The CRC centers its action research, partnerships, and educational programs around three Areas of Inquiry. These areas bring together CRC staff, students, and community partners to delve into specific problems, generate knowledge, and develop innovative analyses or potential solutions. The primary focus of the CRC is to enhance learning outcomes for students, engage and support communities, and advance the understanding and development of more just, equitable, and vibrant communities.
Collaborative Exploration and Problem Solving
The CRC focuses on three specific domains of interest where collaborators unite to explore a particular problem, conduct research, and generate innovative analyses or potential solutions to advance projects. In this collaborative process community partners, scholars, and/or students actively participate in problem identification, data collection and analysis, and the dissemination of results along with recommendations for subsequent cycles of action and reflection. People involved in an AoI engage in collective study, action, reflection, consultation, and long-term planning spanning many years, or even decades.
Community Economies and Sustainable Regional Development
Advancing the role of social entrepreneurs, cooperative enterprises and community-oriented financing initiatives in building local wealth and promoting social and economic justice and sustainable development at regional, national, and global levels.
ExploreEnvironmental Justice, Climate Action and Community Wellbeing
Advancing social action to address health disparities, environmental hazards, water quality and flood disasters related to past environmental degradation and ongoing climate impacts in WV and Appalachia.
ExploreFood System Transformation and Resilience
Advancing food system resilience at a local, regional, and even global scale by supporting economic cooperation and equitable development, agroecology practices and methods that mitigate climate change and promote food sovereignty.
Explore