Community Members Research Articles

Book Censorship in Public Schools: Examining Florida HB 1467 (2022)

Several pieces of legislation have sprung up in recent years in Florida aiming to restrict public school library books and curricular materials. Notably, this coincides with other state legislative moves to restrict what students read and learn in school with partisan purposes. Library associations have reported that nationally, removed books disproportionately contain LGBTQ and racial minority themes. One law at the heart of these restrictions, Florida HB 1467 (2022), empowers community members to challenge and remove public school books and adds bureaucratic obstacles to the access of previously allowable materials. The vague and broad language of the Florida law leads to erratic application by school districts across the state, resulting in the suppression of protected speech. This article examines a key constitutional tension: Under what circumstances does the students’ right to receive information under the First Amendment outweigh school officials’ authority, and, by extension, parental authority over local education under the Tenth Amendment? The U.S. Supreme Court in Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District v. Pico (1982) offers one answer, holding that political orthodoxy is an unacceptable rationale for removal, but pervasive vulgarity and educational unsuitability are acceptable. These three standards are useful, yet entangle in ways Pico is not fully suited to address. This article argues HB 1467 (2022) is unconstitutional under the political orthodoxy Pico standard, strict scrutiny analysis of content-based regulations, and the vagueness and overbreadth doctrines of the 1st Amendment.

The use and potential abuse of psychoactive plants in southern Africa: an overview of evidence and future potential

BackgroundMost Bantu ethnic groups in southern Africa utilize indigenous herbal medicines, some of which have psychoactive properties. Traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) commonly use them not only for divinatory purposes but to treat and manage mental and other illnesses. Unfortunately, the research on their results, risks, and benefits do not align. Little is known about their potential abuse among TMPs and community members in southern Africa. Herbal medicines are complex because whole plants are sometimes used, unlike in other treatments which use only one active ingredient. However, if the key mechanisms of action of these ethnomedicinal plants can be identified through socio-pharmacological research, useful botanical agents can be developed. A review of socio-pharmacological studies to evaluate the consequences of exposure to ethnomedicinal plants with psychoactive properties was conducted with the aim of identifying harm reduction strategies and investigating how the plants could be developed into useful botanicals.MethodThe search methods involved retrieval of records from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Dissertations and Theses Global, and OpenGrey. The English language and human subjects were used as filters. In addition, some information was obtained from TMPs and community members.ResultsThe following psychoactive plants were found to be commonly used or abused: Boophone disticha, Cannabis sativa, Datura stramonium, Leonotis leonurus, Psilocybe cubensis, and Sceletium tortuosum. The commercialization of Cannabis, L. leonurus, S. tortuosum, and Aspalathus is growing fast. The abuse liability of B. disticha, D. stramonium, and P. cubensis appears not to be appreciated. Five countries were found to have TMP policies and three with TMP Councils.ConclusionTMPs in the region are aware of the CNS effects of the identified psychoactive plants which can be explored further to develop therapeutic agents. There is a need to work closely with TMPs to reduce harm from the abuse of these plants.

The process of co-designing a model of social prescribing: An Australian case study.

Social needs such as housing, employment, food, incomeand social isolation are having a significant impact on individuals, familiesand communities. Individuals are increasingly presenting to health settings with social needs, which are ill-equipped to address nonmedical needs. Social prescribing is a systematic approach connecting the health, social and community sectors to better address social needs and improve health and wellbeing. Social prescribing interventions are being implemented world-wide. With variability in health and social care systems internationally, it is important that social prescribing interventions are co-designed with key stakeholders to ensure they can be implemented and sustained within local systems. This Australian case study provides a detailed description of the process undertaken to co-design a social prescribing service model in a regional area. Four co-design workshops were undertaken, two with health and social care professionals and two with community members. The project followed an iterative process of resourcing, planning, recruiting, sensitising, facilitation, reflectionand building for change across the workshops. Through this process, key stakeholders were able to successfully co-design a social prescribing model of care for the region. By demonstrating the process and materials used in our project, we aim to open the 'black box' of co-design for social prescribing and provide ideas and resources for others to adapt and utilise. The project was designed and undertaken by a steering committee comprising university-based researchers (authors C. O. andS. B.), local government (author D. A.)and health, socialand community services (authors B. G., M. W., J. O.andS. R.). Members of the steering committee participated in project design, participant recruitment, workshopfacilitation, data analysisand interpretation.

