This internship is for four interns from Worcester Polytechnic Institute completing their Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), a six-week project-based course. They will complete a project for BPHC's Mass in Motion grant in collaboration with Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corps (DBEDC). This project will focus on increasing the walkability and safety of the Columbia Road and Dudley Street area of Dorchester. Mass in Motion has been involved with a few street improvement projects within Dorchester. This includes the Columbia Road Transportation Action Plan and the Stepping Strong Injury Prevention's Pedestrian Advocacy Training. Mass in Motion is looking to build on the momentum of these projects and continue engaging more of their residents around safe streets. Mass in Motion is looking to develop a process to continue promoting safe streets through resident engagement, street assessment/walk audits, heat resiliency methods, and community advocacy. With the help of WPI interns, Mass in Motion will create a system change at DBEDC.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the internship, WPI students will have learned:
- The difference between public health programming and policy, system, and environmental change
- How to create assessment tools for community members and community-based organizations
- Public health research methods
- How to engage with diverse populations specifically those living in affordable housing
- How to address racial justice and health equity in public health
- Current undergraduate student in public health or related field.