Community Members Research Articles

Intersectionality and internal discrimination in the Danish LGBTQIA+ community: a systemic queer lens on “nordic exceptionalism”

PurposeThis study explores the paradox of discrimination within Denmark’s LGBTQIA+ community, often regarded as a safe and inclusive environment. It delves into the nuanced dynamics of discrimination and marginalization that persist in this context, alongside the effectiveess of organizational DEI policies, queer practices and support networks.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on qualitative interviews with DEI experts and LGBTQIA+ community members, thematic analysis reveals patterns of discrimination. A queer, intersectional approach serves as a lens to examine the complexities of identity-based discrimination.FindingsThe findings highlight a dichotomy where Nordic exceptionalism and heteronormative standards continue to perpetuate inequities that disadvantage certain subgroups, despite the ongoing efforts of organizational DEI initiatives.Research limitations/implicationsThis research provides valuable insights for designing intersectionality-informed DEI strategies that cultivate safe spaces and inclusive practices within both societal and organizational contexts. By introducing the “Systemic Queer Lens,” it contributes a novel theoretical perspective to the discourse on intersectionality and LGBTQIA+ experiences within organizations, inviting deeper engagement with these critical issues.Originality/valueThis study not only presents the “Systemic Queer Lens” but also enriches understanding of the intersectionality and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals within organizational settings, shedding light on the complexities of discrimination even in environments that appear to be inclusive.

A Critical Reflection on the Contributions and Barriers of Local Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to National Development in Ghana

The localisation agenda highlights a need for greater inclusion of local actors, including civil society organisations (CSOs), in influencing development outcomes. However, concerns have been raised about the relevance and future of civil society within a changing international development landscape. Drawing on 28 semi-structured interviews with local CSO representatives and key informants, two donor representatives and ten community members in Ghana, this article examines the contributions of local CSOs and the constraints hindering their ability to promote national development. Using the typologies of government-CSO relationships as the analytical lens, the empirical evidence suggests that local CSOs promote democratic consolidation through their educational, information-sharing, and watchdog roles as part of their cooperation relationship with the government. The findings show that as part of their confrontational relationship, local CSOs act as policy entrepreneurs by influencing government policies, advocating for social justice, and creating decent and dignified jobs. Yet, we find that shrinking civic space, limited access to information and funding opportunities, and legitimacy crisis act as constraints to local CSOs’ ability to meaningfully contribute to national development in Ghana. We show how adversarial relationships in the form of shrinking civic space profoundly affect local CSOs and undermine democratic gains experienced over the years. Implications of the findings for policy and practice are discussed.

An emerging knowledge exchange framework: Leadership insight into a key capacity-building impact in a large urban, trauma-informed initiative supporting resiliency and promoting equity

BackgroundCommunity capacity-building is the cornerstone of many public health initiatives, with increasing attention paid to community engagement, collective impact, and trauma-informed practices designed to support resiliency and promote health equity. Large-scale capacity-building projects proliferated during the global pandemic, highlighting the need for practical guidance and steps for efficiently responding to changing community needs and effectively communicating information across partnership and community members. The present qualitative longitudinal study provides a pragmatic framework for trauma-informed knowledge exchange across stakeholders in a large urban collective impact, capacity-building initiative designed to establish partnerships that engage community members, promote equity through tailored referrals and resource access, and address community needs and aspirations.MethodsInterviews were conducted with the leads of nine agencies funded to implement regionally responsive strategies addressing adverse childhood experience-driven health needs among their diverse subcommunities, while offsetting the impact of trauma, building capacities and improving resource access. We aimed to capture (1) the socioecological context of traumatic experiences and health barriers that propelled agencies to participate in a trauma-informed initiative; (2) agency leads’ vision for community health; and (3) unfolding approaches to the initiatives’ complex work, spanning pre-pandemic community needs and pandemic era challenges.ResultsAgency leads’ vision for healthy communities emerged from the strengths, adversity-driven challenges and health barriers of their communities; while focusing on relationship-building, trust-based engagement and equitable access to trauma-informed resources through knowledge exchange. Results support reflection-based learning practices that are characterized by a flexible mindset and action-oriented adaptability. Mechanisms that power multi-directional knowledge exchange included creative partnering; frameworks and trainings that address partnership and community needs; and actionable skill-building. Incorporating community members directly into the initiative’s work exemplified the vision of an informed/resourced community, relationship-based engagement, use of adaptive practices and creative partnering. Lived experience staff provided a credibility bridge facilitating knowledge exchange between community and partnership members and creating power-sharing opportunities.ConclusionsEngagement in public health initiatives is essential for community well-being and responsive public health initiatives. These data provide an emerging framework for thoughtful engagement and knowledge exchange among partnership and community members, while highlighting knowledge exchange as a key impact for outcome consideration.