COVID-19 Vaccine Motivation and Hesitancy among a Sample of African American, Afro-Caribbean, and African Respondents in the United States.

Understanding the motivations and decisions behind COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is crucial for designing targeted public health interventions to address vaccine hesitancy. We conducted a qualitative analysis to explore COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among diverse ethnic subgroups of Black Americans in the United States. This study investigates the 2021-2022 responses of 79 African American, Afro-Caribbean, and African respondents over the age of 18 in Washington State and Texas. Respondents were asked "Do you plan to get the COVID-19 vaccination?" Qualitative responses were analyzed by content category and ethnic subgroup. Of the 79 responses, 60 expressed favorable perceptions, 16 expressed unfavorable perceptions, and 3 expressed neutral perceptions. Dominant categories among participants in favor of the vaccine included personal health (26), concern for health of family/or community members (13), and desire to protect others (11). Among the 42 vaccinated African American respondents, the primary motivation was personal health (20). The 12 unvaccinated African American respondents cited fear of side effects as their dominate motivation. Caribbean respondents cited family or elders as motivation for their decision. African respondents were nearly unanimous in taking the vaccine (13/16), citing trust in health care, protecting friends and family, and personal health as reasons. Community and personal relationships were critical decision-making factors in accepting the COVID-19 vaccine, with African Americans having the strongest hesitancy.

Understanding community engagement from practice: a phenomenographic approach to engineering projects

IntroductionEngineering professors involved in community projects strive to enhance engagement through a combination of social sciences and engineering methodologies. Recognizing the growing importance of critical methodologies, particularly those rooted in social justice and community design, researchers have explored their impact on fostering meaningful collaborations between engineers, students, and community partners.MethodsThis study employs a phenomenographic approach to explore how a cohort of engineering professors, students, and community members conceptualize their participation in community-engaged practices.ResultsOur findings reveal a nuanced outcome space comprising five distinct ways in which individuals perceive their community engagement: as interdisciplinary endeavors, addressing community issues, engaging in co-design, and addressing systemic barriers. These conceptual frameworks elucidate a progression in the depth of engineers’ involvement with the community, underscoring the significance of systems literacy and social justice in more intricate contexts.DiscussionThese results advocate for engineers to adopt an active membership approach, emphasizing collaboration, when working on engineering projects within communities, as opposed to adopting passive roles that may undermine the impact of community engagement.ConclusionIn conclusion, a deeper understanding of the varied conceptualizations of community engagement among engineering professors, students, and community members underscores the importance of adopting proactive roles and fostering collaborative approaches in community projects.

Oral cavity disorders in traditional, ethnic and original people communities

This chapter describes a worrying scenario and the territory of multidisciplinary health work in Brazil, a diverse country: the knowledge on the part of the dentist and the multidisciplinary team about the health of the black population corresponds to a demand in health, since this group has a predisposition to certain diseases, which if diagnosed early, will be possible to contribute to better therapeutic planning, predictability, and a favorable prognosis in certain clinical manifestations. However, such semiological methodological research may also contribute to the investigation and better understanding of oral cavity disorders that occur in members of traditional communities, in addition to displaced people (indigenous and gypsies), in an urban presence in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. , envisioning better health outcomes for these vulnerable populations. Periodontal disease can be defined as a multifactorial chronic inflammatory process that affects the protective and supporting tissues of the teeth. Several factors related to this process are currently recognized, such as environmental, genetic, socioeconomic, systemic, ethnic factors and individual susceptibility of the host (very well covered technically by Semiology and repertorization). The manifestations of periodontal disease in people of African descent and the possible causal relationships that make them more susceptible (as described for sickle cell anemia) were presented, thus indicating the need for an individualized preventive approach to this population. Habits that are harmful to the health of the oral cavity were also listed. Finally, we emphasize the culminating point that was the meeting in the health space of the 7th ward of the Homeopathy Service of the Hospital Geral Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Rio de Janeiro, when it was possible to talk about the importance of interventions on habits that compromise the style of life and quality of life also contribute to the emergence of oral cavity neoplasms. The path of health promotion via multidisciplinary health education carried out jointly by professionals who are members of Homeopathy institutions in Rio de Janeiro stood out in relevance.

