Community Engagement
Yonaira's contributions to the public and society at large are directly informed by her scholarly goal to reduce health inequities among Latino/a/x communities. She believes initiatives need to have engaged, active, and trustworthy community partners to achieve this endeavor, and that listening to community leaders and working around their needs and timelines are vital.
Community Capacity Building
As a native Puerto Rican, Yonaira is committed to the long-term recovery of communities affected by Hurricane María. She co-founded Puerto Rico Stands and has worked alongside local community leaders to provide them with transferable skills and tools to build on their strengths and empower them to create a more resilient community. Her research furthers this work by exploring the role social media platforms play in coordinating and facilitating communication and disaster relief efforts.
Educational Materials & Curricula
A previous community health educator, Yonaira focuses on identifying sustainable and culturally-relevant ways to effectively reach and educate Latinos about health disparities. Her work in cancer control and prevention has led to developing culturally-tailored and sustainable cancer communication educational materials in English and Spanish for communities in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
Training & Public Speaking
A bilingual, bicultural Latina researcher, Yonaira is committed to training and educating Latino/a/x communities in English and Spanish. She is available to speak with and assist community leaders, non-profit organizations, local government, and lay audiences in-person and through social media or other digital platforms.
