Follow Your Passion, Be Prepared to Work: The Pinnacles and Pitfalls of Establishing a Community-Engaged Research Partnership

• In Event: Discussions Regarding Challenges and Strengths of Participatory Action Research, Action Research, and Community Engaged Research

Abstract

Universities everywhere are being forced to carefully reconsider their role as complex social actors, whether they are a private benefit or a public good, and to evaluate the relationships with their various constituencies, stakeholders, and communities. As community gardens and sustainability are growing trends on American college campuses, the impact of institutes of higher education as change agents in the food access and security crises has been minimally studied. This study explores whether South Carolina HBCU’s located in or near food desserts collaborate with their local communities to address and improve food access or food justice. Using a systematic review as a foundation for university-community partnerships in making health a shared value and creating healthier, more equitable communities, the study uncovers the progress and struggles of fusing community engagement and research through a pilot university-community partnership that addresses food insecurities on and around college campuses.

Author

• Simone Gause, University of South Carolina