Preferences and Travel Motivations of Pink Tourists Among Filipinos

The purpose of this study was to determine the preferences and driving forces behind LGBT, or pink, tourism. LGBT tourism is referred to as "pink tourism." (Greenberg, Peter (2007). This abbreviation, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, is frequently used to refer to the LGBT community. The motivations behind Pink Tourists' travel choices will be examined in this study. The research was split up into four sections: Phase 1 dealt with determining the demographic profile of the correspondents in terms of sexual orientation/gender, age, status, income, travel frequency, travel companion, and accommodation preference. Phase 2 focused on factors in choosing a travel destination among pink tourists, Phase 3 on perceiving the importance of motivation when considering travel, and Phase 4 on identifying the importance of factors when selecting a travel destination. For this study, fifty correspondents were chosen to take part. We used the Research Paradigm as the process of the study to able to get the results of the feedback and get a necessary adjustment.Purposive sampling was employed to select the participating correspondents. The findings indicated that the majority of Pink tourists—who are primarily bisexual—discovered they belong to the LGBTQ community between the ages of 21 and 25. BPO businesses tend to employ members of the LGBTQ community due to their anti-discrimination policies. Many of them made the decision to remain unmarried in order to travel with their buddies. LGBTQ people wish to travel twice a year for leisure, enjoyment, vacation, and to experience life; if they feel safe, accepted, and treated equally, they will remain for less than a week. These days, people plan their trips one to three months in advance by booking their journeys online. They also enjoy traveling for enjoyment and entertainment. When traveling, Pink Tourism prefers to go with friends since it makes them feel more at ease and allows them to express their actual gender identity. Here are our suggestions based on the findings of our investigation: LGBTQ people should be permitted to use restrooms according to their gender identity and comfort level in restaurants, hotels, and other establishments. In addition, hotels ought to offer family rooms, which may accommodate a sizable gathering, in the event that a guest house or full house is unavailable at a specific location. Finally, LGBTQ-friendly events and activities should be added to destinations so that people may enjoy their trip, unwind, and meet new people more comfortably.

Book Review: A Digital Bundle: Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Online

When Indigenous Knowledge is made openly available, it enables members of Indigenous communities to resist colonialism to pursue self-determination as well as cultural transformation for Indigenous Peoples and non-Indigenous Peoples alike. Jennifer Wemigwans’ A Digital Bundle: Protecting and Promoting Indigenous Knowledge Online explores what opening cultural heritage entails from an Indigenous perspective.

Wayuu people's positions regarding the acceptability of political amnesties in Colombia

AbstractThis study mapped the diverse personal positions of the Wayuu indigenous community in Colombia regarding the acceptability of political amnesties in a post‐conflict context. The sample was composed of 130 indigenous adults between 18 and 74 years of age residing in the Guajira region, who were shown 12 amnesty‐related scenarios. These scenarios were composed according to a three‐factor design: (a) the level of detail that the amnesty applicant (former combatant of some illegal armed group in Colombia) was willing to disclose, (b) whether or not the applicant asked for forgiveness, and (c) the severity of the punishment endured by the amnesty applicant (A cluster analysis yielded three qualitatively different positions: never acceptable (18%), almost always acceptable (9%) and depends jointly on the quality of the information and remorse (73%). For the vast majority of Wayuu community members, a political amnesty for a former combatant of a Colombian armed group is not acceptable. For those who have accepted it, amnesty is only possible if the applicant proves that he or she is not causing harm to third parties. And it would also be conditioned to the particular situation of each case. A collective amnesty process has no chance of being considered acceptable.

