The Center for Healthy Minds brings together many different fields of study to both foster and research wellbeing and flourishing. As an interdisciplinary collective of experts, we’re eager to expand our thinking by interacting with other researchers and scholars. 

In May, the Center for Healthy Minds welcomed visiting scholars Jarrell Daniels, PhD student at Columbia University, and Dr. Brooke Burrows, Assistant Professor at Appalachian State University, to present a talk titled, “Policy by Proximity, Research by Relationship: Navigating Community-Engaged Research Across Power, Positionality, and Politics.”

During their visit to the Center, Jarrell and Brooke touched on the growth, possibility, and challenges of community-engaged research, especially in developing sustainable university-government-community models. Community-engaged research – which is a growing emphasis of our work here at the Center – brings community members and researchers together as equal partners and co-creators throughout the research process, resulting in rigorous and impactful science grounded in lived expertise and trusting relationships.

In their talk, Jarrell and Brooke shared their journeys to academia. For Jarrell, it began in the South Bronx in New York, and for Brooke, in rural Appalachia. Despite starkly different backgrounds, their stories intertwined during work together at Columbia University’s Center for Justice. There, the two collaborated on the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council, a program founded by Jarrell following his own experience with incarceration. 

This council brings together government officials in New York City and young people from the city’s most underserved neighborhoods. They learn from and alongside each other to shape policies and community interventions – a “policy by proximity” approach that centers the voices of those who stand to be impacted. For example, the successful Project Restore Bed-Stuy, an intervention designed to de-escalate inter-gang conflict in impacted communities, originated with the council. 

Brooke and Jarrell also addressed how the field of psychology can better align research practices and partnerships with the goals of confronting inequality, resolving conflict, and cultivating sustained community empowerment. By co-presenting, they modeled a relational approach to research in which each team member is valued for the different experiences and skills that they bring to the work.

During their day-long visit, Jarrell and Brooke also shared meals and engaged in meaningful conversation with Center staff, faculty, community partners, and early-career scholars. The center was abuzz with an inspired energy from conversations throughout the day.

Featured Photo: CHM study team lead researchers for the Usap Tayo Study Tony DelaRosa and Dr. Hadley Rahrig were just a few of those who had a chance to meet with visiting scholars Dr. Brooke Burrows and Jarrell Daniels.

Learn More

Are you interested in current community-engaged research at the Center for Healthy Minds? Visit these experts’ profiles and learn more:

• Dr. Dan Grupe
• Dr. Tawni Tidwell
• Dr. Christy Wilson-Mendenhall