Engaging University and Community Partners for Positive Change Presentation by: Phil Nyden Loyola...

Engaging University and Community Partners for Positive Change

Presentation by:

Phil Nyden

Loyola University Chicago

Center for Urban Research and Learning

OverviewOverview

CURL modelbarriers to university-community partnershipsfactors that break down barriers and facilitate

partnershipswhat is the attractiveness to collaborative research?

…to faculty? …to students? …to universities? …to community partners?

what strategies can be used to promote and/or create strong, sustained partnerships?

Loyola University of Chicago Center for Urban Research & Learning

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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


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


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


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

What are the barriers to effective community-university partnerships?

Barriers: the discipline defines Barriers: the discipline defines research prioritiesresearch priorities

university-based research focuses on furthering knowledge in the discipline

social change is not the primary goal

the theoretical is favored over the practical

Barriers: Community-based Barriers: Community-based research is seen as biasedresearch is seen as biased

without unbiased “outside” without unbiased “outside” researchers, data analysis might be researchers, data analysis might be manipulated to serve political endsmanipulated to serve political ends

involving “representatives” of the population to be involving “representatives” of the population to be studied in the research process raises potential of studied in the research process raises potential of bias in collecting databias in collecting data

Barriers: Community-based Barriers: Community-based research is perceived as parochialresearch is perceived as parochial

traditional academic culture gives higher value to the “national or global” than to the “local”

research is seen as limited in scope and less powerful in its application

Barriers: Tenure and promotion Barriers: Tenure and promotion guidelinesguidelines

publications and contributions to “the field” favored over impact on society

“demonstrated contributions to the improved quality of life in society” not generally a category on the balance sheet

indifference and even hostility to community engagement


Barriers: Community’s past Barriers: Community’s past experience with university researchexperience with university research

only the objectobject of research, not a participant in research

limited practical relevance to community development or improved service delivery

more of thumbs up/thumbs down evaluation research of existing programs


On the other hand, there are factors that can break down barriers and facilitate partnerships

For the community, collaborative For the community, collaborative partnerships have potential for partnerships have potential for building increased capacity building increased capacity

gain familiarity with the research process; gain familiarity with the research process; knows how to manage researchknows how to manage research

develop independent research skillsdevelop independent research skillsimprove practices in community organizationsimprove practices in community organizations

For the community, collaborative For the community, collaborative partnerships have potential for partnerships have potential for building increased capacity building increased capacity

move from research to action: gets information into hands of constituencies

For the university, partnerships For the university, partnerships also build capacityalso build capacity

promote interdisciplinary research

create a stimulating environment for faculty and students

engage in research that is used and does not sit on a library shelf

increase visibility of university in community, region, nation, world

For the university and the For the university and the community, partnerships are community, partnerships are beneficialbeneficial

integrate university and community knowledge into the learning environment

build an environment where learning takes place in multiple directions

provide an understanding of connection provide an understanding of connection among knowledge, power, and social changeamong knowledge, power, and social change

produce an understanding of produce an understanding of what is possiblewhat is possible..

For university faculty, For university faculty, partnerships... partnerships...

provide a “real” environment for teaching and learning

produce a dynamic learning environment with challenges, unpredictability, & constant questioning (the qualities of a good classroom)

For university faculty, For university faculty, partnerships... partnerships...

open the door to more research opportunities than can be completed in lifetime

give access to significant research funding and publication opportunities

For university students, working For university students, working in university-community in university-community partnerships provide...partnerships provide...

an antidote for civic disengagementan antidote for civic disengagementyou can have an impactyou can have an impactdemystifies the policy demystifies the policy

making processmaking process

For university students, working For university students, working in university-community in university-community partnerships helps to...partnerships helps to...

gives a real face to social issues; they are no longer academic abstractions

see connections among disciplines

A Closer Look at A Closer Look at Center for Urban Research and Center for Urban Research and


A Closer Look at A Closer Look at Center for Urban Research and Center for Urban Research and



Support for team membersSupport for team members

faculty fellowshipsgraduate fellowshipsundergraduate--fellowships and course

creditcommunity fellowshipsCURL staff


FundingFunding

government-funded grantsfoundation-supported projectsendowmentleveraging university resources

matching resources for faculty released timestudent fellowship awards and course creditvolunteer time

Examples of CURL Examples of CURL Collaborative Collaborative University-Community University-Community ProjectsProjects

CURL Project: What creates and CURL Project: What creates and sustains racially/ethnically diverse sustains racially/ethnically diverse communities?communities?