A Geography of Hope? Decolonizing Space Through the Storytelling and Place-Making of a Festival

This study explores the potential for Caribbean festivals through storytelling and place-making to decolonize everyday spaces. It investigates the potential for festivals to transform places through festivals’ decolonial cultural and creative resources. The article begins with a review of relevant literature on festivals, storytelling, and place-making. Junkanoo in The Bahamas is presented as a case with which to explore how storytelling as counternarrative to colonial legacies and the neocolonialism of tourism can reaffirm the importance of the festival to place. While there are both placemaking (top-down approach) and place-making (bottom-up approach) processes at work for Junkanoo, passionate community members and cultural leaders provide continued agency alongside powerful placemaking structures. Two alternative conceptual models of place-making and placemaking and possible influences on everyday spatial geographies are presented. The conclusion offers a framework for continued theory development and practice in the decolonization of place through festival storytelling. Place-making with local storytelling enhances strategies for community development through the inclusion of underrepresented communities, especially African descendent populations, for developing more equitable frameworks for heritage justice.

Non-communicable diseases and its risk factors among the transgender population in Kerala: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundNon-communicable diseases (NCDs) are high on the priority list of the Kerala government, and exploring the extent to which transgender and gender diverse (TGD) community members benefit from the services of national programmes for NCDs can provide valuable insights on improving the inclusivity of the health system as it moves towards Universal Health Coverage. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of NCD risk factors as well as facilitators and barriers to NCD management among the TGD population in Kerala.MethodsA multiple methods study, including a cross-sectional survey of 120 self-identifying TGD people that included an adaptation of the WHO STEPS questionnaire, as well as in-depth interviews with thirteen individuals, was conducted in three districts of Kerala to explore the barriers and facilitators to NCD prevention and management.ResultsThe results are presented using the key dimensions emerging out of the Diederichsen framework. A range of discrimination faced by TGD people in Kerala traps them in situations of low educational outcomes with consequent disadvantages in the job market when they search for livelihoods. This results in a large proportion of our sample living away from families (69 percent), and finding themselves in precarious jobs including sex work (only 33 percent had a regular job), with all these aforementioned factors converging to marginalise their social position. This social position leads to differential risk exposures such as increased exposure to modifiable risk factors like alcohol (40 percent were current alcohol users) and tobacco use (40.8 percent currently used tobacco) and ultimately metabolic risk factors too (30 and 18 percent were hypertensive and diabetic respectively). Due to their differential vulnerabilities such as the discrimination that TGD people are subjected to (41.7 percent had faced discrimination at a healthcare centre in the past one year), those with higher exposure to risk factors often find it hard to bring about behavioural modifications and are often not able to access the services they require.ConclusionsThe disadvantaged social position of TGD people and associated structural issues result in exacerbated biological risks, including those for NCDs. Ignoring these social determinants while designing health programmes is likely to lead to sub-optimal outcomes.

Community Partners' Perceptions of the Benefits and Burdens of Participating in a Community Engagement Course with Medical Students.

Service-learning courses improve medical students' ability and willingness to participate in community engagement as future physicians. However, few studies examine the community partners' (CP) perceptions of the utility of these courses in accomplishing the goals of their organizations. This qualitative study sought to understand the CPs' perspective of the benefits and burdens they face while participating in a university-affiliated medical school's Community Learning and Social Medicine (CLSM) course. This was a qualitative focus group study conducted with CPs participating in the CLSM course. A trained facilitator virtually conducted focus groups. The study team recorded and professionally transcribed these conversations. The team subsequently developed a code book, and two independent coders analyzed all materials. The team used reflective thematic analysis to identify prominent themes. Fifteen out of 28 CPs participated in the study. The study team organized themes from the analysis into three categories: benefits to participation, challenges to participation, and minor themes. CP-perceived benefits to participating in the CLSM course included help with organizational activities, dissemination of clinically relevant skills to medical students, and effective engagement with community members. Barriers to participation included course constraints and a lack of clarity on course content and student expectations. CPs also described their role in medical student education as an extension of faculty members. Finally, CPs offered solutions for improving course communication among site leads, students, and course instructors. CPs acknowledged that this service-learning course provides collective benefit to students, community organizations, and community members. However, challenges such as navigating student schedules and understanding course expectations lead to additional work for CPs. Acting on suggestions for improvement will help secure this course's longevity and collective benefit to the community.

