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Empowering Grassroots Democracy in Appalachia Through Community-Based Research

Just Connections is a nonprofit initiative uniting communities and colleges in Appalachia to foster grassroots democracy. Through Community-Based Research (CBR), we encourage collaboration between students, faculty, and community members, enabling projects that drive positive local change. CBR allows participants to learn vital research skills and empower residents by addressing their unique needs. Our approach aims to build sustainable community relationships while creating equitable access to resources. Join us in transforming education and community engagement in distressed mountain regions.

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Empowering Grassroots Democracy in Appalachia Through Community-Based Research

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  1. justconnections.orgCommunities and Colleges working to invigorate grassroots democracy in Appalachia

  2. What is Community Based Research? • Ambler & Rutherford’s definition • Research question is rooted in the community • Collaborative project implementation between professor/students & community people • Project has potential for positive community change

  3. Associated terms • Community Based Research (CBR) • Participatory Research (PR) • Action Research (AR) • Participatory Action Research (PAR)

  4. Settings for Successful CBR • Community organization • Stability and history in community • Staff easy for students to access • Location nearby • Involvement in developing project • Professor & College/University • Has network/contacts in community • Develop community/college partners • Flexibility in what is researched • Time to plan and develop with community organization before course begins • Time to follow-through with community org after students complete work • Support by administration

  5. Why do cbr? • Students & faculty • Serve the community • Teach/learn how to do research • Learn about the community • Learn to collaborate • Do research that is relevant

  6. Why do cbr? • Community people • Teach about the community • Learn research skills • Become more empowered to change the community by creating relevant, useful knowledge

  7. Challenges of CBR • Rural experience (Just Connections) • Distance • List-serve • Conference call • Attracting community partners • Speaking the same language • Lack of rural infrastructure • Doing our work in a just way • Respect for others’ contribution & sacrifice • Equal access to economic resources

  8. Challenges of CBR • Rural experience (Just Connections)-2 • Paying for cost of doing CBR • Community time organizing, supervising projects • College collects tuition & room & board but community doing teaching • Faculty & student (when not course-based) time • Money for operations

  9. Just Connections • A non-profit organization of communities and colleges in Appalachia • Funded by grants from: • Appalachian College Association • The Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation • Sociological Initiatives Foundation

  10. Mission • To invigorate grassroots democracy among residents of distressed mountain communities. • To create and use models for participatory research and service in support of self-sustaining communities that offer equitable access to resources for local citizens.

  11. Structure • Board of Directors from Appalachian community organizations & colleges • Coordinator • Committees • Sponsored by Big Creek People in Action, Caretta, WV

  12. Program • ACA Teaching & Technology Grant • Hold workshops for training on technology & cbr • Develop course projects • Develop webpage: www.justconnections.org • Develop toolbox

  13. Program • Bonner Learn & Serve National CBR Grant • Administrative cost (staff, expenses) • Campus cbr development • Community cbr development • Sociological Initiatives Grant • Develop community institute model • Communities visit & share ideas

  14. Course Project: Population & Ecology

  15. Course Project: Population & Ecology • Previously--Narrow Ridge Earth Literacy Center • Established relationships with organizations • Keep Blount Beautiful—recent graduate • Southern Alliance for Clean Energy • Narrow Ridge • Staff/board identified projects • Waste audits of Blount County businesses • Hydrogen Based Economy • Diesel 101  Food & Social Justice • Solar Incentives  Evaluating Narrow Ridge

  16. Course Project: Population & Ecology - 2 • Students work with staff or board member’s direction • Outcomes • Oral presentation—organization invited • Technology in research & presentation • Paper—copy to org • Potential for implementation • Course webpage: http://faculty.maryvillecollege.edu/ambler/Population & Ecology/ENVSOC 314.htm

  17. Big Creek People in ActionExcellence in Education Using CBR in Action • Task Force: TOPS for Quality Education • Response to state managing local ed system • 20 community input meetings • Developed People’s Plan for Excellence • Where want schools located • Ed plan & related community services • Presented at 6 school closure hearings • Lawsuit re disempowering local people

  18. Big Creek People in ActionExcellence in Education Using CBR in Action--2 • College partners • Emory & Henry College—Public Policy & Comm Service • Ferrum College—Sociology, Soc Work, Pol Sci • Community identified broad areas to research • Education reform • Education enrichment • Faculty/students/comm plan steps together • Students work under org staff’s direction • Long-term: 2 semesters, summer

  19. Big Creek People in ActionExcellence in Education Using CBR in Action--3 • Outcomes & Action • Students—papers • Comm people • Proposed place-based curr based on resources & needs of community • Proposed consortia develop teacher training program • Oral presentations at hearings • Over 500 people in involved • Media role: Charleston Gazette investigative reporting • Result: participatory evaluation process

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