Community Based Action Research as a Change Strategy Considering Equity, Power and Impact

Introduction and Land Acknowledgement

The speaker, Emily Oliver, introduces the session structure, including a land acknowledgment and individual work presentations.
Instructions are given for a respectful Q&A session where participants are asked to hold questions until the end.
A detailed land acknowledgment is made for the location of the conference, honoring the indigenous peoples of the area.

"Sometimes speakers find it a little distracting to see the sort of flashing alert every time so if you wouldn't mind holding on to your questions until the question section I think that will allow for speakers to have a little more focus on their exciting and sort of projects that they want to tell you about."

Audience Participation Poll and Mindfulness Exercise

The audience participation poll is introduced to engage attendees and understand the room's composition.
A mindfulness exercise is conducted, focusing on breathing and awareness before the presentations begin.

"One thing we really wanted to do in sort of the spirit of action research is to get a sense of who is in this room."

Speaker Introductions

Emily Oliver introduces herself as the Associate Director for the Center for Community and Civic Engagement.
Angela Kyle, Christian Culvert, Molly Funnin, and Theresa Ricky Kelly introduce themselves, detailing their roles and affiliations with various institutions.

"I'm the Co-founder and Executive Director of Play Build, a New Orleans-based non-profit focused on placemaking and design education."

Frameworks and Concepts in Action Research

The definition and principles of participatory action research are presented, emphasizing the involvement of those most affected by research in its design and outcomes.
Action research is viewed as a means to incorporate contemplation and self-reflection into research processes, yielding insights for effective change.

"Participatory action research is a framework for creating knowledge rooted in the belief that those most impacted by research should take the lead in framing the questions and determining effective change."

Center for the Common Good Overview

The University of St. Thomas' Center for the Common Good is comprehensive, with programs like Tommy's Together Volunteer Center connecting volunteers with opportunities and academic community engagement promoting social good.
A standout program is Change Making for the Common Good, partnering with organizations like House of Relief Services and Catholic Charities to address issues such as food insecurity and housing.
The center also conducts community-based research, exemplified by the impactful Under-Told Stories Project shown on PBS Newshour.

The University of St. Thomas' Center for the Common Good stands out for its diverse programs, emphasizing volunteerism, community engagement, and impactful research.

Keystone Programs and Initiatives

Keystone celebrates its 81st anniversary this year, offering youth programs, social enterprises, senior care initiatives, case management services, and essential programs like Meals on Wheels.
Notably, Keystone innovated by launching a mobile food shelf on a renovated shuttle bus five years ago, highlighting a commitment to addressing food insecurity in a unique way.

Keystone's longstanding commitment to community care and innovation, like their mobile food shelf, showcases their dedication to addressing pressing social issues in new and effective ways.

Importance of Partnership Beyond the University

The partnership discussed goes beyond the University, benefiting both the nonprofit and the university through shared data for grant submissions.
Mutual benefit is a key focus of the partnership, with discussions on how both parties can gain from the collaboration.

"We really like this partnership that goes beyond the University and that we really do have good discussions about what mutual benefit is."

Community Partnership Philosophy

Community partnerships are essential for the work of organizations like Keystone, which heavily rely on these connections to function effectively.
The partnership with the University of St. Thomas proved mutually beneficial, allowing for supportive collaboration and joint planning for future endeavors.
Angela emphasizes valuing individuals over institutions, manifesting this philosophy in Play Build's growth from conceptualization to impactful community work.

Our philosophy is part of the people and not the institution. We really took this organization from an idea on paper to a reality.

Building Mutually Beneficial Partnerships

Establishing early bonds and partnerships with key individuals laid the foundation for collaboration.
Initiating relationships at an early stage allowed for a more equal and collaborative approach.
Overcoming the challenge of identifying entry points in institutions by focusing on key relationships.
Internal collaboration and breaking out of silos within an organization are essential for successful partnerships.

Building partnerships involves forging initial bonds with key individuals, which sets the stage for equal and productive collaboration within complex institutions.

Digital Connectivity and Community Research

Initiatives are being undertaken to assess Wi-Fi and device access within the community in New Orleans to ensure relevance and value proposition alignment.
Efforts are made to support community research meetings digitally with different groups, including Somali parents and students in Faribault, Minnesota.
Challenges persist in transitioning to digital platforms, requiring patience and ongoing support to facilitate participation.

"We've had we've created like loom videos in Spanish to show how to get an email, how to get on to zoom, how to go on to Google Docs and it's been really slow. I'm not gonna like sugarcoat it and say that it's been easy, it's been incredibly slow but we're continuing our meetings..."

Involving Community Members in Research and Training

Integrating community members and patients into a teaching program focusing on participatory grounded theory has been successful in attracting students for experiential learning.
Challenges include navigating institutional processes, such as research certifications and training, to involve community members effectively.
Design workshops and fieldwork methods have been instrumental in teaching research techniques to learners.

Community involvement in teaching programs has shown success in attracting students for experiential learning experiences.

Community Researchers and Overcoming Bureaucratic Challenges

The team refers to their researchers as community researchers, showcasing a collaborative approach.
They had to navigate bureaucratic hurdles, such as difficulties with their business office and federal agreements.
Despite challenges, they were able to establish a research program recognized by the general faculties counsel.
Engaging non-traditional learners opened doors for impactful collaborations and positive changes in the community.

"Once we manage to have our general faculties counsel recognize a research program that was for non-traditional learners, the doors opened."