Ecuadorians in NYC: Language and Cultural Practices of a Community in the Diaspora

Given that Ecuadorians are one of the largest groups of Hispanics living in New York, they have become a tight community that they now call little Ecuador. Although Ecuadorians living in the diaspora in NYC come from different parts of the country (mostly from the Andean region), they share the same cultural practices they performed in Ecuador that give them the sense of being in their country without bearing the instability and turmoil their country experiences. This shows how the group has fostered a sense of a multifaceted, multidimensional simultaneity between the host country and the motherland. The goal of this paper is to analyze the strategies Ecuadorian migrants use to validate their language and cultural practices to negotiate their identity as a group. Data for this paper come from ethnographic observations, semi-spontaneous conversations, oral interviews with members of the group, along with pictures taken while walking the community and participating in some of their events. Our study reveals that participants hold varying perceptions regarding their linguistic and cultural practices. However, it is noteworthy that they recognize these practices as a manifestation of Ecuadorianness, signifying a sense of solidarity among community members.

FinTech—A pathway to financial inclusion? Evidence from Southern African Development Community member states

AbstractThe study investigates the effect of FinTech on financial inclusion in Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states over the period 2011–2021, while also looking at the transmission channels. The study adopts a battery of econometric techniques such as ordinary least squares (OLS), the two‐step system generalized method of moments (GMM) and the Driscoll and Kraay covariance estimator. The study finds that FinTech (proxied by digitization) deepens financial inclusion (access to loan) and a decline in the number of bank branches in SADC member states. This is logical since the operations of FinTech are digital. This implies that an attempt to promote financial inclusion by traditional means such as building physical bank structures may be limited, especially in Africa where large swathes of the populace remain unbanked. As expected, FinTech (measured by automated teller machines [ATMs]) increases the number of bank branches in SADC. We also find that mobile cellular subscription, the share of population with access to electricity and Internet access and mean years of schooling are important transmission channels of FinTech to financial inclusion in SADC. In general, the result shows that FinTech enhances and deepens financial inclusion in SADC member states. The research and policy implications are discussed.

Service mix and financial performance in rural hospitals: A contingency theory perspective.

Rural hospitals are increasingly at risk of closure. Closure reduces the availability of hospital care in rural areas, resulting in a disparity in health between rural and urban citizens, and it has broader economic impacts on rural communities as rural hospitals are often large employers and are vital to recruiting new businesses to a community. To combat the risk of closure, rural hospitals have sought partnerships to bolster financial performance, which often results in a closure of services valuable to the community, such as obstetrics and certain diagnostic services, which are viewed as unprofitable. This can lead to poor health outcomes as community members are unable to access care in these areas. In this article, we explore rural hospital service offerings and financial performance, with an aim to illuminate if specific service offerings are associated with positive financial performance in a rural setting. Our study used hospital organization data, as well as county-level demographics with periods of analysis from 2015 and 2019. We employed a pooled cross-sectional regression analysis with robust standard errors examining the association between total margin and service lines among rural hospitals in the United States. The findings suggest that some services deemed unprofitable in urban and suburban hospital settings-such as obstetrics and drug/alcohol rehabilitation-are associated with higher margins in rural hospitals. Other unprofitable service lines-such as psychiatry and long-term care-are associated with lower margins in rural hospitals. Our results suggest the need of rural hospitals to choose services that align with environmental circumstances to maximize financial performance. Hospital administrators in rural settings need to take a nuanced look at their environmental and organizational specifics when deciding upon the service mix. Generalizations regarding profitability should be avoided to maximize financial performance.

Microbial ecology of the deep terrestrial subsurface.

The terrestrial subsurface hosts microbial communities that, collectively, are predicted to comprise as many microbial cells as global surface soils. Although initially thought to be associated with deposited organic matter, deep subsurface microbial communities are supported by chemolithoautotrophic primary production, with hydrogen serving as an important source of electrons. Despite recent progress, relatively little is known about the deep terrestrial subsurface compared to more commonly studied environments. Understanding the composition of deep terrestrial subsurface microbial communities and the factors that influence them is of importance because of human-associated activities including long-term storage of used nuclear fuel, carbon capture, and storage of hydrogen for use as an energy vector. In addition to identifying deep subsurface microorganisms, recent research focuses on identifying the roles of microorganisms in subsurface communities, as well as elucidating myriad interactions-syntrophic, episymbiotic, and viral-that occur among community members. In recent years, entirely new groups of microorganisms (i.e. candidate phyla radiation bacteria and Diapherotrites, Parvarchaeota, Aenigmarchaeota, Nanoloarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota archaea) have been discovered in deep terrestrial subsurface environments, suggesting that much remains unknown about this biosphere. This review explores the historical context for deep terrestrial subsurface microbial ecology and highlights recent discoveries that shape current ecological understanding of this poorly explored microbial habitat. Additionally, we highlight the need for multifaceted experimental approaches to observe phenomena such as cryptic cycles, complex interactions, and episymbiosis, which may not be apparent when using single approaches in isolation, but are nonetheless critical to advancing our understanding of this deep biosphere.