Outcomes and cost-effectiveness of an integrated holistic care package on persons affected by podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis and leprosy and community members in north-western Ethiopia: an implementation research study

BackgroundMost studies on integration of neglected tropical disease programmes have focused on mass drug administration or environmental measures rather than Disease Management, Disability and Inclusion (DMDI). The study reported here explored integration of a DMDI care package across three disabling, stigmatising neglected tropical diseases (podoconiosis, lymphatic filariasis and leprosy), across physical and mental health, and into the state health system.MethodsWe conducted this pre-post study, the third phase of an implementation research project, in two predominantly rural districts in north-west Ethiopia in 2021. We assessed physical and mental health outcomes on 192 affected persons and 817 community members at baseline and 6 months after initiation of the integrated care package, implemented by nurses and health officers. Key outcomes measured were disability (using WHODAS-2.0), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), discrimination (Discrimination and Stigma Scale), internalised stigma (Internalized Stigma Related to Lymphoedema), quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index) and social support (Oslo-3 Social Support Scale). Mixed effects linear regression models were used to estimate change in outcomes between baseline and 6 months after initiation of the care package. We also evaluated implementation feasibility and conducted cost-effectiveness analysis.ResultsAmong 221 patients, improvements were observed in foot (− 2.3 cm; 95% CI: − 2.2, − 1.8) and leg circumference (− 1.8 cm; − 2.0, − 1.7) and acute attacks (6.2; 0.0, 6.6); these were statistically significant at the 5% level. Reductions were seen in disability scores (− 6.5; − 7.6, − 5.5), depression (− 5.3; − 6.6, − 4.6), discrimination (− 3.3; − 4.2, − 2.3), internalised stigma (− 3.7; − 4.6, − 2.8), quality of life (− 4.0; − 4.8, − 3.2), and alcohol use (− 1.6; − 2.4, − 0.8). No notable changes were found in the presence of wounds or moss, or perceived social support. Across 817 community members, there was strong evidence that knowledge improved, and stigmatising attitudes and social distance reduced. The intervention was cost-effective in reducing depression and disability and improving health-related quality of life and feasible to implement.ConclusionThe integrated intervention is feasible and cost-effective even in remote areas and appears ideal for scale-up to other endemic regions in Ethiopia and other countries.

Barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among African and Caribbean heritage communities: a mixed methods study.

