Social Sciences

Research

24 pages, 381 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Actually Changing Our Way of Being”: Transformative Organizing and Implications for Critical Community-Engaged Scholarship

by May Lin

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(10), 562; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12100562 - 09 Oct 2023

Viewed by 992

Abstract

Because research alone cannot dismantle racial inequity, this article focuses on lessons for critical community-engaged scholarship (CCES) based on the Relationship-Centered Schools campaign of Californians for Justice (CFJ), an educational and racial justice youth organizing group. The campaign embraced transformative organizing—an approach to [...] Read more.

Because research alone cannot dismantle racial inequity, this article focuses on lessons for critical community-engaged scholarship (CCES) based on the Relationship-Centered Schools campaign of Californians for Justice (CFJ), an educational and racial justice youth organizing group. The campaign embraced transformative organizing—an approach to social change that encompasses reshaping oppressive institutions and healing trauma wounds wrought by injustice. I discuss findings and methodological implications for CCES, considering challenges in translating research to policy change for racial equity. This article situates the power and limitations of research within CFJ’s broad array of transformative organizing strategies to create more caring and equitable schools. Strategies include youth-led action research, voter engagement, lobbying, youth sharing power with adults, and healing practices of slowing down and relationship building to rehumanize youth of color. I then discuss implications for CCES. First, research supported CFJ youth leaders’ efforts to press institutions to value their full, emotionally complex humanity and legitimize their emotional knowledge. Yet because research is only one of many strategies for transformative change, fully participatory research is not always within organizing groups’ capacity. Thus, researchers can act more expansively by lending our time, energy, and labor to power building. Second, care and healing practices embodied by CFJ can inspire researchers to center relationship building and care as praxis and translate these lessons to transform the academy into a more equitable place. Ultimately, transformative organizing shows how CCES can extend beyond equitable research practices to include more liberatory ways of being, feeling, and acting towards justice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

17 pages, 582 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Employing Dissonance-Based Interventions to Promote Health Equity Utilizing a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach and Social Network Analysis

by Sherry Bell, Martin Van den Berg and Renato M. Liboro

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(10), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12100543 - 27 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1238

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine and advocate for the consideration of relevant approaches that can be utilized to increase the effectiveness of cognitive dissonance-based interventions (DBIs) designed to promote health equity. Although DBIs informed by different paradigms have been reported [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper is to examine and advocate for the consideration of relevant approaches that can be utilized to increase the effectiveness of cognitive dissonance-based interventions (DBIs) designed to promote health equity. Although DBIs informed by different paradigms have been reported to be effective in creating behavior change, particularly among at-risk populations, their long-term impacts on behavior change have apparently been difficult to sustain. We argue that a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach could considerably improve the effectiveness and long-term impacts of DBIs by harnessing community strengths, increasing stakeholder participation, and facilitating collaborations and partnerships in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of such interventions. Then, we argue that the benefits of employing a CBPR approach in DBIs can be further enhanced when combined with an approach that intentionally utilizes Social Network Analysis (SNA). SNA applies powerful techniques to recognize the type of connections that hold a specific network together and identify that network’s key and influential stakeholders. We conclude by providing recommendations for the use of CBPR and SNA in DBIs and demonstrating the benefits of our recommendations, especially in the context of promoting health equity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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13 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community-Engaged Research for Economic Justice: Reflections on Concepts and Practices

by Eva Bertram and Heather E. Bullock

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(9), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12090529 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1045

Abstract

The growing practice of community-engaged research (CER) creates new opportunities for practitioners, both to affirm the importance of critical approaches to CER and to strengthen our work by reflecting on the concepts and practices of our research. We offer reflections on the meanings [...] Read more.

The growing practice of community-engaged research (CER) creates new opportunities for practitioners, both to affirm the importance of critical approaches to CER and to strengthen our work by reflecting on the concepts and practices of our research. We offer reflections on the meanings of “community,” “engagement,” and “research” in the context of on-the-ground community–university collaborations conducted by the Blum Center on Poverty, Social Enterprise, and Participatory Governance, a campus-based research center at the University of California, Santa Cruz. This account is provided in the spirit of sharing observations, insights, and lessons learned about CER, generated through its practice in a range of community-based research projects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

22 pages, 3380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Las Voces de Mujercitas Empoderadas: Documenting Support for Youth with Youth Participatory Action Research

by Alycia Ellington, Theresa Hice-Fromille, Rebecca A. London, Theresa M. Cariño and Lynda Otero

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(9), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12090483 - 30 Aug 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 984

Abstract

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is a critical approach that engages youth as collaborative partners in research. It acknowledges the unique expertise that youth have on the adversities and assets that are present in their familiar systems, such as schools and the community. [...] Read more.

