Message from the Director

Our purpose at the MCCHR is to foster the idea of university-community collaboration, which is informed by a community development framework. As the director of the MCCHR, I am proud to highlight partnerships with stakeholders in the Region of Waterloo and beyond since 2013.

Our team believes that it is imperative for public intellectuals to play a role in weaving partnerships between and among academics and community stakeholders in ways which are authentic. We believe that nurturing relationships amongst ourselves and with our community partners leads to mutually beneficial research projects and/or initiatives, which are relevant to both academic and community audiences.

Since 2013, we have worked with women’s organizations, grassroots organizations, health and social service agencies, sex trade workers, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. We have collaborated across academic boundaries and encouraged dialogue on a number of international issues.

The MCCHR is a research and training incubator for students, faculty, community partners, and working professionals interested in community-based research. Together we honour our commitment to working on behalf of various populations in ways that ultimately are transparent and transformative.

Ginette Lafrenière, MA, MSW, PhD
Director, Manulife Centre for Community Health Research (MCCHR)