Research Consulting

Our Approach

Our research approach is centered around embracing lived experience. This methodology involves giving significant importance to the personal stories, viewpoints, and narratives of individuals and communities right at the core of the research process. By prioritizing these elements, we aim to thoroughly comprehend and illuminate the distinctive experiences, emotions, and insights of participants and communities who are directly engaged with the subject under study. This commitment to understanding personal and community narratives not only enriches our research framework but also ensures a more profound connection with the realities faced by those involved. Through this lens, we strive to foster an inclusive research environment that values the unique contributions of each participant and each community, ultimately advancing collective knowledge and understanding.

The Work We Do

Narrative Collection

“Centering the power of Black American storytelling and lived experiences”
• We develop questions that encourage people to share their stories
• We organize and lead group discussions to gather community perspectives
• We collect and analyze stories that reveal cultural patterns
• We turn recorded conversations into written documents
Truth Cultivation

“Honoring the oral traditions and testimonies that preserved history”
• We help you plan your research project from start to finish
• We create step-by-step plans for gathering meaningful information
• We observe and document community practices and daily life
• We record and preserve personal stories and life experiences
Community Illumination

“Drawing from traditions of collective knowledge and shared wisdom”
• We conduct research where community members are active participants
• We use photography to help people share their experiences and perspectives
• We study how culture shapes people's experiences and viewpoints
• We create strategies to involve community members in research
Wisdom Distillation

“Reflecting the process of extracting meaning from collected experiences”
• We organize and find patterns in the information people share
• We identify common themes and important ideas across conversations
• We create charts, diagrams and visuals that make findings clear
• We combine different types of information to tell a complete story
Legacy Preservation

“Honoring the tradition of safeguarding cultural knowledge for future generations”
• We support you write proposals to fund community projects
• We support you in creating books, articles, and reports
• We ensure research is conducted ethically, culturally, and respectfully
• We help preserve important information for future access
Pathways Advancement

“Inspired by the tradition of creating opportunities and "lifting as we climb"
• We offer training to build your research skills
• We connect experienced researchers with newcomers
• We teach specific research methods through hands-on workshops
• We help create community & opportunities for the next generation of scholars