A University-Community Collaborative Research and Action Model Presentation by: Phil Nyden Loyola University Chicago Center for Urban Research and Learning

Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL)

q not research on the community, but research with the community q recognizes knowledge in the university and knowledge in the community q “adds chairs” at the research table Collaborative Research Model

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning Community as partners at all levels of research q conceptualization q designing the methodology q collecting data q analyzing data q writing reports q dissemination of results q conceptualization q designing the methodology q collecting data q analyzing data q writing reports q dissemination of results

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning CURL Team-Based Research & Action Projects q faculty q graduate students q undergraduate students q community organization leaders/ staff/members q CURL staff q faculty q graduate students q undergraduate students q community organization leaders/ staff/members q CURL staff

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning Support for team members  Faculty fellowships (3-6/year)  Graduate fellowships (24/year)  Undergraduate--fellowships and course credit  Community fellowships (4-6/year)  CURL staff (12 FT staff)

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning Funding Collaborative Research  Over $17 million in funding over 12 years (CURL and Policy Research Action Group)  Foundations  Government  University support (financial and political)  Community partners

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning Examples of CURL Collaborative Research 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 Research 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 Research Projects  Impact of Welfare “Reform” on Economically Diverse Communities ■ idea developed from breakfast meetings with different community partners ■ linked CURL with advocacy organization and traditional social service agency ■ three reports and impact on state legislation

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for community  Gains familiarity with the research process; knows how to manage research  Develops independent research skills  Improves practices in community organizations  Establishes stronger links with universities and other community partners

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for community  Moves from research to action: gets information into hands of constituencies

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for university as an institution  Promotes interdisciplinary research  Creates a stimulating environment for faculty and students  Engages in research that is used and does not sit on a library shelf  Increases visibility of university in community, region, nation, world

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for university 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 approach in building capacity for university 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 approach in building capacity for university 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 approach in building capacity for university students  See connections among disciplines  Recognize that it is not another exam or term paper  Become aware of the knowledge they have themselves

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for university students  Provides an antidote for civic disengagement ■ you can have an impact ■ demystifies the policy making process

Impact of collaborative team approach in building capacity for university students  Gives a real face to social issues; they are no longer academic abstractions  Helps in understanding career options

Challenges Challenges q Strengthening grassroots links to regional, national, and international levels q Better utilizing new communications avenues, especially the Internet q Strengthening grassroots links to regional, national, and international levels q Better utilizing new communications avenues, especially the Internet

Loyola University of ChicagoCenter for Urban Research & Learning ChallengesChallenges q Juggling research and advocacy halves of research and action projects q Faculty recruitment q Locking-in university- community engagement as part of business as usual in universities q Juggling research and advocacy halves of research and action projects q Faculty recruitment q Locking-in university- community engagement as part of business as usual in universities