades’ worth of folklore collection amounting to several thousand recordings. In addition to important recording work for the School of Scottish Studies in Edinburgh, nearly half of his total output was gathered in his home community of Berneray in the Outer Hebrides. Due to his skill, erudition, community connections, and enduring passion for the Gaelic oral tradition, Berneray enjoys one of the most complete folklore collections in the islands during this period, between 1960 and 1990. The article explores Ian Paterson’s life, work, connections, interests, and methodology, making extensive use of his fieldwork recordings from the Isle of Berneray. It will show how he made use of his own family in his collection work and undertook repetitive fieldwork with the same informants to produce a valuable thick corpus from a single geographic community over a generation. It will also consider his legacy within the context of the School of Scottish Studies and shine a fresh light on a productive, if lesser known, folklore collector.

Introduction to the Special Issue Spanish in the US: A Sociolinguistic Approach

This Special Issue highlights the pivotal role of Spanish as a linguistic and cultural force in the United States, emphasizing its relevance in shaping identities, fostering community connections, and navigating complex sociopolitical landscapes [...]

Stigma and voice-related life impact among transgender and gender diverse adults

Introduction Experiences of stigma negatively affect the mental and physical health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adults, but less is known about how it may impact voice, an important aspect of gender embodiment. This study investigated the relation between gender minority stressors and voice-related life impact and examined potential moderating effects of identity pride, community connection, resilient coping, and perceived control. Methods TGD adults (N = 313) completed an online survey between June and November 2022. Participants completed gender-specific voice questionnaire(s), the Gender Minority Stress and Resilience (GMSR) measure, the Brief Resilient Coping Scale, and the voice-related Present Perceived Control Scale. Simple linear regressions were conducted between gender minority stressors and voice-related life impact questionnaires, and multiple linear regressions with an interaction term were used for moderation analyses. Results Experiences of gender minority stress were associated with voice-related life impact, most consistently for non-affirmation and internalized transphobia. Identity pride was protective against non-affirmation on voice-related life impact for trans women and trans men. Resilient coping was protective against internalized transphobia on voice-related life impact for trans men and exacerbated the association between non-affirmation and voice-related life impact for trans women. Community connectedness and perceived control were not moderators. Conclusion Experiences of stigma were associated with how TGD adults perceived their voice functioning and how their voices impacted their life. Experiences of oppression should be explored in the context of gender-affirming voice care as an important factor in voice functioning and voice-related goals.

Enhancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Rural Tourism Communities: The Case of Mae Kampong Village, Chiang Mai, Thailan

Objective: This study proposes sustainable communities for rural tourism, using Mae Kampong Village in Chiang Mai, Thailand, as a case study. The theoretical framework: The determinants of a sustainable rural community-based tourism model include (1) cultural experiences, (2) homestay, hotel, street food, and shop experiences (services, prices, and facilities), and (3) eco-friendly practices and natural experiences. Method: The researchers utilized a meticulous approach, which involved purposive sampling, to select Mae Kampong Village. This research is a systematic review that gathers secondary data and observations for the primary data. Content analysis was employed to understand and synthesize the data. Results and Discussion: The findings indicate that sustainable rural tourism communities based on environmental awareness encompass cultural experiences, tourist experiences (services, pricing, facilities), and eco-friendly actions inside the village. Research Implications: Sustainable rural tourism should employ Mae Kampong Village as a best practice model for sustainable rural tourism regarding cultural experiences, responsible tourism practices, and environmental management to accomplish sustainable development growth (SDGs). Originality/Value: The village offers authentic encounters with Lanna culture through tourist experiences, natural experiences, and community connections. However, this qualitative observation was without respondents. Additional questionnaires and interviews are recommended for further studies to comprehensively examine the village's environmental awareness activities, such as organic farming and renewable energy. This will help tourists and locals benefit from sustainable economic growth while safeguarding the village's natural and cultural heritage. Emphasizing community-based tourism and providing inexpensive and accessible experiences will be instrumental in achieving sustainability goals.

Developing Trans Wellness, Trans Brilliance: A Virtual Peer-Support Wellness Intervention by and for Trans/Gender Diverse Michiganders.

