Two complementary projects are under study: 1) a follow-up to the project that examines the integration of immigrant populations in rural communities (Hatch NYC-159441), and 2) in collaboration with Professor Michael Shapiro's Hatch project, "Investigating Home Food Safety Relevant Behaviors of Mexican-Americans Who Cook for Children and the Elderly."
In the first project we will build on findings from our completed Fund for Rural America project in five New York communities. This study revealed that the integration of foreign born farmworkers in rural communities into the social and economic life of the community hinges largely on their ability to find year-round employment, English skills and their access to certain benefits like health services. Our results showed that two organizations play an important supportive role to immigrants, schools and churches. The follow-up study investigates in detail the role of schools and churches in fostering immigrant access to jobs, housing, English language and other training, schooling and health care. The overall research objectives are: 1) production of detailed knowledge about the determination of the most common pathways and barriers to immigrant integration in new immigrant destination communities; 2) identification of specific ways that community organizations can foster social network formation and promote the integration of immigrants into community social and economic life; 3) specification of concrete and effective mechanisms to promote the integration of immigrants into social and economic life in new destination immigrant communities.
To follow up on the role of churches in the integration of immigrants we fielded questions in the state wide Empire State Poll to assess what community members expect of churches in integrating immigrants into the social and economic life of the community. Preliminary results showed that the most common responses were that churches should work to build social ties, followed by facilitating or providing education to adults and children, from teaching about American culture to language classes, and charitable services. The importance of building social ties between immigrants and the community was most pronounced in rural communities in Upstate New York.
The second research effort involves a series of focus groups with new immigrant families that examine their challenges meeting food safety standards when preparing food at home, and preliminary investigation of other related needs like nutrition education to address ongoing challenges with obesity, and diabetes. Results of this work will allow us to develop a major research proposal to address nutrition education for newcomers including food safety.
Current Extension Activities
Member of the Diversity Catalyst Team
Member Task Force: Virtual Multi-Cultural Workforce Center
Chair, Faculty Steering Committee of the Cornell Farmworker Program
Biography
Biographical Statement
The focus of my research in both the U.S. and in the international field is one of prevention with special emphasis on applied research. My research informs the design, test and evaluation of interventions to achieve long-term health behavioral change. I examine: 1) the behaviors and practices that enhance or detriment health status of individuals; 2) the effect of social and economic factors on health; 3) and how culture and ethnicity shape health values, attitudes and behaviors among minorities and immigrant populations. My work in developing countries focuses on the implementation of primary health services through programs based on local resources and knowledge. Special attention is given to women's roles and the promotion of community members participation.
Education
Fluent in English and Spanish. Some knowledge in reading and speaking German.
1989-1992 Post Doctoral Fellow Rutgers-Princeton
1989 Ph.D Sociology. University of Wisconsin-Madison
1984 M.S. Sociology. University of Wisconsin-Madison
1974 M.A. Intercultural Education. University of the Americas Cholula, Puebla, México
1971 B.A. Psychology. Autonomous University of Puebla, Puebla, México
Keywords
Courses, Websites, Pubs
Courses Taught
Sociology of Health and Ethnic Minorities (LSP/Dev Soc 2200)
Related Websites
http://courseinfo.cit.cornell.edu/courses/devsoc2200
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/research-and-policy-brief-series.cfm
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/upload/11-2004-immigrants_community.pdf
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/upload/04-2005-immigrants_community.pdf
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/upload/09-2005-immigrants_community.pdf
http://devsoc.cals.cornell.edu/cals/devsoc/outreach/cardi/publications/upload/11-2005-immigrants_community.pdf
Selected Publications
Pfeffer, M.J., Parra, P.A. “Upstate and Downstate Differ in Response to Needs of Immigrant Community.” NYSAC News 30(9):23-24, 2009
Pfeffer M.J. and Parra P. Strong Ties, Weak Ties, and Human Capital: Latino Immigrant Employment Outside the Enclave. Rural Sociology. Issue 74(2):241-269. June 2009
Pfeffer M.J. and Pilar A. Parra. Community Response to Immigrants in New Destinations. Research and Policy Briefs. Community and Rural Development Institute (CARDI). Department of Development Sociology. Cornell University. November 2008
Parra Pilar A. and Max J. Pfeffer. New Immigrants in Rural Communities: The Challenges of Integration. In: The Border Next Door: New York Migraciones. Social Text 88, Vol 24., No.3, pp 81-98. Fall 2006.
