Dr. Isobel M. FindlayCommunity University Institute for Social Research

Saskatoon Community Workshop18 August 2010

What’s in a CURA for us? What we committed to do How our application will be evaluated How we are strengthening our case Who have been added to the team How the research design is shaping up What can the CURA mean? For whom? How can we help make it happen?

A maximum of $1 million over five years from SSHRC CURA “provides co-ordination and core support for

planning and carrying out diversified research activities”◦ Continuing to work together◦ Sharing and leveraging resources and expertise◦ Developing and refining what needs to be done◦ Strengthening proven alliances and building new ones◦ Helping transform the governance landscape

An opportunity to reimagine how we can best work together to build on our successes, address ongoing challenges, and share lessons learned

Our overarching research question is: How do we create local community governance models that are comprehensive, representative, responsive, culturally appropriate, and sustainable?

The objective is to engage in a learning process to identify the best ways for communities to develop local community governance◦ To respond to complex needs◦ To support respectful relations and sustainability

The project is a case study of the Saskatoon city-region, with relevance for all communities.

Relevance and significance 15%

Research alliance 20%

Methodology and approach 30%

Team of Researchers 15%

Outcomes 20%

Formal Application

Partnerships and collaborations as the new norm Citizens demanding participation in local decision-making Overextension and inadequate resources Good governance and accountability For well over a decade, multisectoral initiatives in Saskatoon

and area have produced evidence-based strategic planning & policy

Opportunity to reimagine ways of engaging citizens to deliberate, plan, and manage diverse community resources impacting quality of life

Saskatoon is both unique and exemplary—and more than ready

…to facilitate partnerships between the university and larger community in order to engage in relevant social research that supports a deeper understanding of our communities that reveals opportunities for improving our quality of life.

Saskatoon Community Sustainability

InternationalIndigenous WomenCommunity Development

Social Economy Rural and Urban Communities

CUISR Strategic Directions

Faculty from 10 units across the University Community researchers representing 10 organizations Close to 30 community partners Advisory Council representing local, regional, national, and

international interests 

Collaborators: Len Findlay, Aloysius Newenham-Kahindi, Don Story, Kate Waygood, Chelsea Willness

New partners: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Indigenous Peoples Program, Centre for Continuing and Distance Education, U of S; Rural and Co-operative Secretariat; Saskatchewan Association for Community Living

Diverse collaborations Gender and cultural lens Range of disciplines and interdisciplinary practices

from the social sciences and humanities to fine arts Joint development of questions and approaches to

data collection, analysis, and evaluation to conclusions and recommendations

New models for co-creation, translation, and knowledge mobilization

Our research practice will itself be an important site of learning, relationship and capacity building, identity formation, and community renewal.

CasesUrban Aboriginal initiativesAffordable housing initiativesPoverty elimination initiativesChild/youth initiativesImmigration/Integration/Inclusion initiativesCrime prevention initiativesFood security initiatives Other initiatives

Advisory CouncilMembers representing different stakeholder groups and CURA partners

Management BoardCURA Co-ApplicantsCUISR Community-University Research LiaisonCUISR Strategic Research CoordinatorAdministrative Assistant

CUISRBoard MembersStaffResearch Personnel (undergraduate andgraduate students, communityresearchers)

ConsultationsNeighbourhoods, CBOs, citizens, Business, GovernmentMethodologies: Participatory action research, grounded theory, narrative inquiryData Collection Methods: Surveys, Interviews, focus groups, arts- and theatre-based, asset mapping

Knowledge

translation

Case StudiesCollaborative Initiatives Methodologies: Participatory action research, case study,grounded theoryData Collection Methods:Literature review, individual interviews, focus groups

Knowledge

translation

Monitoring FrameworkCollaborative process, citizenengagement, Quality of LifeindicatorsMethodologies: PAR, process andoutcome monitoringData Collection Methods: Surveys,interviews, focus groups

Co-Creation of Knowledge

Local Governance ModelFor Sustainable CommunityToolkit of Model and PolicyRecommendations

Knowledge MobilizationLocal Governance Model ToolkitArts-Based PresentationsConference Presentations“Research in Progress” SeminarsBrown Bag LunchesCommunity Engagement ForaCUExpoCUISR Resource CentreInteractive Online CommunicationsNewslettersMedia CoverageDirect participation as board members on key multi-sectoral committees andpolicy round tables

Research OutputsPolicy Reform and ImplementationEdited BookPeer-Reviewed Pub’sCanadian Policy Research Networks, Institute for Research on Public PolicyTechnical ReportsResearch SummariesConferences: Congress of Humanities & Social Sciences, Canadian Public Health Assoc, Canadian CEDNet, ANSER, CASC, Canadian Political Studies Association, CUExpo

Education and TrainingGraduate Student ScholarshipsGraduate Student Internships withCBOsCommunity Service LearningCommunity ResearchersCommunity Research SabbaticalsCommunity-University LiaisonCommunity/University CurriculumDevelopmentResearch Workshops

For the community? For your organization? For the university? For your household? For you?

Overall Quality of Life, 2001, 2004 and 2007

0.05.0

10.0

15.020.025.030.035.0

40.045.050.0

2001 2004 2007

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tag

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Excellent

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Good

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Leverage our resources Share our capacities and commitment Help redefine/ refine the project Identify gaps, obstacles, opportunities Suggest who or what groups need to be

involved Commit to partnering Join us on the research journey