Chairperson of the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies and an Associate Professor, Zulfiya gave a talk at the conference held on Oct. 8 through 10. She highlighted how grassroots community organizations address health disparities among immigrants, refugees, and undocumented residents in North Carolina.

Nonprofit organizations and health clinics have created programs, practices, and spaces that create a sense of belonging, community health, and peace building. However, this is conceptualized and put into practice in unique and varied ways, Zulfiya explains. By offering various services to vulnerable populations — ranging from sanctuary spaces, community advocacy for driver's licenses for undocumented people, to food, diapers, and health care — they have also formed creative spatial transformations and solutions that address systemic racism in promoting community health.