Community Voices on the Experiences of Community-Based Participatory Research in the Environmental Justice Movement

P. Qasimah Boston (), Bruce Strouble (), Aisha Balogun, Beto Lugo-Martinez, Mildred McClain, Mary Miaisha Mitchell, Kim Wasserman, David Rahn, Molly Greenberg () and Cecilia Garibay
Additional contact information
P. Qasimah Boston: Tallahassee Food Network, Tallahassee, FL 32302, USA
Bruce Strouble: Citizens for a Sustainable Future, Tallahassee, FL 32302, USA
Aisha Balogun: Moving Forward Network, Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA
Beto Lugo-Martinez: Clean Air Now, Kansas City, MO 66106, USA
Mildred McClain: Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice, Savannah, GA 31401, USA
Mary Miaisha Mitchell: Tallahassee Food Network, Tallahassee, FL 32302, USA
Kim Wasserman: Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Chicago, IL 60623, USA
David Rahn: Department of Geography and Atmospheric Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA
Molly Greenberg: Moving Forward Network, Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA
Cecilia Garibay: Moving Forward Network, Los Angeles, CA 90041, USA

Social Sciences, 2023, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-14

Abstract: Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is increasingly being used by academics to address urban health and inequity. While its foundational literature emphasizes CBPR’s role in eschewing the traditional balance of power between communities and institutions, some scholars and grassroots activists note that it has not consistently delivered community-led, action-oriented strategies. Here we examine gaps between theory and current practice of CBPR. First, we assess its fundamental practices through social movement theory. Second, we examine narratives from grassroots leaders who have utilized CBPR in their environmental justice efforts. Three key facilitating factors are often cited for authentic applications of CBPR: (1) grounding research within community-specific opportunities for change, (2) collaborating with a strong community partner, and (3) facilitating flexibility in research processes. Building on previous scholarship, we investigate the complexity of CBPR implementation that may dampen its potency as a social change strategy and highlight the need for nuanced and critical application of best practices to suit local contexts. This is accomplished by pairing the theoretical framework with the experiences of four community leaders who are members of the Moving Forward Network (MFN). Narratives from their experiences with partnering with academic institutions speak to how theoretical complexities with CBPR occur in practice.

Keywords: community-based participatory research; environmental justice; equity; participatory practices (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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