Project STEP uses a community partnership model to look at how environmental conditions and climate change are affecting the health and quality of life for people who live along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The goal is to make sure that science is not just done at the university level, but is shared, explained, and co-created with the public, especially those most impacted.

In this project, community members share their real stories and experiences through Photovoice. This method allows people to take pictures in their own neighborhoods and describe what these images mean to them related to flooding, storms, pollution, heat, and daily challenges. By working directly with local groups and residents, Project STEP connects environmental data with lived experience to better understand health inequities, support local leadership, and encourage communities to prepare for changing weather conditions.

This approach strengthens trust, builds community voice, increases confidence in using science, and helps families and neighborhoods advocate for resources that can improve health and build resilience for the future