Social Innovation Research Group
The Social Innovation Research Group (SIRG) was founded in 2003 by Ginette Lafrenière, professor in the Lyle S. Hallman School of Social Work. This research group was inspired by our commitment to community development and desire to support students wanting to learn the complex nuances of community-based research with equity-seeking populations.
We are proud to share that since 2003, SIRG has grown into an active research and training incubator for undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, and comprised of a multidisciplinary group of researchers and community practitioners dedicated to university-community collaboration (UCC).
Since its inception, SIRG has interfaced with more than 60 health and social service agencies across Ontario and has collaborated with more than 70 different non-profit and community-based organizations. SIRG has employed more than 150 students through placements, part-time research assistants and full-time researchers.
Feminism is one of the philosophical foundations on which we base much of the work executed at SIRG. We believe that feminist theories honour the ways in which we view the world and illuminate our understanding of intersectional inequities such as oppression, homophobia, racism and other injustices. As feminist researchers, we pursue and promote the dismantling of power inequities on multiple levels.
If you are interested in volunteering, completing a student placement, or working for SIRG as a research assistant, please send your curriculum vitae and a statement of interest to Ginette Lafrenière (glafreniere@wlu.ca).
Our Guiding Principles
The Social Innovation Research Group (SIRG) is:
- An active research and education training incubator that honours a critical examination of community development and micro, mezzo, macro research initiatives on a local, national, and international level.
- An educational arena whereby faculty, students and community partners engage in community-based research projects designed to meet the needs of community partners.
- A training portal whereby master's, doctoral and post-doctoral students are encouraged to develop research and professional skills in collaboration with community partners (i.e., funding proposals, process and outcome evaluations, needs assessments, etc.).
- A bridge between the university and the larger community in order to enhance innovative and creative working partnerships that value arts-based social development as a legitimate component of community development practice.
- A resource for groups or individuals who seek our support to enhance their own capacity for community-building.
- A crossroads of academic and community stakeholders who believe and honour the idea that universities should be of service to the communities in which they operate and value mutuality in working partnerships, social innovation and social justice.