Pfeffer Max J. and Pilar A. Parra. Immigrants and the Community: Community Perspectives. Cornell University. 1500 GPP Report #4, October 2005. Development Sociology. Division of Nutritional Sciences.
Pfeffer Max J. and Pilar A. Parra. Immigrants and the Community: Former Farmworkers. Cornell University. 1500 GPP 060047. Report #3, September 2005. Development Sociology. Division of Nutritional Sciences
Parra Pilar A. and Max J. Pfeffer. Immigrants and the Community: Farmworkers with Families. Cornell University. 1500 GPP 050357. Report #2, April 2005. Development Sociology. Division of Nutritional Sciences
Pfeffer Max J. and Pilar A. Parra. Immigrants and the Community. Cornell University.1500 GPP 11607. Report #1, November 2004. Development Sociology. Division of Nutritional Sciences
Book Review: The Worm in the Wheat. Rosalie Evans and Agrarian Struggle in the Puebla-Tlaxcala Valley of Mexico, 1906-1927, by Timothy J. Anderson, Durham and London: Duke University Press, 1998. In: Rural Sociology, Vol. 65. No.3.
Rodriguez E. and P. Parra A Review of New York’s Health and Health Care Status: The
Challenges Ahead for 2000. In: New York in the 21st Century. Hirschl T. & Heaton T. (eds.) Praeger Publishers. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. 1999:272-284.
“The Lost Knowledge: Breastfeeding Among Puerto Rican Women.” In: Proceedings of the International Workshop in Dietary Assessment Methodologies. Diva M. Sanjur and Mauro Valencia. Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo (C.I.A.D). Camino a la Victoria Km. 6. Sonora, Mexico. Division of Nutritional Sciences-Cornell University. Ithaca NY. pp.153-168.
Parra Pilar A. and P. Guarnaccia. Ethnicity, Culture, and Resiliency in Caregivers of a Seriously Mentally Ill Family Member. In Resiliency in Ethnic Minority Families: Native and Immigrant American Families. McCubbin H., Thompson E., Thompson A., and Fromer J. Sage. Newberry Park, CA. pp. 431-450.
Cerdá Magdalena & Parra Pilar. “El Taller: Una Guia Para Extensionistas.” (The Workshop: Guidelines for Agricultural and Health Extension Workers). Divison of Nutritional Sciences and Cornell International Institute for Food Agriculture and Development.
Guarnaccia Peter, Pilar A. Parra. Ethnicity, Social Status and Families Experiences of Caring for a Mentally Ill Family Member. Community Mental Health Journal. Vol. 32(3):243-260
Aguirre-Molina M. and Pilar A. Parra. Latino Youth and Familie as Active Participants in Planning Change: A Community-University Partnership Pp. 130-153. In Latino Families: Developing a Paradigm for Practice, Policy and Research. Zambrana Ruth (ed.) 1995. Sage. Newberry Park CA.
Parra, Pilar A. Midwives in the Mexican Health System. Social Science and Medicine. Vol.37. (11): 1321-1329.
Guarnaccia Peter, Pilar A. Parra, Aura Deschamps, G. Milstein, N. Argiles. Si Dios Quiere: Hispanic Families' Experiences of Caring for a Seriously Mentally Ill Family Member. Culture, Medicine and Psychiatry. Vol 16:187-215.
Parra Pilar A. La Mujer Rural, las Comadronas y el Sistema Mexicano de Salud. Revista Estudios Demográficos y Urbanos. El Colegio de México. Vol.6(1):69-88.
Slesinger Doris, Parra Pilar. Blacks in Wisconsin. A 1980 Chartbook. A Demographic Profile of the Black and Total Population