Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (URC)
Ms. Reyes is a founding board member of the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center (URC), a collaborative partnership established in 1995 involving the University of Michigan Schools of Public Health, Nursing, and Social Work, the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion, eight community-based organizations (Community Health and Social Services Center CHASS, Communities In Schools, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation, Friends of Parkside, Latino Family Services, Neighborhood Service Organization, Rebuilding Communities, Inc/Warren-Conner Development Coalition), and Henry Ford Health System. In addition, the Detroit URC partnership includes other organizations that are represented in the Steering Committees for specific URC-affiliated projects.
The URC identifies problems affecting the health of residents on the east, southwest and northwest sides of the city. Its mission is to promote and conduct interdisciplinary, community-based participatory research (CBPR) which recognizes, builds upon and enhances the resources and strengths in the communities involved. The research and interventions conducted contribute to the understanding of the relationship between social determinants, the built environment, protective factors, intermediate outcomes, and long-term health outcomes specific to urban environments. The knowledge gained contributes to the design of appropriate public health interventions, programs and policies aimed at eliminating health disparities.
Ms. Reyes is also a member of several of the projects’ steering committees, one of which is the Healthy Environments Partnership, established in 2000 to reduce the risk of heart disease in 3 Detroit communities. Projects have included walking groups; the active engagement of residents in promoting environments conducive to active living; and working closely with local CBOs engaged in development of Detroit Greenways.
Angela Reyes has also been active in the development and implementation of the two-year Neighborhoods Working in Partnership program, funded by The Skillman Foundation and the University of Michigan, which has worked to train community residents, both adults and youth, in policy advocacy.