African and Caribbean heritage (ACH) communities in the UK face disproportionately high rates of HIV and often experience delayed diagnoses, worsening health inequities. Increasing HIV testing in these communities is essential to address these disparities and support the UK's HIV reduction targets. This study examines barriers and facilitators to HIV testing among Bristol's ACH community, a high-prevalence area with significant rates of late diagnoses, filling a critical gap in context-specific data. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combined 29 in-depth interviews and 41 online surveys, capturing ACH community members' views on HIV stigma, healthcare trust and testing experiences. Data were thematically analysed and mapped to the Social Ecological Model (SEM) framework, with community researchers conducting data collection and analysis to enhance participants' engagement and trust and contribute to a deeper contextual analytical understanding. Findings highlight significant barriers across SEM levels: individual-level knowledge gaps and stigma, interpersonal confidentiality concerns within tight knit communities, community-level taboos and distrust and organisational barriers, such as discriminatory healthcare experiences. Effective facilitators included culturally specific services, flexible testing options, community-driven outreach and increased healthcare representation, all of which fostered greater trust and engagement in testing. The study underscores the importance of culturally aligned interventions, including representation within and training in cultural competence for healthcare providers and community co-production in service design. Implementing such strategies could reduce late diagnoses and support the normalisation of routine HIV testing in ACH communities, ultimately contributing to health equity. Future research should explore gender and age-specific barriers, while assessing the long-term impact of community-led interventions to inform national HIV policy and public health strategies for marginalised communities in the UK.

ETHICS ON MOBILE TEACHING: REFLECTIONS AND DISPOSITION OF ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SYSTEM (ALS) TEACHERS IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

The purpose of this study is to explore and document the role of Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers as catalysts for community development and agents of social change in underserved areas. Specifically, this study aims to examine how ALS teachers contribute to the empowerment and transformation of marginalized communities by providing accessible, flexible, and relevant educational opportunities for out-of-school youth and adults who face barriers to traditional schooling. In this study, we will employ a phenomenological design to illuminate the subjective experiences and interpretations of ALS teachers regarding their involvement in community development initiatives. A total of fourteen (14) participants are considered in this study who will join the in-depth interview and focused group discussion respectively. Seven (7) of them will join the in-depth interview (IDI) while the remaining participants will be subjected to the focus group discussion (FGD). The success of ALS programs is not solely the responsibility of the teacher but of the entire community. Encouraging a culture of shared responsibility where teachers, students, and community members work together towards common goals can foster a sense of ownership and accountability, ensuring the sustainability of ALS initiatives. Through aligning these future directions with their respective roles, DepEd, school principals, and ALS teachers can collectively contribute to a more sustainable, effective, and impactful ALS program that empowers marginalized communities and ensures lifelong learning opportunities for all. Keywords: Ethics on Mobile Teaching, Reflections, Disposition of Alternative Learning System (Als) Teachers, In Community Development

Excess of death and the experiential disruption of death and mourning rituals during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

In the context of South Africa's quadruple burden of disease, which includes a high prevalence of both infectious (particularly AIDS and tuberculosis) and non-communicable diseases, the COVID-19 pandemic has been signified by excess deaths. Although never officially acknowledged by the State, communities across the country have witnessed and experienced this excess. Departing from a syndemics approach, this paper focuses on the experiences of black African communities from low-resourced urban areas in selected central regions of South Africa.The paper delves into participants' experiences of the losing family and community members, as well as the disruption of their grief work resulting from the changes effected by the COVID-19 restrictive procedures on funerals and burials. Death and mourning practices, among the 20 participants in this study, are otherwise guided by the intertwining of Christian and African cultural traditions. Based on participant interviews, the paper reflects on the incompleteness of ritual associated with the disruption of COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on mourning in a context of excess death resulting in unaccomplished grief work In so doing, this paper raises critical issues regarding physical, emotional and mental health alongside pandemic responsibility, cultural diversity and human rights.

Explicit Signals Enhance Social Engagement Between Strangers

Brief interactions with strangers can enhance well-being, yet people often avoid them. Building on a new theoretical framework—the Stranger Engagement Model—we designed an intervention to promote positive interactions between strangers. In a field experiment with adults on a university campus ( N = 563), we enabled individuals to send explicit signals indicating whether or not they were interested in engaging with strangers. Our findings suggest that this simple intervention can increase the frequency, length, and depth of interactions between unacquainted community members, with downstream benefits for social connection and happiness. Our results also suggest that this intervention may enable individuals to meet new people if they wish to do so, without forcing social interactions on those who prefer solitude. More broadly, we argue that the Stranger Engagement Model can provide a framework for identifying when and how to promote interactions between strangers in diverse social contexts.

