From Research to Action and Back Again: Learning from Pilsen

Keywords: community geography, gentrification, Pilsen
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Friday
Session Start / End Time: 2/25/2022 09:40 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/25/2022 11:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 52

Abstract

This paper recounts the experience of an over 17-year collaboration with a grassroots organization contesting the gentrification of the working-class Mexican neighborhood of Pilsen in Chicago. Emerging from a community-based service-learning class, this collaboration has become a long-term conversation about different strategies and tactics across a number of leadership changes at the organization in which I have participated as both expert and student. In this paper, I explore the opportunities and challenges of long-term community collaboration, exploring the ways in which these collaborations can shape and change research agendas, resistance strategies, and urban policy.