Center for Urban Research & Learning

concept emerged from activist-researcher discussions

solution-focused, not problem-focused

policy maker and activist attentionmedia interest in research

CURL Project: What creates and CURL Project: What creates and sustains racially/ethnically diverse sustains racially/ethnically diverse communities?communities?

two-types of communities: diverse by designdiverse by circumstance (new immigrant groups)

changing way advocates promote diversityconnection to work on sustaining mixed-

income communities

CURL Project: Impact of Welfare CURL Project: Impact of Welfare Reform on Mixed-Income Reform on Mixed-Income CommunitiesCommunities

idea developed from breakfast meetings idea developed from breakfast meetings with different community partnerswith different community partners

linked CURL with advocacy organization linked CURL with advocacy organization and traditional social service agencyand traditional social service agency

three reports and impact on state legislationthree reports and impact on state legislation

community organization was aware of CURL’s other collaborative work

needed evaluation of impact of its programs

CURL Project: Developing CURL Project: Developing Culturally Sensitive Approaches Culturally Sensitive Approaches to Addressing Domestic Violenceto Addressing Domestic Violence

CURL Project: Developing CURL Project: Developing Culturally Sensitive Approaches to Culturally Sensitive Approaches to Addressing Domestic ViolenceAddressing Domestic Violence

connection to national network of organizations serving South Asian community

exploring expansion of project:internationalorganizations serving women in other ethnic

communities

CURL Project: Documenting CURL Project: Documenting Changes in Affordable HousingChanges in Affordable Housing

gentrifying community arguments among developers, affordable

housing advocates, and city re: extent of affordable housing loss

CBO lobbied state representative to provide funding for study


Tenure and Occupancy in UptownCensus 2000

Vacant Units Rented or Sold6%

Vacant Units For Rent61%

Vacant For Sale8%

Vacant Units5%

Owner Occupied Units23%

Renter Occupied Units72%

"Other" Vacant Units25%

CURL Project: Documenting CURL Project: Documenting Changes in Affordable HousingChanges in Affordable Housing

advisory committee from all sectors of community

data from report viewed as credible by all involved

other communities interested in research

Creating a regional network Creating a regional network to promote university-to promote university-

community/government community/government partnerships partnerships

Policy Research Action Group Policy Research Action Group (PRAG)(PRAG)

Created in the late 1980sdeveloped from the “grassroots” by activist faculty and

community leaderscollaborative research model four universitiesmore than 15 community partnersover 175 collaborative projectswww.luc.edu/depts/curl/prag

Policy Research Action Group Policy Research Action Group (PRAG)(PRAG)

produced an environment of collaboration in Chicago

collaborative and “participatory research” still minority research approaches, but this provided visibility and a support network

became a “self-help” networkcontributed to the development of more than six collaborative

centers in Chicago if funding disappears, still have network now

Lessons learned in Lessons learned in building and sustaining building and sustaining partnershipspartnerships


Lessons learned in building and Lessons learned in building and sustaining partnershipssustaining partnerships

start smallconcentrate on projects that will produce

tangible outcomes, not just the process itselfdevelop “interdependent partnerships”

accomplish end results that individuals or individual institutions could not achieve on their own

organize/match expertise to produce a sum that is greater than its parts

recruit people who are committed to the project and the process



create a partnership cultureeveryone shares credithelp each other promote work in their

work/institutional settingopen environment: welcome new members to

partnership (individual/institutional)create trust



harness the tensions of university-community/government relationships both academics and community activists

willing to criticize and argue—this is OK, it provides…

different perspectives helpful in understanding complex issues

a more complete knowledge base also, it is not community-driven research or

university-driven research; it’s collaborative research



develop resources to sustain the collaborationpolitical support (from institutional leaders) funding

grantsendowmentsincome/funding from multiple sources (diversification)fellowships—university (faculty & students) and communityongoing centers/networksstaff dedicated to developing & sustaining collaboration“leverage” other resources with what funding/resources you do get



understand that individuals are motivated to participate by factors other than just money

collaborations enable participants… to become part of social-change process to connect with like-minded colleagues to join a support network which provides

guidance on research projects

Some strategies for building on Some strategies for building on strengths and overcoming obstaclesstrengths and overcoming obstacles

visibility and information sharing

publicationsweb presencereportsbooksperiodicals


media attention


working groupsresearchers &

practitionerscitywide or regional


doing “political work” within disciplinesvisibility of collaborative methods“translating research” for use by practitioners

building a following of people experienced in partnerships

emphasizing that this is “research with a constituency”

Strategies for change: change hiring & Strategies for change: change hiring & tenure and promotion tenure and promotion procedures/guidelinesprocedures/guidelines

reduce discipline-bound control of faculty personnel policies

increase university-wide incentives to promote engaged scholarship.

creating a national and international networks of peers to judge faculty doing collaborative research

service as a primary, not residual, evaluation category

Strengthen existing or create new Strengthen existing or create new collaborative centers that can serve collaborative centers that can serve multiple functions as …multiple functions as …

institutional advocates for collaborative research

places where multiple collaborative efforts can be concentrated and made more visible

brokers of information and resourcestechnical assistance centers for collaborative

projects

Creating new collaborative centers Creating new collaborative centers that can serve multiple functions as …that can serve multiple functions as …

alternative socialization venues for faculty students, and community partners

conveners of collaborative researchers to discuss ongoing projects


Gains have been made in promoting Gains have been made in promoting collaborative research in collaborative research in universities & the community, but universities & the community, but there is still substantial work to be there is still substantial work to be done.done.

Engaging University and Community Partners for Positive Change Presentation by: Phil Nyden Loyola...

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