Youth participatory action research (YPAR) is a critical approach that engages youth as collaborative partners in research. It acknowledges the unique expertise that youth have on the adversities and assets that are present in their familiar systems, such as schools and the community. These projects are often designed to identify and address community problems; however, our projects with local youth aimed to shed light on a pre-existing community asset, Salud y Cariño, an after-school community organization, and a particular moment in time, namely the pandemic shelter-in-place. The mission and epistemologies of the organization set forth by the co-founder and Executive Director informed our partnership and guided our approach to this work. Utilizing qualitative methodologies, the authors (a faculty member, two graduate students, co-founder and director of a local non-profit, and a high school senior) collaboratively designed and implemented an interview-style documentary and photovoice projects, which garnered testimonies on participants’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic regarding school and the community organization. By centering the perspectives of participating Latinx girls and non-binary youth, we demonstrate the effects of this local community organization on its participants during and after the COVID lockdown, and what it means to the youth they serve. The identified themes associated with program participation during this time include the following: (1) building community and a family, (2) creating a welcoming safe space, and (3) infusing love and happiness into everyday activities. We conclude by reflecting on the process of building these collaborative projects and their implementation. Our reflections and findings contribute new insights into utilizing YPAR approaches to research and showcase leading community assets and actors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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17 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative: Co-Creating and Actionizing a New Community-Led Equity Framework

by Kathleen Knight, Morgan Love, Jonnie Williams and Marcos Vargas

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080441 - 03 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1231

Abstract

We present a community-led equity framework as a foundation for promoting equity on the Central Coast of California. We discuss the key elements of a participatory, community-led evaluation and planning approach for the Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative, which aims to advocate for [...] Read more.

We present a community-led equity framework as a foundation for promoting equity on the Central Coast of California. We discuss the key elements of a participatory, community-led evaluation and planning approach for the Central Coast Regional Equity Initiative, which aims to advocate for social, health, environmental, and economic equity through region-wide cross-sector collaboration, community and research-informed action, and an indigenized and decolonized approach. Through a systematic mixed-methods evaluation and planning approach, including Community Consultations and Strategic Action Planning, we found that our community’s lived experience contributes to a deeper understanding of inequities, and that engagement in cross-sector collaboration empowers our community to bridge data with action organizing. The findings demonstrate that engagement in community-led evaluation and planning contributes to a greater readiness for cross-sector collaborative action and a sense of community ownership of solutions to equity issues, and sets the stage for deeper-rooted, long-term success built on genuine reciprocity and trust. We present our community-led equity framework inviting others to adopt systematic community knowledge-base-building that values community wisdom, identifies power imbalance, promotes trust-building through healthy discomfort, and encourages reflective action. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

16 pages, 360 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Powering Solutions to Truck Pollution in South Stockton

by Catherine Garoupa, Nahui Gonzalez Millan, Bianette Perez, Taylor Williams and Todd Sax

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080440 - 02 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1275

Abstract

Despite decades of literature and practice with community-engaged research along with advancements in the recognition of environmental injustices, the application of equity-/justice-based and collaborative approaches between government agencies and community-based organizations has been limited. The toxic legacies of environmental racism, redlining, displacement, and [...] Read more.

