Laboring With the Heart: Promotoras' Transformations, Professional Challenges, and Relationships With Communities.

Little is known about promotoras' professional experiences engaging in Latinx health promotion. In this promotora-led community-based participatory study, we purposively recruited and interviewed 30 Spanish-speaking promotoras who worked in Los Angeles County and who had at least 5 years of experience as promotoras. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, findings revealed promotoras self-identified as health professionals who offered unique, insider perspectives. Challenges arose as employers viewed promotoras as volunteer lay health workers, while promotoras desired opportunities for professional growth. Motivation to continue working as promotoras stemmed from their commitment to Latinx communities. We provide recommendations to strengthen community-based capacity for advancing Latinx health.