The Vida Verde Women's Co-Op: Brazilian Immigrants Organizing to Promote Environmental and Social Justice

Abstract

Gute et al. | Peer Reviewed | Field Action Report | S495⏐ FIELD ACTION REPORT ⏐ We reviewed the key steps in the launch of the Vida Verde Women's Co-Op among Brazilian immigrant housecleaners in Somerville, MA. The co-op provides green housecleaning products, encourages healthy work practices, and promotes a sense of community among its members. We conducted in-depth interviews with 8 of the first co-op members, who reported a reduction in symptoms associated with the use of traditional cleaning agents and a new sense of mutual support. Critical to the co-op's success have been the supportive roles of its academic partners (Tufts University and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell), effective media outreach, and a focus on advancing social justice. Next steps include implementing a formal business plan and assessing the appropriateness of cooperatives in other industries. (Am J Public Health. 2009;99:S495-S498.

Immigrating to the US: What Brazilian, Latin American and Haitian Women Have to Say About Changes to Their Lifestyle That May be Associated with Obesity

“…A steering committee was established at the onset of the project, and consists of a professionally and culturally diverse membership, including project staff; Tufts researchers and students representing different specializations and leaders from five community organizations that work with immigrants in Somerville, MA. The community-university relationships were built prior to Live Well through two CBPR projects in the Somerville area; Shape up Somerville [37] and the Somerville Community Immigrant Worker Health Project [38, 39]. At the end of Shape up Somerville, community partners identified the need to address obesity among immigrant populations.…”

Occupational Health and Safety Experiences among Self-Identified Immigrant Workers Living or Working in Somerville, MA by Ethnicity, Years in the US, and English Proficiency

“…The project relied upon a core group of community based partners, Immigrant Services Providers Group/Health (ISPG/H), Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), Haitian Coalition (HC), Brazilian Women’s Group (BWG) and benefitted from their ability to identify and interact with immigrant populations. The Haitian Coalition predominantly provided access to the Haitian population, CAAS to the Hispanic population and the Brazilian Women’s Group to the Brazilian population [42]. Since there were no Asian community organizations of sufficient scale, our work did not specifically target this population, however we did not exclude them from the surveys.…”

“…We also launched the Vida Verde Co-Op, a cooperative of Brazilian housecleaners using green cleaning products, which received substantial media publicity and further increased our visibility in the community and raised occupational health and safety awareness among the immigrant community [42]. The combination of these accomplishments and capacities greatly benefited our project through the creation of a high level of trust, interaction, and communication.…”

Promoting integrated approaches to reducing health inequities among low‐income workers: Applying a social ecological framework

“…“Neighbor to neighbor” community outreach strategies, often by community health workers, developed portable illustrated flip charts, photos for digital storytelling and interactive exercises. They also used mass media outlets including radio, television and newspapers; and created educational fact sheets and pamphlets, posters, video/DVDs, audio cassettes, photo exhibits, and community theater performances [Adams et al, 2011; Azuma et al, 2010; Baron et al, 2009; Brody et al, 2009; Downs et al, 2009; Green et al, 2002; Gute et al,, 2009; Krieger et al, 2009a; Krieger et al, 2009b; May et. al, 2008; Morello-Frosch et al, 2009; Vallianatos et al, 2004].…”