Establishing a community advisory board to align harm reduction research with the unique needs of Black and Latine communities

Death from opioid use is a growing public health concern, with stark racial and ethnic disparities. The randomized controlled trial described here aims to improve initiation and engagement in harm reduction services for Black and Latine people who use drugs to minimize mortality in these populations. The trial is informed by a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of stakeholders from racial and ethnic minoritized backgrounds committed to promoting health equity in populations disproportionately impacted by the drug overdose crisis. CABs are an underutilized mechanism for engaging communities in research to improve health outcomes. Hence, in this manuscript we outline the process and methods employed in creating a CAB, describe its impact on our research study, and recognize the challenges and adaptations made to the CAB during the study.CAB recruitment targeted active community members from Black and Latine communities in the Bronx, NY and New Haven, CT. After attending community organizational meetings in each place, follow-up email efforts were unsuccessful, prompting a revised approach. Emphasizing the study’s focus on historically excluded voices, “research-naïve” individuals were sought through online searches and local grassroots organizations, excluding those affiliated with harm reduction groups to minimize bias. Once CAB members were identified, a remote orientation was held, and the CAB began providing regular feedback on research activities, from participant recruitment to educational script details. CAB members’ diverse identities and life experiences generated nuanced discussions, which were distilled into feedback improving research materials and recruitment strategies. In the future, the CAB will also guide data analysis and research publications. Other areas of emphasis have included straightforward language in study materials, balanced messaging about harm reduction recommendations, and specific community outreach opportunities. Practical barriers that needed to be addressed for optimal CAB functioning included timely compensation with minimal institutional burden and assistance with meeting coordination and communication.The CAB has ensured that Black and Latine community voices are included in guiding our study, promoting equitable and ethical research. As harm reduction research advances, it is essential to center this work around the intersectional identities of people who use drugs to prevent the disproportionate burden and deaths among Black and Latine people.

Mapalus Tradition: North Sulawesi Muslim Society in the Maqashid Syariah Discourse

This research explores the alignment and divergence of the principles of Mapalus with Islamic legal and ethical frameworks, contributing to the broader discourse on integrating local wisdom with Islamic values in multicultural societies. Mapalus, a communal tradition rooted in the Christian-majority Minahasan society, has been adopted by the Muslim minority by applying Maqashid Sharia principles, particularly in community well-being, justice, and property protection. Through empirical data from interviews with religious leaders and community members, the study highlights how Islamic jurisprudence guides modifications to traditional Mapalus practices, ensuring compliance with religious obligations while preserving core cultural values. The research reveals that while Islamic values of justice, reciprocity, and mutual assistance align with Mapalus' cooperative ethos, certain rituals require adaptation or exclusion to adhere to Islamic law. This integration is facilitated by the involvement of religious leaders, who mediate potential conflicts and help maintain social harmony. The study concludes that Mapalus is a model for successfully integrating local wisdom with Islamic values in a multicultural context, demonstrating the flexibility of cultural practices and religious principles in fostering unity and cooperation across diverse communities.

Community Infrastructure Development Support Project: Its Effects on the Community’s Productivity in Tacurong City

This project was being implemented by the Philippine Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), aimed to support sustainable rural development in Mindanao through the improvement of the well-being of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs) through increased income, living conditions, and regional peace building contributions. Addressing infrastructure development in Mindanao's major agricultural regions, the project aimed at local development priorities to increase community productivity. It was piloted in Barangay Baras and Barangay Upper Katungal in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, where its effect was evaluated through a survey of 353 randomly chosen ARBs and community members carried out during the period of calendar year 2024–2025. Data collection employed a flexible, descriptive questionnaire method to capture varied community experiences. The majority of the respondents were from small households, possessed college education, and were at a moderate income level. Evidence indicated that important infrastructure elements—farm-to-market roads, water systems, and post-harvest facilities—were greatly implemented, while social services were given big support. The interventions resulted in very satisfactory improvements in community productivity, with good gains in business partnerships, economic growth, and rural infrastructure. The success of the program was supplemented by best practices embraced by LGU Tacurong such as financial sustainability, efficient use of local resources, integrated delivery of public services, participatory planning, and transparency. Strong positive correlation resulted from the quality of Italian-supported projects and enhanced productivity of communities, highlighting the high effectiveness of support and the promise of increased potential impact.