The U.S. trans/gender diverse (TGD) community experiences considerable mental health disparities and barriers to health care. To address these challenges, Trans Wellness, Trans Brilliance (TWTB) was developed to advance the resilience, self-compassion, and community connectedness of TGD people in Michigan. Designed by TGD people for TGD people, this community-based research project was a joint partnership between a local trans community care organization and a large Midwestern research institution, supported by state foundation funding. The construction of TWTB was sequential and iterative. The project concept originally emerged from previous research, which identified a need for a program to enhance resilience, capacity, and emotional well-being in the broader Michigan TGD community. This led to the innovative idea of designing an intervention that was both virtually accessible and capable of being implemented by any community advocate, regardless of professional training. Interviews were conducted with community stakeholders statewide to identify the needs, desired skills, and objectives for such a skill-based program. Findings from these interviews were used to design the online intervention. Community members further shaped the intervention through a focus group, which assessed the desirability and anticipated effectiveness of the curriculum. The final product was TWTB: an 8-week, peer-support, virtual wellness intervention.

Impact media portrays on police legitimacy in times of emergencies: a global perspective

PurposeThe swift development of digital platforms and the intricate nature of socialization processes have greatly impacted how young people perceive the legitimacy of the police. This study investigates the influence of different media platforms and methods of socialization in emergencies on the attitudes and beliefs about law enforcement among young individuals. The aim of this review paper is to consolidate existing literature on the influence of various forms of media and social contacts shaping youth attitudes towards the legitimacy of the police, within distinct social and cultural contexts.Design/methodology/approachThe literature was reviewed narratively, with a focus on major digital bibliographic databases for the purpose of selecting studies. This approach facilitated the examination of overarching concepts across several fields of study in order to develop a thorough comprehension of how media and socialization in emergencies influence young people’s perceptions of the legitimacy of the police. Three major themes were discovered, encompassing the connection of three different theories with the youth perceptions of police legitimacy, impacts from different media sources like news, entertainment and social media and the influence of important socialization agents like family, peers and community.FindingsThe review confirms that the media, regardless of whether it presents good or bad images, has a major impact on the views of youngsters towards the police. It influences their opinions of how trustworthy and legitimate the police are. Modeling and reinforcement, which are key components of social learning, play a crucial role in influencing the impact of media on young people. Community and family connections have significant influence, either strengthening or lessening the effects of media depictions. Although media has the ability to promote understanding and regard for law enforcement, it was also observed that there are challenges associated with the reinforcement of preconceptions and biases.Practical implicationsThis research offers fundamental ideas for creating educational and community initiatives that improve positive media depictions of law enforcement and bolster community–police interactions. Additionally, it provides a framework for future studies on media approaches that could facilitate the development of a well-rounded understanding of the legitimacy of law enforcement among young people.Originality/valueThis literature review combines social learning and cognitive theories with empirical research on media to examine the complex and varied effects of media and socialization on how young people perceive the legitimacy of the police. It emphasizes the necessity for a sophisticated comprehension of these connections within the framework of current social dynamics and advancements in technology.

A Scientist in Russia: My Story

Born on December 12, 1937, I remember the first bombing of Moscow by the Germans in 1941. My schooling began in 1944, and I soon became interested in chemistry, setting up a kind of makeshift chemical laboratory behind a high cupboard in my house. I enrolled in Moscow University in 1955 and published my first scientific paper in 1959. After entering graduate school in 1960, I produced dense silica with a rutile structure, a natural analog of which was later named stishovite. I received my doctorate in 1961 and got a job at the Institute of Crystallography in 1962, where I worked until 1993. My first visit to the West was in 1976. I was became a Fairchild Distinguished Scholar at Caltech in 1989–1990 and a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1990. I was a Miller Professor at the University of California, Berkeley and an Orson Anderson Distinguished Scholar at Los Alamos National Laboratory. From 1993 to 2022, I was director of the Institute for High Pressure Physics. During that time, I was awarded the P. Bridgman Gold Medal and the Gold Medal of P. Kapitsa.

Cosmology of belonging: The role of community in the therapeutic use of psychedelics.

The recent wave of clinical trials of psychedelic substances among patients with life-limiting illness has largely focused on individual healing. This most often translates to a single patient receiving an intervention with researchers guiding them. As social isolation and lack of connection are major drivers of current mental health crises and group work is expected to be an important aspect of psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, it is essential that we understand the role of community in psychedelic healing. To explore how psychedelic guides in the United States discuss the role of "community" in naturalistic psychedelic groups. This is a secondary qualitative data study of data from a larger modified ethnographic study of psychedelic plant medicine use in the US. Fifteen facilitators of naturalistic psychedelic groups were recruited via snowball sampling. Content analysis was used to identify themes. Participants viewed the concept of community as essential to every aspect of psychedelic work, from the motivation to use psychedelics, to the psychedelic dosing experience and the integration of lessons learned during psychedelic experiences into everyday life. Themes and subthemes were identified. Theme 1: The arc of healing through community (Subthemes: Community as intention, the group psychedelic journey experience, community and integration); Theme 2: Naturally occurring psychedelic communities as group therapy (Subthemes [as described in Table 2]: Belonging, authenticity, corrective experience, trust, touch). Results suggest that existing knowledge about therapeutic group processes may be helpful in structuring and optimizing group psychedelic work. More research is needed on how to leverage the benefit of community connection in the therapeutic psychedelic context, including size and composition of groups, selection and dosing of psychedelic substances in group settings, facilitator training, and role of community integration. Psychedelic groups may provide benefits that individual work does not support.

Spatiotemporal Variations in Phytoplankton Community Structure and Diversity: A Case Study for a Macroalgae–Oyster Reef Ecosystem

The estuarine area of Luanhe River is an important fisheries ground in China’s Bohai Sea. In 2016, Tangshan Marine Ranching Co., Ltd. constructed a 2 km2 artificial oyster–macroalgae reef area by placing artificial reefs on the seabed adjacent to the Luanhe River Estuary. This action resulted in sustainable annual economic outputs through the fishing and sea cucumber put-and-take fishery. Although Luanhe River runoff and reef construction are important to the local phytoplankton community and fisheries’ production, little is known about how these factors affect phytoplankton community structure in the local coastal ecosystem. In this study, we conducted field surveys to investigate the spatiotemporal variations in species composition, abundance, dominant species, diversity indexes, niche width and overlap, and interspecific connection of the phytoplankton community in the ecosystem of oyster–macroalgal reefs. From July 2016 to August 2017, we collected data before and after reef construction in areas inside and outside of the benthic reefs in both the flood and dry seasons of Luanhe River runoff. We found a total of 79 species, with the majority represented by diatoms and dinoflagellates. The dominant species were Paralia sulcata and Coscinodiscus sp. The total species number and abundance increased from May to September. The species number in the reef area was greater than that outside the reef. Species abundance from August to September was greater in the reef area than in the control area, which was opposite the situation from May to June. We found more phytoplankton abundance in the flood season compared with that in the dry season. Our results suggest that reef construction can benefit the local phytoplankton community and that further studies of the relationship among oysters, macroalgae, and phytoplankton in the system are warranted. Moreover, we provide baseline data about variations in the phytoplankton community in a sea ranch area.

High genomic connectivity within Anatoma at hydrothermal vents along the Central and Southeast Indian Ridge

Hydrothermal vents are ecosystems inhabited by a highly specialized fauna. To date, more than 30 gastropod species have been recorded from vent fields along the Central and Southeast Indian Ridge and all of them are assumed to be vent-endemic. During the INDEX project, 701 representatives of the genus Anatoma (Mollusca: Vetigastropoda) were sampled from six abyssal hydrothermal vent fields. Traditional morphology and COI barcoding of Hoffman et al. (Eur J Taxon 826:135–162, 2022) were combined with 2b-RAD sequencing to investigate the anatomid community structure and connectivity between the different vent fields. Consequently, 2b-RAD sequencing supported the primary species hypothesis (based on morphology) for 125 individuals of the recently described taxa A. discapex, A. declivis, A. laevapex and A. paucisculpta. We assigned 22 additional specimens to species with 2b-RAD sequencing and updated the community analyses that confirmed the pattern of expanding populations. Population structure and FST values indicated high connectivity along the six sampled vent fields for the three most abundant species. High levels of gene flow are suggested, pointing to high dispersal potential of the target species along the study area. However, low levels of heterozygosity revealed a small gene pool and therefore an increased vulnerability towards environmental change. Our results demonstrate that 2b-RAD sequencing, in combination with other molecular methods, can accurately characterise macrobenthic mollusc communities. Sequencing technology is an essential tool for ongoing monitoring. Furthermore, we highlight that the inferred molecular and ecological patterns provide valuable insights into hydrothermal vent ecosystems, which are crucial for the successful conservation of these ecosystems.