Despite decades of literature and practice with community-engaged research along with advancements in the recognition of environmental injustices, the application of equity-/justice-based and collaborative approaches between government agencies and community-based organizations has been limited. The toxic legacies of environmental racism, redlining, displacement, and segregation combined with the accelerating human-caused climate crisis warrant an increased need for consultation and collaboration between frontline communities and power brokers to markedly improve quality of life and health outcomes in environmental justice neighborhoods. This paper describes the processes and progress to date from a community-led collaboration between local community-based organizations and the Enforcement Division of the California Air Resources Board to assess and address air pollution in South Stockton, particularly from heavy-duty diesel trucks. South Stockton is one of the most polluted neighborhoods in California’s San Joaquin Valley, one of the most disparate and polluted regions in the United States. Some of the most significant components integrated into this project thus far include taking an equity-, justice-, and youth-oriented approach to community development that intentionally emphasizes a historical understanding of root causes of social and environmental injustices and provides pathways to workforce development. Including these elements has been essential in building the trust necessary to transform disparate power relations between the state and environmental justice communities, and to put multiple ways of knowing into conversation with each other to co-learn and co-power solutions to air pollution in South Stockton. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

19 pages, 1064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

It’s a Matter of Trust: How Thirty Years of History Prepared a Community-Based Organization to Respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Kathleen Marie Coll, Juana Flores, María Jiménez, Nathalie López, Andrea Lauren Lee, Maria Carrillo, Laura Camberos, Ana Díaz, Enma Delgado, Hortencia Muñoz, Sylvia López, Veronica Nieto, Mirna Ruiz, Taina B. Quiles and Alison K. Cohen

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080423 - 25 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1087

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic drew public attention to the essential work and vulnerability of low-income Latina immigrants. Less recognized were the ways immigrant community organizations mobilized under exceptional conditions to provide immediate support to their communities while continuing to work toward durable systematic change. [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic drew public attention to the essential work and vulnerability of low-income Latina immigrants. Less recognized were the ways immigrant community organizations mobilized under exceptional conditions to provide immediate support to their communities while continuing to work toward durable systematic change. This paper analyzes the approach of Mujeres Unidas y Activas (MUA) in the San Francisco Bay Area. Over three decades, MUA developed an organizing model that builds transformative relationships among peers and provides direct services and leadership development for civic engagement. MUA has a long history of research collaborations and self-study aligned with critical community-engaged research methods and values. In 2019, MUA formed a research team of its leaders and academics to analyze the impact of their model. Since data collection occurred between March 2020 and December 2022, the research also documented the organization’s response to COVID-19. This paper argues that specific organizational values and practices of liderazgo, apoyo, and confianza (leadership, support, and trust) proved to be particularly powerful resources for sustaining individuals and community work through the pandemic, enabling women who have experienced multiple forms of structural violence to perceive themselves as capable of healing themselves and their communities while working to address root causes of trauma and inequity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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17 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research and the Challenge of Participation—The Experience of the Research Project “Distressed Neighborhoods through the Prism of Youth” (ANR Pop-Part)

by Jeanne Demoulin and Marie-Hélène Bacqué

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(7), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070415 - 20 Jul 2023

Viewed by 962

Abstract

Based on a participatory research project on the practices and representations of young people in distressed neighborhoods, this article examines the contributions and limitations of a participatory approach in terms of scientific production. How does participation affect social science research? How does it [...] Read more.

Based on a participatory research project on the practices and representations of young people in distressed neighborhoods, this article examines the contributions and limitations of a participatory approach in terms of scientific production. How does participation affect social science research? How does it challenge methodological and epistemological principles, knowledge building, and the nature of that knowledge? To what extent is it heuristically stimulating from this point of view? Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

17 pages, 282 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Re-Imagining Community and School through Youth and Artists’ Critical Superhero Storytelling

by Patricia Enciso, Beth Krone and Gabrielle Solange

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 363; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060363 - 19 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1704

Abstract

In this article, we describe the methods and pedagogy that guided a superhero storytelling project, located in a midwestern middle school library, where youth were invited to work with a university-based research team and community-based artists who actively displaced historically formed practices of [...] Read more.

In this article, we describe the methods and pedagogy that guided a superhero storytelling project, located in a midwestern middle school library, where youth were invited to work with a university-based research team and community-based artists who actively displaced historically formed practices of surveillance and silencing in the service of amplifying youth artistry and knowledge production. We recognize that school practices in many schools, by virtue of their complicity with hierarchical and evaluative mandates, undermine open and exploratory forms of youth expression. The arts-based project we describe, informed by a ten-year history of small-scale storytelling projects in the same school, offers a theoretical and related pedagogical framework for working with community-based artists to re-imagine and remake oppressive relational, epistemological, and material practices in school spaces. At the center of our report are two groups of youth and the artists and educators who supported them as they invented superheroes and activated the imaginative potential of their local community spaces for their storytelling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

