Listening to Community Voices: Key Takeaways from the HBCU Gulf Coast Consortium Session

Earlier this month, the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice convened community-based organizations from across the Gulf Coast to review and reflect on newly collected health and environmental survey data. This session of the HBCU-CBO Gulf Coast Equity Consortium created space for shared learning, cross-community comparison, and honest discussion about how environmental conditions are impacting residents on the ground.

Representatives from Clean, Healthy, Educated, Safe and Sustainable Community (CHESS), Coalition of Community Organizations (COCO), Economics, Education, Environmental, Climate & Health Organization (EEECHO), Shiloh Community Center, Sunnyside Community Redevelopment Organization (SCRO), Northeast Houston Redevelopment Council (NEHRC) and Unity in the Family Ministry (UFM) came together after months of community engagement and data collection. In total, 640 surveys were completed, with each organization collecting at least 75 surveys. Fifteen surveys were completed in Spanish, highlighting the need to continue expanding accessible, multilingual engagement efforts.

Survey responses revealed a complex picture of community health. Fifty-two percent of respondents reported being in good health, while only four percent rated their health at the lowest level. At the same time, many respondents reported high prevalence of chronic conditions, including allergies, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and adult asthma…all conditions that are often exacerbated by environmental exposures and climate-related stressors.

Despite these health concerns, access to coverage was relatively high. Sixty-nine percent of residents reported having some form of health insurance, including Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits, and private insurance. While coverage does not always guarantee quality or affordability of care, this finding provides an important foundation for future health-focused interventions and partnerships.

The surveys also explored a range of environmental and climate-related issues affecting residents’ daily lives. Respondents were asked about mold and water safety, household property damage from major weather events, and exposure to industrial accidents, among other concerns. These topics sparked meaningful discussion during the session, particularly as community leaders compared how these risks show up across neighborhoods.

The data reinforced what many organizations already know from lived experience: climate change is not an abstract issue. It is deeply connected to housing quality, neighborhood safety, health outcomes, and long-term community stability.

One of the most significant discussion points centered on food access and food insecurity. When asked whether they had access to affordable and nutritious food within one mile of their homes, 42 percent of respondents said yes, while 49 percent said no.

This finding resonated strongly across all participating organizations and sparked robust conversation about food deserts, rising food costs, and the direct impact of policy changes of the Trump administration

The overall theme of the conversation centered on how communities can move this data into action. Participants were clear that the surveys are not an endpoint, but a tool for action.

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