There is increasing pressure on university scholars to reach beyond the “ivory tower” and engage in collaborative research with communities. But what does this actually mean? What is community-based participatory research (CBPR) and what does engagement look like?

This book presents stories about CBPR from past and current Manitoba Research Alliance projects in socially and economically marginalized communities. Bringing together experienced researchers with new scholars and community practitioners, the stories describe the impetus for the research projects, how they came to be implemented, and how CBPR is still being used to effect change within the community.

The projects, ranging from engagement in public policy advocacy to learning from Elders in First Nations communities, were selected to demonstrate the breadth of experiences of those involved and the many different methods used. By providing space for researchers and their collaborators to share the stories behind their research, this book offers valuable lessons and rich insights into the power and practice of CBPR.

Dr. Shauna MacKinnon is Professor and Chair, Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies at the University of Winnipeg, situated at Merchants Corner in Winnipeg’s North End. Dr. Mackinnon has conducted numerous studies related to public policy, poverty and inequality, typically utilizing a collaborative, community-based research approach. She is author of Decolonizing Employment: Aboriginal Inclusion in the Labour Market and editor of Practising Community Based Participatory Research Stories: Stories of Engagement, Empowerment, and Mobilization.

Shauna MacKinnon's profile page