Community partnerships are fundamental to ethical ancient DNA research.

The ethics of the scientific study of Ancestors has long been debated by archaeologists, bioanthropologists, and, more recently, ancient DNA (aDNA) researchers. This article responds to the article "Ethics of DNA research on human remains: five globally applicable guidelines" published in 2021 in by a large group of aDNA researchers and collaborators. We argue that these guidelines do not sufficiently consider the interests of community stakeholders, including descendant communities and communities with potential, but yet unestablished, ties to Ancestors.

Exploring Models for Youth Engagement in Community Health Planning: The Youth-led Community Health Learning Initiative.

Background: Community health assessment and improvement planning processes (CHA/CHIP) are often challenged with developing health actions that reach across a large community, city or county and that incorporate locally informed issues and place-specific strategies. In co-learning about approaches for enhancing CHA/CHIP processes through youth stakeholder input, a partnership of academic and community leaders came together to create The Youth-Led Community Health Learning Initiative (YLCHLI), a 1-year pilot initiative aimed at identifying health needs and assets in partnership with youth leaders and two central Texas communities.

Objective: To describe our approach, key findings, and lessons learned in implementing the YLCHLI in two different organizational settings: a high school-based setting and a community-based organization setting.