The Cedars-Sinai Community Connect Program: Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Grantmaking

The Cedars-Sinai Community Connect Program: Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Grantmaking

The Cedars-Sinai Community Connect Program: Strategic Partnerships and Innovative Grantmaking

Throughout the evolution of modern health care, social drivers of health (SDOH) have been underscored as significant contributors to clinical outcomes and exacerbators of health inequities. However, health care systems have struggled to effectively address SDOH due to a historical focus on traditional biomedical models and a distinctive lack of collaboration with community-based organizations (CBOs). Cedars-Sinai, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit academic medical center, has developed a comprehensive strategy to integrate health and social care through its Community Connect Program (CCP). Launched in 2021, the CCP aims to improve patient outcomes and community health by incorporating standardized SDOH assessments into electronic health records, implementing person-centered interventions, and establishing accountable referral pathways to local organizations for community support services. The CCP team, within the Office of Health Equity, leads collaborative efforts across various internal departments and external CBOs to bridge the gap between health care and social services. Since its inauguration, the CCP has partnered with CBOs specializing in critical areas such as housing instability, access to care, mental health and substance use, and case management. A distinctive component of the CCP’s community engagement is its targeted grantmaking approach, which is integrated within the same implementation strategy for SDOH screening and intervention. By centralizing grantmaking, screening, and intervention efforts under one team, the CCP fosters a comprehensive, nonsiloed approach that enhances coordination and maximizes impact. In an effort to expand community service capacity and streamline resource connections for top-identified SDOH needs, the CCP launched its grantmaking pilot with a 5-year commitment to support five CBOs with up to $110,000 per grant year. Achievements made through the development and first 2 years of the CCP’s grantmaking pilot include providing tailored support to improve access to medical and social care services, expanding access to intensive case management programs, expediting interim housing placements, and promoting free mental health care and substance use disorder recovery services. Lessons learned from the CCP grantmaking pilot program include the need for robust change management, authentic and productive communication, and trust-building with CBOs, all of which will continue to guide future Cedars-Sinai efforts to enhance community partnerships. The CCP grantmaking pilot has informed future considerations to operationalize funds for social care access and demonstrated the potential for scalable, community-oriented social care solutions. The broader CCP strategy and integrated grantmaking pilot can serve as a model for integrating health and social care through multifaceted partnerships, innovative grantmaking, and community-driven decision-making. These efforts in addressing SDOH and advocating for more equitable health outcomes underscore the transformative potential of collaborative systems integration. By building on these grantmaking achievements, facilitating multisector learning opportunities, and continuing to invest in community capacity, Cedars-Sinai’s CCP is driving toward a more equitable and innovative health care system.

Minority stress and protective factors for body image concerns and disordered eating among a cohort of transgender and nonbinary youth: A preliminary longitudinal study

Background Transgender and/or nonbinary (TNB) youth experience elevated risk of body image concerns and disordered eating compared to their cisgender counterparts, yet drivers of this risk remain poorly understood. This exploratory community-engaged study examined longitudinal associations between gender minority stressors and protective factors and disordered eating and body image concerns among TNB youth. Methods 30 TNB youth (age 13–17 years) from the U.S. New England region completed five waves of online surveys (December 2015–February 2019). Gender minority stressors included non-affirmation of gender identity and internalized cissexism. Protective factors included gender identity-related pride, community connectedness, and social support. Outcomes included disordered eating behaviors, body image concerns, body image-related avoidance, depersonalization, and trans-specific body image concerns. Results Gender-related pride was associated with fewer trans-specific body image concerns and vomiting for weight control in TNB youth. Over the study period, 20–40% reported dieting, 4–10% reported vomiting for weight control, and 8–23% reported binge eating. Greater gender minority stressors at the previous wave were associated with greater body image-related avoidance, depersonalization, and trans-specific body image concerns at the current wave. Conclusions Elevated risk of disordered eating and body image concerns in TNB youth highlight the need for screening, prevention, and systems-level efforts to address anti-TNB discrimination.