Sustainable Community and Development: A Perception Study in Aizawl City

Communities have a critical role in encouraging practices that lead to the making of a sustainable community. Sustainability is a major concern in the contemporary world of depleting resources. The study brings out how people of a community perceive sustainability and to pinpoint areas that need improvement. Our synthesis underscores the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors in achieving a sustainable community, as articulated by prominent scholars. We extend this discourse by presenting a comprehensive framework that encapsulates essential components, including quality of life, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, sustainable transport, economic prosperity, and resource optimization. By incorporating diverse perspectives, this work contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable community development, emphasizing the importance of holistic considerations and balanced approaches. Data collection was done using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods of literature review and online survey questionnaires. The findings prove that although most community members are aware of sustainability-related issues, there exist areas that need additional education and awareness-creation. The study delves into the sustainability of the city assessed through the satisfaction level of its habitants taking into account the components of sustainable community. Respondents are mostly satisfied with the social and environmental aspects. Corruption and business run by immigrants are major problems affecting the economic sustainability of the community. Findings of the study provide valuable insights into community perceptions of sustainability and useful in the promotion of future sustainability initiatives and policies.

Literature Review of the Stigma of People Experiencing Homelessness

I live in a community with a large homeless population. I witness and take part in conversations with community members and have noted that a seemingly large portion of them have little empathy, education, or understanding of what it means to be homeless. These conversations are often very polarizing, as there are many stigmas regarding the homeless population. I am passionate about promoting change. I want to educate the community, to help them understand and have empathy. In my attempt to decrease the stigmas that homeless people face, I have completed a literature review to research what these stigmas are and how to address them effectively. I aim to find ways to most effectively educate my community on homelessness.

From multilevel to trans-level interventions: A critical next step for creating sustainable social change to improve mental health.

Eliminating mental health disparities requires simultaneously addressing numerous determinants of health, including social inequities. Although emphasis on multilevel change is growing, interventions typically involve separate efforts or people focusing on each level. We propose a trans-level conceptual model for mental health intervention that simultaneously facilitates change across multiple intersecting levels with four guiding principles: (1) emphasis on structural change; (2) involvement of people experiencing health and social inequities in achieving structural change by addressing the necessary preconditions of access to resources for basic needs, community membership and belonging, and knowledge or information to participate in social change efforts; (3) valuing and building on the expertise and strengths of individuals, families, and communities experiencing health inequities; and (4) dismantling unequal power dynamics of helping relationships through a focus on mutual learning and support and cocreation of change. Tracing the trajectory of a 23-year community-based mental health intervention partnership (the Refugee and Immigrant Well-Being Project), we illustrate the trans-level intervention model and describe its impact on individual mental health and sustainable change at multiple levels. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Catalysing virtual collaboration: The experience of the remote TIES working groups

AbstractDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, the idea of collaboration and scientific exchange between members of the scientific community was enhanced by technology. Virtual meetings and work platforms have become common resources to continue generating research, partially replacing instances of joint in‐person work before, during or after a conference. The idea of teleworking played a fundamental role in remote collaboration groups within The International Statistical Society (TIES), a community of interdisciplinary scientists such as statisticians, mathematicians, meteorologists, and biologists, among others working on quantitative methods to enhance solutions to environmental problems. In 2021 the Society launched three working groups with the aim of improving networking across the Society's members and develop creative collaboration, while advancing statistical and computational methods motivated by real‐world driven applications in environmental research. Here, we provide insights from this virtual collaborative initiative.