co-creath's mission & values
Our philosophy
OUR PHILOSOPHY AT CO-CREATH LABS
— Critical Social Theory and Postcolonialism
Critical social theory is a self-reflective and value driven discourse aimed at decreasing domination and creating a more just society. Postcolonialism is a critical social theory discourse that encompasses the reactions to, and analysis of, the cultural legacy of colonialism. The goal is to account for and to redress the lingering effects of colonialism on cultures. It is not only concerned with reclaiming the past but learning how the world can move beyond this period, towards a place of mutual respect. The critical nature of postcolonial theory enables marginalized groups to speak and produce alternatives to dominant discourse.
— Intersectionality
Intersectionality is a theory used in equity work to understand and interpret how social identities intersect or mutually enhance to create marginalization or privilege, and how these impact on health outcomes. We use intersectionality to address the social determinants of health (SDOH).
We recognize that marginalized social identities and inequities such as sexism, racism, and homo/transphobia overlap and simultaneously interact with individual, community and structural level factors to deter access to health care and reduce opportunities.
— Socio-ecological Model
We employ a socio-ecological model in our work because tackling individual-level determinants is insufficient to reduce health inequities unless it is supported by structural changes. The model identifies the layers of macro, meso and micro level factors: structural, institutional, community, interpersonal and individual. All these factors must be considered when addressing the social determinants of health, including COVID-19 related inequities among racialized and new immigrant communities.
— Community based Participatory Research (CBPR)
CBPR is a flexible process providing both a socially and culturally adaptable framework for research. It is more than an approach to investigating phenomena from the perspectives of those being studied. We use CBPR in most of our research projects as a means for mobilizing collective social action to address the identified issue and to create change at multiple levels.