Emergence and disruption of cooperativity in a denitrifying microbial community.

Anthropogenic perturbations to the nitrogen cycle, primarily through use of synthetic fertilizers, is driving an unprecedented increase in the emission of nitrous oxide (N2O), a potent greenhouse gas and an ozone depleting substance, causing urgency in identifying the sources and sinks of N2O. Microbial denitrification is a primary contributor to biotic production of N2O in anoxic regions of soil, marine systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. Here, through comprehensive genome analysis, we show that pathway partitioning is a ubiquitous mechanism of complete denitrification within microbial communities. We have investigated mechanisms and consequences of process partitioning of denitrification through detailed physiological characterization and kinetic modeling of a synthetic community of Rhodanobacter thiooxydans FW510-R12 and Acidovorax sp. GW101-3H11. We have discovered that these two bacterial isolates, from a heavily nitrate (NO3-) contaminated superfund site, complete denitrification through the exchange of nitrite (NO2-) and nitric oxide (NO). The process partitioning of denitrification and other processes, including amino acid metabolism, contribute to increased cooperativity within this denitrifying community. We demonstrate that certain contexts, such as high NO3-, cause unbalanced growth of community members, due to differences in their substrate utilization kinetics. The altered growth characteristics of community members drives accumulation of toxic NO2-, which disrupts denitrification causing N2O off gassing.

“Don’t Research about Us without Us”: Participatory Action Research as an Approach to Producing Knowledge with Marginalized Populations

ABSTRACT Communities marginalized along economic, social, and political fronts are frequently the objects of academic research, particularly among scholars who study social problems. However, given the many obstacles that prevent people from vulnerable populations from obtaining graduate degrees and becoming formal researchers, much of our knowledge about vulnerable groups is written by outside academics rather than those from the communities being studied. In this article, we argue that Participatory Action Research (PAR) is an effective approach for enabling vulnerable groups to play a central role in the process of knowledge production about their communities. Not only does this approach bring the voices of the periphery into academic research, it also improves the quality of the data, facilitates data collection, promotes the well-being of the research population, and creates opportunities for community members to gain entry into higher education. We illustrate this claim by describing our experience conducting a two-year research project that employed a PAR approach to examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Cidade de Deus, a “favela,” or informal settlement in Rio de Janeiro. We discuss the benefits, challenges, and limitations of employing PAR for incorporating voices from the periphery in sociological research about marginalized communities.

Migrant Women and Dehumanization

Dehumanization refers to the process of perceiving an individual or a group as inferior by stripping them of human qualities. This process is rooted in the denial of identity and community membership of those subjected to dehumanization. It involves a tendency to view individuals not as independent beings but as less human entities that may pose a threat to society. Often associated with violence in the literature, dehumanization legitimizes mistreatment and aggression against those who are not regarded as fully human. Migrants and women are frequently subjected to dehumanization, and migrant women, situated at the intersection of these identities, often experience compounded forms of discrimination and exclusion. This study seeks to offer a comprehensive account of dehumanization and to explore the underlying mechanisms through which migrants and women are subjected to it, drawing on illustrative examples from existing literature. The study reflects on the interplay of migration, media, political discourse, migration policies, empathy, social integration, and psychological resilience, with a particular focus on the experiences of migrant women in media representation and the labor market. Although dehumanization has emerged as a critical theme in migration research, the specific experiences of migrant women remain markedly underexplored. By addressing this gap, the study aims to enrich the existing literature and foster greater academic engagement with the issue.