14 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Voices on the Experiences of Community-Based Participatory Research in the Environmental Justice Movement

by P. Qasimah Boston, Bruce Strouble, Aisha Balogun, Beto Lugo-Martinez, Mildred McClain, Mary Miaisha Mitchell, Kim Wasserman, David Rahn, Molly Greenberg and Cecilia Garibay

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060358 - 17 Jun 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3032

Abstract

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is increasingly being used by academics to address urban health and inequity. While its foundational literature emphasizes CBPR’s role in eschewing the traditional balance of power between communities and institutions, some scholars and grassroots activists note that it has [...] Read more.

Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is increasingly being used by academics to address urban health and inequity. While its foundational literature emphasizes CBPR’s role in eschewing the traditional balance of power between communities and institutions, some scholars and grassroots activists note that it has not consistently delivered community-led, action-oriented strategies. Here we examine gaps between theory and current practice of CBPR. First, we assess its fundamental practices through social movement theory. Second, we examine narratives from grassroots leaders who have utilized CBPR in their environmental justice efforts. Three key facilitating factors are often cited for authentic applications of CBPR: (1) grounding research within community-specific opportunities for change, (2) collaborating with a strong community partner, and (3) facilitating flexibility in research processes. Building on previous scholarship, we investigate the complexity of CBPR implementation that may dampen its potency as a social change strategy and highlight the need for nuanced and critical application of best practices to suit local contexts. This is accomplished by pairing the theoretical framework with the experiences of four community leaders who are members of the Moving Forward Network (MFN). Narratives from their experiences with partnering with academic institutions speak to how theoretical complexities with CBPR occur in practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

24 pages, 375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Belonging and Its Barriers: A Critical Perspective of Latiné and Mixed-Status Families’ Experiences

by Steven C. McKay, Alberto Ganis, Leslie Lopez, Jennifer Aimee Martinez, Marlen Reyes and Shivani Modha

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060355 - 16 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1952

Abstract

This article presents findings from a four-year collaborative research project on immigrant and mixed-status families in Santa Cruz County, California. The project employed a new model of critical community-engaged scholarship called Community Initiated Student Engaged Research (CISER) in order to gain access to [...] Read more.

This article presents findings from a four-year collaborative research project on immigrant and mixed-status families in Santa Cruz County, California. The project employed a new model of critical community-engaged scholarship called Community Initiated Student Engaged Research (CISER) in order to gain access to and build trust with this vulnerable population. The study used an overarching theoretical framework of “belonging” to identify six key factors most consequential for belonging and/or exclusion, including access to education, economic security, legal immigration status, health services, opportunities for youth, and social networks. The findings reveal the complex and interconnected nature of these factors and demonstrate how exclusion experienced due to a lack of legal immigration status had far-reaching effects on interviewees’ job prospects and experiences of economic, health, and housing insecurity. The article highlights the importance of using an assets-based approach to draw out the myriad ways interviewees and communities create spaces, networks, and ways to promote and enhance both material and emotional forms of belonging. The CISER model and its participatory approach also provide tangible benefits for community partners and undergraduate researchers. This article contributes to the literature on immigrant experiences and critical community-engaged research while offering insights into sources of and systemic barriers to collective belonging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

18 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experiential Learning: Conferences as a Tool to Develop Students’ Understanding of Community-Engaged Research

by Maria Zaharatos, Carolyn Taylor Meyer and Julian Hernandez-Webster

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 352; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060352 - 13 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2166

Abstract

The purpose of this paper of practice is to explore the use of a “Conference as Curriculum” model to develop student understanding of critical approaches and challenges and opportunities in the field of community-engaged research (CER). Two higher education institutions in California’s Monterey [...] Read more.

