Abstract:

The Orenda approach, a novel Pedagogical strategy, is designed to extend translational experiential learning in which core precepts selected from multiple disciplines are integrated to solve a health disparity they face to transform the student and community, as Social Progressive, Transformational Learning (SPTL) by adolescents at their unique age of adaptive flexibility. They have learned from their life experiences that emotional feelings (Pathos) and information content (Logos) are capable of influencing vision (Ethos) to influence behavior. Adolescents living in extreme urban poverty are at-risk of impaired cognitive and social maturation due to the stress from Adverse Childhood Experiences Syndrome (ACES) due to the high concentration of dysfunctional families. The approach uses concepts from multiple sciences to understand health and wellness challenges. It values support from mentors from education and healthcare who understand the context of living in poverty. The needs of ‘Forgotten children’ require support to manage emotional and social barriers at this critical age. They lack opportunities to build resilience and leadership to overcome these challenges. We integrate physician health learning advocated by the Social Mission Alliance for health in underserved communities and Next Generation Science Standards learning pedagogy to underserved youth. The practices of the art and research extend STEM to STREAM learning.

Mission:
1. To offer ‘forgotten children’ the opportunity of training in social skills in an ethical framework for critical thinking and leadership by conducting successful community research.
2. To improve the local culture of health care to reduce health disparities in underserved neighborhoods.

The Orenda name, an Iroquois adjective, denotes character traits ideal for leadership. Originally used in the Iroquois nation as their democratic choice of new leaders long before US Independence. The older tribal women used the term as the character trait they wanted in a person to lead them. The Orenda approach organizes health sciences clubs for at-risk adolescents as an Out-of-School-Time (OST) activity with paired science educator/health professional trained mentors. Small teams select and identify locally relevant health disparities in micro-Community-Based Participatory Research (mCBPR) projects. Using the 5 steps of the mCBPR scientific process, with a mantra of ‘learn, decide and do’ at each step. This process requires them to conduct a wide range of practices in an academic school year of weekly OST club meetings. The results are shared by students in a local community health fair to draw inferences and present recommendations for change in behavior to enhance the local culture of health.

Pilot experiences are presented of challenges faced and barriers overcome over 4 years in over 100 adolescents in four different extreme neighborhoods of poverty in the Rust Belt city of Pittsburgh. We offer a model approach for a city-wide network of clubs targeted to the most underserved neighborhoods as an approach to improve the local culture of health and city-wide health equity.

The Orenda Approach:
Micro-community-based Participatory research health projects to problem-solve and build leadership skills in extreme urban poverty. ISBN979-8-88731-667-3.

Keywords:

Science education for youth, Health education for youth, Underserved urban youth, micro-Community-Based Participatory Research as pedagogy for youth.