Examining the Effectiveness of Monitoring and Evaluation Strategies in Public Sector Projects: A Study of CDF Loans in Mtendere Areas of Lusaka

This study was aimed at establishing strategies used by the local community to participate in the monitoring and evaluation of Constituency development fund projects and loan disbursement. The specific objectives were to establish levels of local community participation in monitoring and evaluation, to evaluate the effectiveness of strategies used in monitoring and evaluation of CDF loans, and to ascertain limitations of Monitoring and Evaluation of the community after obtaining loans from the local council. The study used a descriptive design and incorporated Primary and Secondary sources of data. The target population for the research was 250, from which the sample size of 150 was arrived at. Purposive and systematic sampling was employed in data collection and analysis using qualitative methods. The study found that community members were actively involved in the monitoring and evaluation of loan disbursement. Furthermore, the local authority developed a tracking system for all loan beneficiaries in the study area. It was observed that 65.95% of the participants believed that the tracking system was very effective in tracking every beneficiary in the area. However, 35.05% answered in the negative and attributed it to political influence. The study concluded that monitoring and evaluation tools were effective in tracking, monitoring, and evaluating loan performance by the beneficiaries. There was a need for Lusaka City Council to sensitize the public on the importance of CDF System Management through radio, TV, and posters so that the attitudes improve from good to at least best.

Perceptions of local governments, health facilities, and communities on child marriage: A qualitative study in Son La province, 2022

Child marriage remains an issue worldwide, impacting the lives of millions of children, especially young girls, in economically poor and developing countries, including Vietnam, particularly in ethnic minority areas, where education and cultural awareness are still limited. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of local governments, healthcare providers, and community members regarding child marriage in Son La province, Vietnam, and to identify potential interventions to address this issue. A qualitative approach with thematic analysis was adopted to collect data from 18 parents from both the Kinh and ‘H’Mong ethnic minority groups in Son La Province from March to May 2022. The results showed four main themes: (1) persistence of child marriage despite decreasing trends, (2) causes of child marriage, (3) awareness of health consequences, and (4) proposed interventions for education and economic empowerment. The underreporting of cases and gaps between legal frameworks and community practices were identified as the key challenges. This study has provided valuable insights into the situation of child marriage in Son La province, Vietnam, highlighting the interplay of socioeconomic factors, traditional norms, and limited education in its persistence.

Strengthening the role of community health assistants in delivering primary health care: the case of maternal health services in Zambia

IntroductionMany low-and middle-income countries, including Zambia experience a huge deficit of human resource for health, which affects the delivery of primary health care services such as maternal and child health (MCH), nutrition, HIV and gender-based services. The Clinton Health Access Initiative in collaboration with the Zambian Ministry of Health implemented a community health systems (CHS) strengthening project to enhance the capacity of community health assistants (CHA) to provide MCH services from 2019 to 2021. The project activities included capacity building in supervision, provision of financial incentives and logistics. This study explores how these interventions strengthened the role of the CHAs in delivering MCH services.MethodologyThis was a qualitative study consisting of 189 KIIs and IDIs as well as 20 FGDs conducted in all the 10 provinces of Zambia with the CHAs, and their supervisors, health workers, neighbourhood health committees and community members. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThe CHS strengthening interventions including provision of training manuals, streamlined recruitment and deployment policies, capacity building of CHA supervisors, provision of transport and monthly remuneration contributed to improved delivery and acceptability of MCH services. Further, the leveraging of community networks, linkages and partnerships when delivering these services, including the traditional and religious leaders contributed to improved coverage and acceptability of MCH services. Meanwhile, health systems barriers such as limited supplies in some health facilities, shortage of health workers, persistent transportation challenges and failure to fully abide by the CHA recruitment and selection criteria affected delivery and acceptability of MCH services.ConclusionThis study builds on existing evidence on the importance of building a stronger community–based primary health care to effectively address maternal and child health related issues. We emphasize the need to integrate strategies such as provision of training manuals, enhanced recruitment and deployment policies, capacity building of supervisors, provision of transport and remuneration within the CHA program to enhance the provision and acceptability of health services.

