Putting the Term “Action” in Community-Based Participatory Action Research

In 2010, our organization launched a community research lab that operationalized the term “action” in Community-Based Participatory “Action” Research (CBPAR).   By coupling a wide range of geographic information (GIS) technology tools, CBPAR created new ways for community-based organizations to work with residents to improve their knowledge of the community’s strengths and needs, their ability to make decisions on how to allocate scarce resources, and their ability to advocate for more resources from governmental and philanthropic decision-makers. 

To empower APHA attendees to use CBPAR to create health equity, we will provide an overview of participatory technology tools, as well as the skills necessary to engage community members in community-based “action-oriented” research, use data for “action and advocacy,” and communicate research results to diverse audiences.  We will also introduce participants to our strategic toolkit:  a short guide to CBPAR; understanding community “action” research; hyper-local communications; mapping for community organizing; and participatory asset mapping.  Participants will also have an opportunity to share community-based action research project ideas, and learn about other community-based action research projects taking place throughout California  Participants will also learn how to build community from the “community-up”  and use CBPAR as a social change tool.  Through case studies of successful CBPAR partnerships, participants will also learn about the challenges, benefits, and ways of applying CBPAR to organizational strategies.