Understanding the Impact of YouTube Videos on Parents of Children with Developmental Delay and Disabilities

Children go through several developmental milestones at an early age. When a child becomes slow or cannot even reach one or more of these milestones compared to other typically developing children, that condition is called Developmental Delays and Disabilities (DDDs). Children's DDDs create much parental stress, resulting in social isolation and loneliness. YouTubers make videos on DDDs to assist parents and other caregivers. We need to gain more knowledge of how these videos are created and how much they impact the parents of children with DDDs. We followed a mixed-method approach to annotate and analyze 1,532 YouTube videos on children's DDDs. Our analysis found that YouTube videos on DDDs support the community with critical informational content and provide mental and emotional strength through content related to personal experiences. Our analysis of the comments in these videos explored how YouTubers and viewers created a strong community connection through these video content. Most importantly, the interviews with the parents of children with DDDs revealed how parents find these videos relatable and critical for taking necessary actions for their children's DDDs diagnosis and follow-up treatments. We concluded by discussing platform-centric design implications for supporting parents and other caregivers of children with DDDs.

Interrogating green social prescribing in South Wales; A multi-stakeholder qualitative exploration.

As an umbrella term, social prescribing offers varied routes into society which promise to support, enhance, and empower individual citizens to take control of their own health and wellbeing. Globally healthcare systems are struggling to cope with the increasing demands of an ageing population and the NHS (UK) is no exception. Social prescribing is heralded as a means to relieve the burden on primary care and provide support for the 20% of patients whose needs are non-medical. As such an increasing array of schemes are available, spanning five sub-sets: creative or nature-based referrals, welfare services, exercise referrals, education programmes or befriending support. Green social prescription offers significant potential to promote wellbeing and improve health outcomes. However limited research has explored this emergent sub-set. Explore and interrogate the concept of social prescribing to understand how it is conceptualised, perceived, and experienced by different stakeholders involved in its coordination, delivery, and provision; At a time when it is being formalised in Wales, UK. Using qualitative enquiry, from a social constructivist paradigm, stakeholder perspectives pertaining to current social prescribing models, pathways and actions in Wales were explored. Three multi-discipline research workshops and ten semi-structured, one-to-one interviews were conducted either in person or via zoom. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. 39 different stakeholders contributed. These included social prescribers, community connectors, service coordinators, third sector and voluntary organisation representatives, a general practitioner, occupational therapist, social enterprisers, academics and local area coordinators. Five themes were identified which revolved around stakeholders discussions of critical challenges pertaining to the delivery, provision, and evaluation of green social prescribing schemes in south Wales, UK. Tension between varying stakeholders was also evident, often preceded, or complicated by funding discrepancies, competition, and uncertainty. Stakeholders demanded clarity regarding evaluation outcomes and benchmarking across the sector. To ensure the continued provision of social prescribing schemes which are highly valued by service users, voluntary and third sector organisations require funding security and stability. The delivery of green, nature-based, schemes require maintenance of trusting, long-term relationships with local service co-ordinators and referrers, secure equitable funding models and agreement over conceptual basis of social prescribing itself, particularly in relation to 'where' social prescribing is located within health and social care models. Without resolution and positive progress across these areas the continuation of local green schemes within local communities, which build resilience and support positive change for service users' health and wellbeing, is questionable.

Ecological Connectivity of Plant Communities for Red Blotch Disease Dynamics Revealed by the Dietary Profiles and Landscape-Level Movement of Spissistilus festinus

The epidemiological relationship between arthropod dispersal and plant communities is poorly understood at the landscape level. We investigated the connectivity of natural and cultivated plants in vineyard ecosystems for red blotch disease dynamics by characterizing the dietary history of Spissistilus festinus, a treehopper vector of grapevine red blotch virus (GRBV). Molecular analysis of the gut content of 205 S. festinus caught in 71 vineyard sites and the flora proximal to vineyards in Napa Valley, California, USA revealed a total of 171 genera from 61 plant families with a preeminence of Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Vitaceae over two growing seasons, illustrating dietary profiles composed primarily of natural vegetation. An indicator species analysis identified the strength of ecological associations by showing distinct seasonal feeding trends related to weather patterns and host repertoires unique to some vineyard sites with estimated S. festinus travel distances of up to two kilometers. Potential reproductive and overwintering hosts of S. festinus were identified in natural habitats and an ecological relatedness between free-living vines in riparian corridors and vineyards for GRBV transmission was documented. Together, our findings on landscape vegetation connectivity and S. festinus dispersal transformed our understanding of red blotch disease ecology and informed disease management options.

The art of inclusivity: how sense of community shapes Muslim journeys across Islamic and non-Islamic destinations

Purpose This study aims to explore the role of the sense of community in shaping Muslim tourists’ experiences in both Islamic and non-Islamic destinations, using the experience quality-intention framework. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 420 Muslim tourists visiting Islamic destinations and 371 visiting non-Islamic destinations, all of whom were Indonesian inbound or outbound tourists. Partial Least Squares analysis was applied to evaluate the sense of community’s impact on factors influencing Muslim tourists’ experiences. Findings The analysis reveals that integrating the sense of community into the framework enhances understanding of the factors affecting Muslim tourists’ overall experiences, satisfaction and behavioural intentions across both destination types. Notably, the sense of community significantly shapes tourists’ holistic experiences, satisfaction and intentions, though it affects attraction experiences differently between Islamic and non-Islamic destinations. Practical implications From a managerial perspective, findings suggest that destination managers can enhance Muslim tourists’ experiences and promote positive behavioural intentions by fostering a sense of community, regardless of tourists’ backgrounds. This underscores the importance of leveraging community connections to enrich experiences and encourage favourable intentions in diverse destinations. Originality/value This study contributes to the existing literature by expanding the Experience Quality-Intention framework to include the sense of community, providing fresh insights into predicting tourist experiences and intentions across diverse destinations.

Nurse practitioner and physician associate mentorship: Improving retention and employment experiences.

Clinician turnover is costly for health care organizations. A retention strategy for newly hired nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates (PAs) was needed at our organization. A quality improvement project was conducted to determine whether a mentorship program could improve retention and employment experiences of newly hired NPs and PAs. A one-to-one mentorship program was implemented for newly hired NPs and PAs. (a) Retention and productivity data were compared for mentee participants vs. nonparticipants. (b) Mentee and mentor participants completed two program evaluation surveys to examine the program's impact on their employment experiences. Sixty-eight mentee-mentor pairs completed their mentoring relationship during the first 3 years of the program. Retention was higher among mentee participants vs. nonparticipants during their first (96% vs. 85%, p = .0332) and second year of employment (83% vs. 65%, p = .0480). Productivity during the first year was similar for mentee participants and nonparticipants (38th percentile vs. 37th percentile, p = .84). Most participants (≥69%) believed the program improved onboarding, personal and professional growth, work environment, and NP and PA community connection. The mentorship program improved first- and second-year retention of newly hired NPs and PAs and employment experiences of program participants. By our estimates, the program helped retain 15 NPs and PAs who would have otherwise left the organization, yielding potential organizational savings of $1.29M-$1.72M. A mentorship program can be an effective retention strategy for reducing health care turnover and related costs.

Evaluation of the Food Literacy Project's "Nourishing Food Literacy, Community Health and Sense of Place in Louisville, Kentucky" Initiative.

Community-based organizations, such as Food Literacy Project, Inc. (FLP), focused on cultivating food justice through increasing access to healthy foods in under-resourced areas are uniquely positioned to positively affect the nutrition landscape. This article reports on an evaluation of FLP's efforts in implementing food justice programming. A single, longitudinal case study evaluation framed within the socioecological model included the collection of survey, interview and focus group, on-site observational and field notes data at multiple points throughout the evaluation period of July 2019 through August 2020. Research findings lauded FLP's initiatives providing food access, creating youth advocacy programming, and fostering community connections. However, critical need existed to implement initiatives by individuals who reflected the communities in which they served on land that was fully secured for tenure and ownership. The results from this evaluation suggest a call to action for non-profit organizations to build and maintain trust in under-resourced communities. When applying for grants, partnering with academic institutions and implementing programming, the site team members, as well as evaluation team members, should be intentional to identify (e.g., race, gender, residence, socioeconomic status, education level) with the community in which the initiatives aim to serve.