The Montagnard/Asian Community Disparities Research Network

We are a network of scholars, professionals, advocates, and community members dedicated to **scholarship that responds directly to community needs** in North Carolina and beyond.

Our Mission & History

The **Montagnard/Asian Community Disparities Research Network** was founded in 2012 to serve the Montagnard community and other unique refugee and immigrant populations in our region.

A Community-First Approach

Formerly housed at the University of North Carolina Greensboro's Center for New North Carolinians (2012-18), we are now proudly hosted by the **Montagnard Dega Association (MDA)**. We work in close partnership with MDA's **Community Advisory Council (CAC)** to ensure our research, scholarship, and service-learning projects always promote best community practices and are driven by community needs, not external agendas.

Join Us!

We invite scholars, researchers, service learning practitioners, and others to join us in finding answers vital to the long-term capacity building and empowerment of the Montagnard and other communities.

  • We welcome youth and student involvement through **Internship, Service Learning, Research, and Civic Engagement** pathways.

  • Contact us at MontagnardResearch@gmail.com to get involved.

Our Methodology & Impact

Moving from Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to Action

We recognize that factors like poverty, unaffordable housing, and racism (the **Social Determinants of Health**) cannot be solved by simply improving "access." Our network uses the **CBPR-CHW Model** to transform research into tangible community change and systemic influence.

The CBPR-CHW Model

We use the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) - Community Health Worker (CHW) Model to:

  • Build Capacity: Train and employ trusted community members (CHWs/promotores) to lead research and intervention efforts.

  • Influence Stakeholders: Provide data to inform system players, policymakers, and grant makers.

  • Ensure Give Back: The CHW model ensures that intervention and community support are integral parts of the research process.

Impact in Action: Success Stories

  • MDA’s extensive CHW experience prepared us to immediately expand partnerships with refugee communities (Bhutanese, Cambodian, Karenni, etc.) to secure funding, deliver life-saving supplies, and provide fact-based information during the crisis.

  • We engaged over 130 individuals, created a Montagnard dictionary of hypertension terms, and provided critical health screenings by co-designing the research with tribal elders and youth.

  • By training two older Montagnard women as CHWs, we published research on food shortages following the Great Recession, securing funding for women's life skills classes and job training.