Participatory research grounded in community
Make meaningful change through data
Our research is intentionally designed to answer your community’s most pressing questions. Through respectful and thoughtful engagement, we help you assess your community’s needs, bridge gaps, and promote local strengths.
Research services
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Community needs assessments
Using a wide range of data collection methods and actively listening to the community members you serve, we engage with your audience, staff, board members, tribal council, business owners, and partners to capture a complete picture of your community’s needs and capacity.
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Feasibility studies
Our feasibility studies serve as effective economic development decision-making tools. We use a culturally relevant and individualized approach to evaluate the viability of your unique initiatives, distinguishing true economic opportunities from potential risks.
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Food sovereignty studies
Built from the knowledge and priorities of the community itself, we explore everything from food access and affordability to supply chains and producer resources. Our studies support local food systems as drivers of health, cultural preservation, and economic sovereignty.
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Housing needs assessments
Our assessments provide a holistic account of the housing landscape in your community, highlighting the challenges and opportunities that comprise it. We help identify what’s needed for healthy housing solutions, including infrastructure and potential partnerships.
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Clean energy studies
We gather critical data on existing clean energy resources, community awareness and interest, policy environments, tribal energy codes, and financing to support the development of solar energy, weatherization, efficiency upgrades, and workforce training.
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Market studies
Through on-the-ground community research of your target market segment, we assess the barriers to prosperity and sustainability in your community and pinpoint the funding and capacity building that’s required to meet market needs.
Our work with Sweet Grass helped us raise the voice of our neighbors who live challenging lives in an area that has been purposefully and historically ignored for generations.
Julie Keel, Mountain T.O.P.
Community-led tools and techniques
We combine experience and data to understand how an organization can learn and improve. We start with existing local data sources to understand the relevant landscape, then work with your community to collect data that accurately represents their lived experiences, instilling active ownership and participation in the outcomes.
Our research helps community leaders:
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Identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities in housing, health, food systems, and economic development using community-driven research
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Design strategies for development, sovereignty, and equity using culturally responsive analysis and collaboration with your community
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Turn data into action through reports, assessments, and planning tools that support long-term community well-being and self-determination
What’s new in research
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The goal of participatory research is a true shift in power
Instead of researchers being the sole interpreters of reality, participatory research methods recognize community members as the experts in their own lives.
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Promises made and fought for: How the Boldt Decision restored broken treaty rights to tribal fisheries
This landmark court ruling fundamentally reshaped how treaty rights are understood and applied in the United States.
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Northern Cheyenne Nation: Local food systems study
Traditional food practices continue to be part of daily life for the Northern Cheyenne, even as the food system they navigate has changed.
A community-informed look at the housing ecosystem of Laguna Pueblo
We partnered with Laguna Housing Development & Management Enterprise to support culturally grounded, data-driven housing solutions for Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.
Featured project
Max Van Oostenburg, associate research director, leads an activity at a community meal with Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico.