a university-community collaborative research and action model presentation by: phil nyden loyola...
TRANSCRIPT
A University-Community Collaborative Research and Action
Model
Presentation by:
Phil Nyden
Loyola University Chicago
Center for Urban Research and Learning
Loyola University of ChicagoLoyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research and Center for Urban Research and
Learning (CURL)Learning (CURL)
Loyola University of ChicagoLoyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research and Center for Urban Research and
Learning (CURL)Learning (CURL)
not research not research onon the the community, but research community, but research with with the communitythe community
recognizes knowledge in the recognizes knowledge in the university university and and knowledge in the knowledge in the communitycommunity
““adds chairs” at the research tableadds chairs” at the research table
Collaborative Research ModelCollaborative Research ModelCollaborative Research ModelCollaborative Research Model
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
Community as partners at all Community as partners at all levels of researchlevels of researchCommunity as partners at all Community as partners at all levels of researchlevels of research
conceptualizationconceptualizationdesigning the methodologydesigning the methodologycollecting datacollecting dataanalyzing dataanalyzing datawriting reportswriting reportsdissemination of resultsdissemination of results
conceptualizationconceptualizationdesigning the methodologydesigning the methodologycollecting datacollecting dataanalyzing dataanalyzing datawriting reportswriting reportsdissemination of resultsdissemination of results
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
CURL Team-Based Research & CURL Team-Based Research & Action ProjectsAction ProjectsCURL Team-Based Research & CURL Team-Based Research & Action ProjectsAction Projects
facultyfacultygraduate studentsgraduate studentsundergraduate studentsundergraduate studentscommunity organization leaders/ community organization leaders/
staff/members staff/membersCURL staffCURL staff
facultyfacultygraduate studentsgraduate studentsundergraduate studentsundergraduate studentscommunity organization leaders/ community organization leaders/
staff/members staff/membersCURL staffCURL staff
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
Support for team membersSupport for team members
Faculty fellowships (3-6/year)Graduate fellowships (24/year)Undergraduate--fellowships and course
creditCommunity fellowships (4-6/year)CURL staff (12 FT staff)
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
Funding Collaborative ResearchFunding Collaborative Research
Over $17 million in funding over 12 years (CURL and Policy Research Action Group)
FoundationsGovernmentUniversity support (financial and political)Community partners
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
Examples of CURL Collaborative Examples of CURL Collaborative Research ProjectsResearch Projects
Building a Community of Opportunity■ investment without displacement■ sustaining a stable racially, ethnically,
and economically diverse community■ focus on affordable housing; affordable
quality child-care; small business development
■ eight community partners
Examples of CURL Collaborative Examples of CURL Collaborative Research ProjectsResearch Projects
Youth Voices in Policy (Youth VIP)■ linking collaborative projects in different cities to
produce grassroots-anchored national policy-making
■ youth-defined and community- based organization defined projects
■ Philadelphia & Chicago, particular focus on Hispanic community
Examples of CURL Collaborative Examples of CURL Collaborative Research ProjectsResearch Projects
Impact of Welfare “Reform” on Impact of Welfare “Reform” on Economically Diverse CommunitiesEconomically Diverse Communities■ idea developed from breakfast meetings with idea developed from breakfast meetings with
different community partnersdifferent community partners■ linked CURL with advocacy organization and linked CURL with advocacy organization and
traditional social service agencytraditional social service agency■ three reports and impact on state legislationthree reports and impact on state legislation
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for communitycommunity
Gains familiarity with the research process; knows how to manage research
Develops independent research skillsImproves practices in community
organizationsEstablishes stronger links with universities
and other community partners
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for communitycommunity
Moves from research to action: gets information into hands of constituencies
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university as an institutionuniversity as an institution
Promotes interdisciplinary researchCreates a stimulating environment for faculty
and studentsEngages in research that is used and does not
sit on a library shelfIncreases visibility of university in
community, region, nation, world
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university and communityuniversity and community
Integrates university and community knowledge into the learning environment
Builds an environment where learning takes place in multiple directions
Provides an understanding of connection among knowledge, power, and social change
Produces an understanding what is possible.
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university facultyuniversity faculty
Provides a “real” environment for teaching and learning
Produces a dynamic learning environment with challenges, unpredictability, & constant questioning (the qualities of a good classroom)
“messy research, neat results”
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university facultyuniversity faculty
Opens the door to more research opportunities than can be completed in lifetime
Gives access to significant research funding and publication opportunities
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university studentsuniversity students
See connections among disciplinesRecognize that it is not another exam
or term paperBecome aware of the knowledge they
have themselves
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university studentsuniversity students
Provides an antidote for civic Provides an antidote for civic disengagementdisengagement■ you can have an impactyou can have an impact■ demystifies the policy making demystifies the policy making
processprocess
Impact of collaborative team Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity approach in building capacity for for university studentsuniversity students
Gives a real face to social issues; they are no longer academic abstractions
Helps in understanding career options
ChallengesChallenges ChallengesChallenges
Strengthening grassroots links to Strengthening grassroots links to regional, national, and international regional, national, and international levels levels
Better utilizing new communications Better utilizing new communications avenues, especially the Internetavenues, especially the Internet
Strengthening grassroots links to Strengthening grassroots links to regional, national, and international regional, national, and international levels levels
Better utilizing new communications Better utilizing new communications avenues, especially the Internetavenues, especially the Internet
Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning
ChallengesChallengesChallengesChallenges
Juggling research and advocacy halves of Juggling research and advocacy halves of research and action projectsresearch and action projects
Faculty recruitmentFaculty recruitmentLocking-in university- Locking-in university-
community engagement community engagement as part of business as as part of business as usual in universitiesusual in universities
Juggling research and advocacy halves of Juggling research and advocacy halves of research and action projectsresearch and action projects
Faculty recruitmentFaculty recruitmentLocking-in university- Locking-in university-
community engagement community engagement as part of business as as part of business as usual in universitiesusual in universities