Rising above vulnerability: resilience and sustainable livelihood outcomes of national park-adjacent communities in an African biodiversity hotspot

PurposeThis study aims at investigating the ways in which resilience to livelihood stressors (shocks, displacement risk and seasonality) could influence sustainable livelihoods outcomes (improved well-being) of national park-adjacent communities in Uganda.Design/methodology/approachWith a sample of 364 respondents, data were obtained using a questionnaire survey and analyzed using structural equation modeling – with the aim of establishing the influence of resilience of national park-adjacent communities on their livelihood outcomes.FindingsThe results show that resilient to shocks and seasonality are the most crucial factors in enhancing the livelihoods of national park-adjacent communities. Building community members’ resilience to shocks and seasonality has been shown to significantly improve the livelihoods of people residing near national parks in Uganda.Originality/valueThis paper expands the sustainable livelihood literature through an understanding of vulnerable national park-adjacent communities and stresses the influence of resilience to stressors on their livelihood outcomes. The research emphasizes the importance of enhancing community members’ livelihoods with a sharp focus on resilience to shocks and seasonality by integrating resilience strategies into tourism and livelihood policies.

Everything is place: critical reflections on race, community-based learning, and becoming critical scholars in a Ph.D. program

This article explores parallel journeys of becoming critical scholars in a Ph.D. program from a student and professor perspective. Grounded in Pinar’s theoretical framework of currere, we use autoethnographic methods to find commonalities regarding our observations of the impact of race in public education during our experiences as middle and secondary teachers. Participating in a curriculum and instruction doctoral program became a space to have critical conversations that challenge prevailing systematic structures of power in education and our own positionalities as white cis-gender women, through working on community-based curricular and pedagogical research. Specifically, we worked together on a local history research project with a group of high school students in a suburb in the Southeast where we conducted oral history research with community members and stakeholders about the imperative of preserving a historically Black cemetery. The process of reflecting on our becoming critical scholars was profound because we explored our own whiteness and positionalities, and noticed how the youth who participated in the project grew as critical scholars with their increased awareness of the ways in which race played a part in their community’s history and current socio-economic and political climate. These experiences helped us, both student and professor, grow in our views of community-based learning through investigations of place-based education. We engaged in a deeper self-examination of critical scholarship concerning mentor-mentee relationships and how such collaborations can elevate marginalized voices in the curriculum while engaging in the on-going process of growing as critical scholars in K-12 communities and the academy.

Supporting young children's minoritized languages in a community setting: insights from community-based participatory research

ABSTRACT Community-Based Participatory Research is a research approach specifically designed to reduce power imbalances when working with marginalised communities towards advancing social justice. We pair this approach with Transformative Research Paradigm that aims to include marginalised voices in the research process. This paper reports on a study that incorporated a Community-Based Participatory Research approach and Transformative Research paradigm to support and enhance minoritized language transmission and maintenance among preschool-aged children and their parents. Within the Canadian context, few supports exist for minoritized home languages in the mainstream community. It is within this context, our partnership implemented a multilingual language group for parents and children who shared minoritized languages. This paper reports on the process of implementing this Community-Based Participatory Research including (1) the formation of the partnership, (2) the assessment of the community strengths and dynamics, the identification of priority concerns and research questions, (4) the design and conduct of the pilot implementation, (5) the gathering of feedback and interpretation of research findings, and (6) the dissemination and knowledge translation. The goal of this paper is to contribute a better understanding of how Community-Based Participatory Research can be applied to support partnerships with community members towards enhancing multilingual language development.