Questions of the day

• CBR models that work

• Recession to renewal: What can CBR contribute?

Community-Based Research

In other words…• Is a collaborative/inclusive, people-based enterprise between

affected stakeholders (e.g. academic researchers and community members);

• Considers scholarly rigour and timeliness alongside collaboration/inclusion;

• Democratizes knowledge by valuing multiple sources of knowledge and promoting the use of multiple methods of discovery and dissemination;

• Has the main goal of social action for the purposes of achieving social change and social and environmental justice.[1]

[1] Adapted from: Strand, K., N. Marullo, et al. (2003). "Principles of Best Practice for Community-Based Research." Michigan Journal of Community Service-Learning 9(3): 5-15.

Some Canadian off-campus approaches

• Milton Park neighbourhood project (Montreal)

• Centre for Community-Based Research (Kitchener-Waterloo)

• UBC Learning Exchange (Vancouver)

• York/TD Community Engagement Centre (Toronto)

York University — TD Community Engagement Centre• Opened November 2008• “Teaching, learning and resource centre for fostering

partnerships between the university and the community.”• Guided by, and accountable to, an Advisory Council of

community leaders and faculty members.• Centre located in a mall in Jane-Finch area of Toronto.• Student/outsider training…“Community-based learning;

hands-on; volunteer service; relevant to course curricula”• “Supporting research collaborations between community

organizations and faculty members who share a commitment to building strong neighbourhoods”

Peterborough approach

• Trent Centre for Community-Based Education: non-profit w/ board & community advisory committees

• Community-Based Education Program (students)

• Strategic Research Initiative (involving faculty; like CURA)

Recession to renewal:

What can community-based research contribute?

Our working model

(a work in progress)

Community-Based Research

•Discrete projects (single stage)

•Linked projects

•Multi-stage, externally funded projects

Community-driven outcomes (short, medium, long-term)

-Economic

-Social

-Environmental

-Cultural

1. Telling the story

2. Accountability

3. Planning

-Essential skills (leadership)

-Economic activity (job creation, services)

Cross-cultural communication

Multi-disciplinary approaches

Relationships (they take time)

Organization-specific

Multi-organizational

Addressing complex issues (vs. complicated or simple)

Strategic use of resources

= Stories, knowing & healing

Meaningful education

Strategic Research Initiative

•GIS database and application (Grad student, ERS)

•Demographic statistical analysis (4th yr Econ class)

•Aging workforce & sustainability (2yrs; Possible funding: New Horizons for Seniors, SSHRC, MTCU, CFDC…)

Short: employer strategiesMedium: research modelLong: policy change; well-being

-Economic

-Social

-Environmental

-Cultural

1. Telling the story

2. Accountability

3. Planning

-Essential skills: project management, communication

-Economic activity: Coordinator, meetings, travel, data acquisition, outreach

gov’t, private sector, service agencies, sociology, english, psychology, enviro science, geography, math, economics…

One year prep, 2-year project

Multi-organizational

Complex: Aging workforce & sustainability

Strategic resource use: agencies; CBE program; office of research; leveraging grants

= Stories, knowing & healing

Applying gender and occupational theory