Podcast Summary: How Community-Led Research Drives Social Change | Monica Malta

Introduction

In the January 4, 2025 episode of TED Talks Daily, host Elise Hu presents a compelling narrative by Monica Malta, a distinguished mental health researcher and human rights advocate from Brazil. Monica’s talk delves into the transformative power of community-led research in addressing deep-seated social issues. This summary captures the essence of her discussion, highlighting critical insights, personal experiences, and the impactful outcomes of participatory research methodologies.

Monica Malta’s Personal Journey and Motivation

Monica Malta begins her talk by sharing a poignant personal story that underscores her commitment to social change. She recounts the harrowing experience of December 1996 in Rio de Janeiro:

[02:32] Monica Malta: "I wasn't even 30, but already a survivor of a 10-year marriage where violence was the daily norm. After broken bones and broken dreams, it seemed my life couldn't get worse. Or so I thought."

Monica describes her dire circumstances—uninsured, unemployed, living with her parents, and eight months pregnant. Her life took a dramatic turn when her doctor diagnosed her with AIDS, delivering the tragic news that she might not survive to raise her child. This encounter was not just a personal crisis but also a catalyst that propelled her into activism and research.

[04:10] Monica Malta: "But that’s my own reality. And the singular experience of a domestic violence survivor from Rio is different from sex workers from Argentina, indigenous women from the Amazon Basin, people living with HIV, AIDS from Uganda, Mozambique, Kenya. To work with those communities, I also had to humble myself and listen, truly listen to each community’s needs, realities, priorities."

Critique of Traditional Research Approaches

Monica criticizes the conventional top-down research methodologies that often exclude the very communities they aim to help. She points out that academic-led research frequently lacks meaningful input from marginalized groups, leading to solutions that may perpetuate biases and fail to address core issues.

[04:50] Monica Malta: "With a traditional top-down approach to research, academics with more power and resources swoop into safe communities with strategies and questions that often end up perpetuating biases and stigma against the very people they want to assist."

This approach, according to Monica, not only diminishes the voices of those most affected but also risks missing the root causes of social and health challenges.

Embracing Community Participatory Research

In response to the shortcomings of traditional research methods, Monica advocates for community participatory research (CPR). This approach emphasizes collaboration, ensuring that research is conducted with and for the community rather than on them. Monica highlights the benefits of CPR, including its ability to produce more comprehensive and impactful outcomes.

[05:30] Monica Malta: "Community participatory research is a way to do science that really includes affected communities, working with and for them. From the planning stage to the implementation of strategies, evaluations of community participatory research are ongoing, but some authors found it has a greater long-term impact compared to more traditional methods."

Case Studies: Implementing Community Participatory Research

Monica shares specific examples of how CPR has been effectively applied in various communities, demonstrating its versatility and efficacy.

1. Research with Sex Workers in Brazil

Initially tasked with understanding condom usage among sex workers, Monica realized the research questions were misaligned with the community's immediate concerns.

[06:10] Monica Malta: "The main question I was supposed to ask, how often do you have sex without a condom? Pretty soon I realized I was way off base. The real worry was not condoms. The real fear was getting into a car with a client and not making it out alive."

This revelation led her to adopt CPR strategies, ensuring that the research addressed the actual dangers and needs of the sex workers. By collaborating closely with them, Monica was able to uncover and focus on issues that directly impacted their safety and well-being.

2. Supporting the Queer Community in Brazil

Monica's work with the queer community involved forming an advisory board that represented diverse regions and populations. This board collaborated in developing surveys and questionnaires that accurately reflected the community's experiences.

[07:00] Monica Malta: "We formed an advisory board representing diverse regions and populations and worked together to develop the questionnaire, conduct the surveys. What we found was that queer Brazilians were facing high rates of bullying, violence, school dropout, poverty, and mental health struggles."

In response to these findings, Monica and her team partnered with local organizations to implement targeted strategies, such as:

• Prepara Neng: A free college preparation course and entrepreneurship training program aimed at breaking the cycle of social exclusion and poverty.

  [07:45] Monica Malta: "More than 80% of Prepara Neng students continue their education, receiving a college or university degree. The vast majority of those participating in entrepreneurship trainings either launched new businesses or improved existing ones."

• Rise App: An application designed in close collaboration with the community to combat bullying and violence. Features include a panic button, safe route mapping, mental health screening, and 24/7 crisis support.

  [08:30] Monica Malta: "Help is just a push away. Thousands of users have shared with us how the app has literally saved their lives."

These initiatives exemplify how CPR fosters the development of solutions that are not only relevant but also sustainable, as they are co-created with the community members themselves.

Impact and Long-Term Outcomes

Monica highlights the profound long-term impacts of community participatory research:

• Educational Advancement: Prepara Neng has significantly increased educational attainment among participants, providing them with opportunities for higher education and career advancement.

• Economic Empowerment: Entrepreneurship training has empowered individuals to start or enhance their businesses, contributing to economic growth and stability within the community.

• Safety and Mental Health: The Rise app has provided immediate safety solutions and mental health support, directly addressing the urgent needs of users and saving lives.

[08:15] Monica Malta: "Every single strategy we were able to bring to reality was developed, implemented, tested, revised in close collaboration with the community."

Through these examples, Monica demonstrates that CPR not only addresses immediate concerns but also fosters resilience and self-sufficiency within communities.

Lessons Learned and Reflections

Monica reflects on the personal and professional growth she has experienced through her work:

[09:00] Monica Malta: "I have learned so much. I've cried and laughed a lot. I have met amazing, resilient, powerful humans and together we developed new services, improved existing ones, and even helped to change local and national legislations. But I was not their savior. They were their own heroes."

Her emphasis on humility and active listening underscores the essence of CPR—recognizing and valuing the inherent strengths and knowledge within communities.

Monica’s journey from a survivor of domestic violence and HIV to a renowned researcher and activist embodies the transformative potential of inclusive research practices. By prioritizing community voices, she has not only advanced scientific understanding but also fostered meaningful social change.

Conclusion

Monica Malta's talk serves as a powerful testament to the efficacy of community-led research in driving social transformation. Her experiences highlight the critical importance of involving marginalized communities in the research process, ensuring that solutions are both relevant and impactful. By shifting from a top-down approach to one of genuine collaboration and participation, Monica exemplifies how science can be a force for real, lasting change.

For listeners seeking to understand the profound impact of community participatory research and its applications in various social contexts, Monica Malta’s insights offer invaluable guidance and inspiration.

Notable Quotes

• Monica Malta [02:32]: "I wasn't even 30, but already a survivor of a 10-year marriage where violence was the daily norm."

• Monica Malta [04:50]: "With a traditional top-down approach to research, academics with more power and resources swoop into safe communities with strategies and questions that often end up perpetuating biases and stigma against the very people they want to assist."

• Monica Malta [05:30]: "Community participatory research is a way to do science that really includes affected communities, working with and for them."

• Monica Malta [07:45]: "More than 80% of Prepara Neng students continue their education, receiving a college or university degree."

• Monica Malta [09:00]: "But I was not their savior. They were their own heroes."

Further Resources

To explore more about the TED Fellows Program and access all TED Fellows films, visit fellows.ted.com.

Production Credits

This episode of TED Talks Daily was produced and edited by Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Autumn Thompson, and Alejandra Salazar. Mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan, with additional support from Emma Topner and Daniela Ballarazo. Host Elise Hu invites listeners to tune in daily for fresh, thought-provoking ideas.