For many Black Americans, trust in science, engineering, and medicine (SEM) institutions is affected by historic and current contexts, with significant consequences including exacerbating health and economic inequities for this population. Many SEM professionals recognize the importance of building trust with the Black community, and are looking for sustainable and effective ways to earn and nurture that trust.


To advance SEM issues within the Black community, the Roundtable on Black Men and Black Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine convened a public workshop to examine local, national, and global strategies used by groups such as the Black Church to build institutional trust. The workshop, held December 14-15, 2022, was structured to identify organizations that have demonstrated success in building and maintaining trust with Black communities, highlight best practices for SEM professionals to develop sustainable and effective relationships with the Black community, and examine how communication with Black communities influences trust and acceptance of SEM institutions.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1 Introduction
2 Keynote: Race-Based Segregation and Environmental Health Disparities
3 Historical Roots of Medical Mistrust
4 Building Trust in SEM Institutions
5 Federal Response to Health Equity and Environmental Justice
6 Keynote Address: Closing Health Disparities throughout the National Institutes of Health
7 Emerging Public Health and Environmental Justice Concerns of Black Communities
8 The Power of the Black Church
9 Role of Nonprofits
10 Closing Reflections
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Biographical Sketches of Workshop Speakers