Visual Narratives for Change: Grant initiatives tackle health inequities in Southern Arizona
The University of Arizona College of Nursing proudly announces that Tarnia Newton, DNP, FNP-C, assistant clinical professor, has been awarded two grants as principal investigator to address health disparities in Southern Arizona. Through photovoice, a participatory research method blending photography, storytelling, and arts-based initiatives, Newton’s projects focus on amplifying the voices of borderland communities and advancing impactful health solutions.
Newton’s U of A cross-disciplinary co-investigators include Lisa Kiser, DNP, CNM, WHNP, associate clinical professor; Amy Kraehe, associate vice president for Equity in the Arts; Carissa DiCindio, associate professor in the School of Art; and Denisse Brito, learning and engagement manager at the Center of Creative Photography. Together, they aim to bridge education, health disparities, and art to promote a deeper understanding of the grand challenge of health equity in borderland regions and inspire transformative health solutions.
Newton's first grant award, a U of A Research, Innovation, and Impact, Research Development Production Grant, provides $19,866 for her project titled "Connections, Communities, and Healing in Urgent Times." The grant will fund an interactive pop-up exhibit showcasing visual narratives created by nursing and graduate art education students in the HSD/NURS 250 course, utilizing photovoice. Through socially engaged art practices, the project aims to stimulate critical discussions about health equity within Southern Arizona communities. Catalyzing change, the exhibit encourages residents to reflect on what it means to be healthy, examine how social determinants impact their health, and explore essential steps toward fostering more significant health equity across the region.
“Through this interactive exhibit, we want to transform the understanding of wellness by sharing personal stories and experiences,” Newton explains. “We hope to inspire transformative solutions that benefit local communities and foster new ways of understanding health disparities.”
The pop-up exhibit will also be featured on the U of A Center for Creative Photography's interactive app, allowing guests to engage with the stories behind each visual narrative. The HSD/NURS 250 course, “JEDI Health Equity: Connection, Community & Healing in Urgent Times,” prepares students to critically analyze health inequities while engaging in experiential service-learning that connects them with the community.
Newton also received a second $25,000 U of A Hispanic Serving Institution, 2024 Faculty Seed Grant, which supports scholarly research and creative endeavors that enhance the U of A’s commitment to serving diverse populations, particularly QT BIPOC (Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color). Newton’s work aligns with the university’s mission to create inclusive environments that promote equity and access to health resources.
The project, titled “The Arts, Health, and Binational Resilience: A Photovoice Conversation on Immigration Journeys through the US-Mexico Borderlands,” aims to generate new insights into health and resiliency within the US-Mexico border regions, fostering a deeper understanding of these communities' unique challenges and strengths.
The exhibit was created in partnership with institutions in Mexico, including the University of Sonora and the Inter-American Institute of Higher Education. During this collaboration, students from the HSD/NURS 250 course work alongside Mexican nursing students and faculty to better understand migration across the southern borderlands. The exhibits are curated by graduate students in art education and are designed to spark meaningful conversations on both sides of the border, highlighting the complex realities of migration. With exhibitions held in both the U.S. and Mexico, this initiative fosters unique spaces for cross-border engagement and mutual understanding. “We hope to inspire a new social imagination that compassionately addresses global migration, fostering connection and healing,” said Newton.
“As a college deeply committed to health equity and innovation, we are incredibly proud of Newton’s groundbreaking work. By harnessing the power of art and storytelling, her projects engage our students in critical conversations about health disparities and foster a compassionate understanding within our broader community,” said Brian Ahn, PhD, dean of the College of Nursing.
Lindsay Bouchard, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN, associate clinical professor and interim vice chair, Advanced Nursing Practice and Science Division, remarks, “Newton’s dedication to addressing health disparities through innovative, artistic approaches is inspiring.”
As a champion of health equity and community engagement, Newton's initiatives underscore the College of Nursing’s commitment to improving health outcomes for all individuals in Southern Arizona.