Researchers from across campus came together on September 30 to exchange ideas, share experiences, and build connections during Cultivating Connection and Trust in Community-Engaged Research. The completely full event (with standing room only by the end) brought more than 80 participants from disciplines such as entomology, linguistics, sustainable technology, music, landscape architecture, French & Italian, theater, information sciences, and applied health sciences.
During the morning session, attendees explored how to strengthen partnerships between the university and local communities through open dialogue, transparency, and shared purpose. A central part of the event featured a presentation from Anna Mendoza (assistant professor, linguistics) and Sadia Rahman, a caseworker with The Refugee Center in Champaign-Urbana, highlighting the MA TESOL practicum. This collaboration provides literacy and second language support for local Afghan refugees who have relocated to the Champaign-Urbana community.
One attendee noted how the team made sure to stay flexible and responsive to community needs, for example by offering instruction in the mosque, a setting that was more accessible and familiar for the participants. They also appreciated how the team developed language-learning materials that applied to participants’ daily lives and needs, such as lessons on grocery shopping and working in a local factory where many learners are employed. Their experience offered a concrete example of how university researchers and community partners can work together to meet real needs while fostering trust and mutual learning. Hearing directly from a community partner underscored how trust and flexibility play an essential role in meaningful research collaborations.
Following their talk and Q&A, the Community-Engaged Research Series team shared available tools and resources for those looking to begin or strengthen partnerships of their own. Attendees then broke into smaller groups to discuss the themes of our upcoming events: sustainable partnerships, research communication, and the historical contexts of community-engaged research. Their conversations offered thoughtful feedback to help shape this year’s programming. The diversity of disciplines in the room made for especially vibrant discussions, thanks to the many campus cosponsors who joined us in planning this year’s series.
Three additional sessions are scheduled for this academic year:
- Nov. 13 (Zoom): Sustainable partnership development
- Early February (details forthcoming): Research communication and dissemination
- Mar. 27 (in person): Historical contexts for community-engaged research
The Community-Engaged Research Series is organized by the College of Education, Center for Social & Behavioral Science (CSBS), and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with the addition of new co-hosts College of Applied Health Sciences, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of Social Work, and the College of Fine and Applied Arts.