The purpose of this paper of practice is to explore the use of a “Conference as Curriculum” model to develop student understanding of critical approaches and challenges and opportunities in the field of community-engaged research (CER). Two higher education institutions in California’s Monterey County sent 22 students to the “All-In: Co-Creating Knowledge for Justice” Conference in Santa Cruz, California USA in October 2022. The undergraduate and graduate students were funded through their academic institutions and accompanied by faculty and staff working on community-engaged research. Participation in the conference involved a pre- and post-conference convening to prepare students for the conference and then guide students through reflections on their learning and future work. The experiential learning activities offered in conjunction with the students’ conference attendance were designed to: (1) foster students’ connection to the community and each other; (2) develop students’ understanding of community-engaged research; and (3) build students’ professional acumen through attending a professional conference. Two authors of this article share their experience as student attendees at the conference. The student vignettes provide insight on the authors’ learning experiences and offer design implications for the use of cohort conference attendance as an experiential learning activity. The article presents a conference experiential learning model that could be replicated and modified by other higher education institutions. We also place the project within a greater inter-institutional initiative to build a model for community-driven collaborations that seeks to address challenges surrounding higher education engagement with local nonprofits and governments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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22 pages, 1835 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Reciprocal Power of Equitable, Intergenerational Learning: Exploring Perspectives of Undergraduate Students about Engaging in a University–Community Partnership Program

by John Cano and Diana Arya

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060349 - 13 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1194

Abstract

Our qualitative study is a deep exploration into the underexamined notion of engagement with respect to undergraduate students who took up the role of co-researchers within an afterschool program designed to engage young students about environmental issues and sustainability practices. This research program [...] Read more.

Our qualitative study is a deep exploration into the underexamined notion of engagement with respect to undergraduate students who took up the role of co-researchers within an afterschool program designed to engage young students about environmental issues and sustainability practices. This research program is based on a community-based literacies framework that addresses all members (program leaders, graduate students, undergraduate students, and young students) as co-learners. This study explores the largely unknown experiences of undergraduate students in informal learning contexts, which broadly center youth experiences. We took a critically framed approach (i.e., mindful of institutionalized inequities–known as a kind of silencing—for traditionally marginalized populations) in our analysis of interview responses from 11 undergraduate students involved in an afterschool environmental program for young students living in a Latinx neighborhood in central California. Our analysis involved a two-phase process that began with a general thematic exploration of transcribed interviews followed by in-depth, microlevel transcription of salient instances regarding community engagement. Responses suggest that the community-based context enabled a deep engagement founded on shared cultural practices, life experiences, and engaging in disciplinary projects (e.g., building and planting an edible garden). This study is a contribution to the long-needed insights into the importance of community engagement and leadership experiences during undergraduate learning, particularly for traditionally marginalized students. Findings may be informative to educators and researchers striving to transform college experiences for diverse student populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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13 pages, 367 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Black and Indigenous Solidarity in Social Sciences: Leaning into Our Nuanced Racialized Identities and Healing Together

by Nathaniel D. Stewart and Lauren Thompson

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060347 - 12 Jun 2023

Viewed by 2319

Abstract

Our co-authored piece contributes to Black and Indigenous solidarity juxtaposed to our nuanced and convergent lived experiences as racialized people. Lauren and I (Nate)co-explore how our racialized identities and stories may complexify Black-and-Indigenous-led movements. We say “racialized” to acknowledge white supremacists’ racecraft to [...] Read more.

Our co-authored piece contributes to Black and Indigenous solidarity juxtaposed to our nuanced and convergent lived experiences as racialized people. Lauren and I (Nate)co-explore how our racialized identities and stories may complexify Black-and-Indigenous-led movements. We say “racialized” to acknowledge white supremacists’ racecraft to subjugate Black and Indigenous people. Lauren, an Indigenous educator activist, and I, a Black scholar activist, both with white maternal lineage, connected after storying about our journeys to, through, and beyond the teaching profession. Black and Indigenous educators have centered theories of we are not free until we are all free. Our knowledge contributions further complexify freedom-for-all by offering Black and Indigenous knowledge on nuanced ancestry within the U.S. racialization project. Conversational data stemmed from an educator activist collective project where Lauren and I had many conversations about our similar and unique journeys toward our justice orientation. Our conversations yielded many Black and Indigenous solidarity learnings. These co-learnings included: building solidarity through weaving our unique stories, extending nuanced understandings of racialized experiences, and co-regulation in societal spaces not made for us. We conclude with implications in continuing to build solidarity in social science. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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19 pages, 353 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aligning Community-Engaged Research Methods with Diverse Community Organizing Approaches

by Chad Raphael and Martha Matsuoka

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 343; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060343 - 09 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1786

Abstract

Community-Engaged Research (CER) often involves partnerships between academic or professional researchers and community organizers. Critical CER and organizing each aim to mobilize people and resources to produce actionable knowledge in order to build grassroots leadership and power that promote equity and justice for [...] Read more.

