Project Aims and Objectives

This project will examine overdue background research questions, address Community-Based Research (CBR) capacity building interests and support CBR and Community Development proposal development needs with regards to neighbourhood collaboration and community engagement in the context of Lawrence Heights Revitalization.

Methods or Approaches:

• Establish a Lawrence Heights CBR “Partnership Table” of agency reps, grassroots reps and residents; cultivate partnership with academic researchers; and engage in CBR training.
• Design and conduct a participatory survey of grassroots groups/groups of residents to document their community activities, identity and priorities.
• Design and conduct key informant interviews with residents and agencies to assess and advance opportunities for shared leadership within the Lawrence Heights Inter-Organizational Network.
• Complete a Literature Review of models for grassroots alliances/networks & mechanisms for equitable partnership in neighbourhood planning and collaborations.

Outcomes and Deliverables:

• Establishment of a Lawrence Heights CBR Partnership Table with short & long-term goals, concrete anti-oppression guidelines, & 14 members (minimum 51% residents).
• Visual documentation of grassroots groups/groups of residents in Lawrence Heights that shares their activities, identity and priorities. Results combined in a poster presentation that can tour community spaces, with online version hosted on New Heights website.
• Report on grassroots participatory survey and key informant interviews with residents and agencies, including recommendations to advance opportunities for shared leadership within LHION.
• Lit review to support equitable partnership development within future LHION Revitalization initiatives.