Bringing theory-building and research to impactful changed practices
The Community Engaged Research Group (CERG) is a multidisciplinary project developed through IUPUI’s Office of Community Engagement and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research. Focusing on co-creation as a vehicle for change, CERG promotes collaboration between community partners and university researchers.
CERG aims to promote communal well-being by collaboratively approaching topics such as K-16 education, children (age 0-5), youth (age 6-17), criminal justice reform, immigrants, public policy, and health. CERG values democracy, equity through ethical reciprocity, social justice, and self-determination.
To see how CERG functions, one must first understand the importance of community-engaged research and its differences from standard academic data collection. While most studies provide a broad level of contribution to their respective disciplines, community-engaged research digs deeper through opportunities for knowledge and ethical practice co-creation and information dissemination.
By utilizing the Community-Based Participatory Research Conceptual Model that both filters and engages information through various points of partnership intervention, CERG emphasizes change-oriented results. This is in contrast to research projects which aim to merely observe and report.
Instead, data, research, and other information is continually shared and compared with participants as a means to proactively co-create new knowledge and strategies to address and positively shape the quality of life throughout neighborhoods and communities in Central Indiana.
In the end, CERG aims to provide enriching engagement opportunities between community members and university faculty, staff, and students that demystify research with the goal of improving quality of life for all people.
If you are interested in learning how your research interests intersect with CERG or how you can participate in CERG’s weekly interdisciplinary writing group, contact CERG for more details.