Community-Engaged Research (CER) often involves partnerships between academic or professional researchers and community organizers. Critical CER and organizing each aim to mobilize people and resources to produce actionable knowledge in order to build grassroots leadership and power that promote equity and justice for marginalized communities. This article argues that critical CER collaborations can benefit by carefully matching the choice of research methods with community partners’ organizing strategies to ensure that research aligns with and supports organizing goals. We aim to add to the CER literature a more specific rationale for why professional researchers should share control over the choice of research methods with community organizers, and more detailed guidance for how CER teams can select methods that best advance organizers’ goals. After summarizing the many ways in which collaborative research can support community organizing efforts, we argue that different CER methods align best with widely-used organizing approaches (including Alinskyite, Freirean, feminist, community building and resilience-based, and transformative approaches). We illustrate the discussion with examples of research conducted by and with organizations rooted in the environmental justice (EJ) movement, which prioritizes community organizing as a strategy and draws from multiple organizing traditions, including a case study of research techniques used by the Environmental Health Coalition, one of the oldest EJ groups in the U.S. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

16 pages, 471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating the Current and Riding the Wave: Persistence and Change in Community-Engaged Health Sciences Research

by Krista A. Haapanen, Jonathan K. London and Karen Andrade

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050312 - 22 May 2023

Viewed by 1294

Abstract

Recent decades have seen considerable increases in funding and support for community-engaged research (CER) in the health sciences, including the introduction of community engagement requirements into federally funded research infrastructure programs. This paper asks why, despite these supports and incentives, even the best-intentioned [...] Read more.

Recent decades have seen considerable increases in funding and support for community-engaged research (CER) in the health sciences, including the introduction of community engagement requirements into federally funded research infrastructure programs. This paper asks why, despite these supports and incentives, even the best-intentioned researchers and research organizations may struggle to design, implement, and sustain successful community engagement strategies. This question is examined using an exploratory case study of an environmental health sciences research center whose strategies were influenced in part by a requirement by the funder to incorporate community engagement into its research activities. This study utilizes multiple sources of qualitative data collected between the research center’s second and fifth years of operation, including participant observation, interviews, and focus groups. The analysis employs an organizational perspective, yielding insights into the factors hindering and facilitating the development of practices that integrate community perspectives and control into academic structures. The findings point to an ongoing dialectic between support for innovative community engagement practices and persistence of conventional academic structures. We highlight the interconnected effects of environmental influences, organizational structures, and individual agency on the development of innovative community engagement practices. The implications for future research and practice are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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18 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Promoting Food Systems Paradigm Shifts through Critical Reflexivity: Exploring Interviews as Intervention

by Leah Joyner, Blanca Yagüe and Adrienne Cachelin

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050280 - 04 May 2023

Viewed by 1233

Abstract

This article highlights the transformative power of community-engaged research for food sovereignty through an examination of reflexive interviewing and knowledge co-production with community partners. Initially, we connected with an urban Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm to explore farmers’ concerns regarding their export of [...] Read more.

This article highlights the transformative power of community-engaged research for food sovereignty through an examination of reflexive interviewing and knowledge co-production with community partners. Initially, we connected with an urban Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm to explore farmers’ concerns regarding their export of food from marginalized areas of the city to predominantly affluent neighborhoods. Our response to confirmatory data was to explore CSA members’ interest in subsidizing shares for low-income residents. However, continued fieldwork revealed that similar charity-based approaches implemented by other food-access advocates were perhaps underutilized, given their basis in food security rather than more complex community-driven food sovereignty. Recognizing the need to understand the broader relationship between urban agriculture and food equity in SLC, we set out to research how university scholars can work with community partners and food advocates to advance food justice and sovereignty. Through dialogic methods, we explore how critical reflexivity can be embedded in research protocols such that researchers and interviewees reflect on their own biases, thus shifting the outcomes and research processes. Through a retrospective review of data collection, we highlight interactional strategies to promote critical reflexivity before proposing an interview framework that prompts paradigm shifts towards food sovereignty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends in Community-Engaged Research, Volume 2: New Voices, Critical Approaches)

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