In this webinar, you will learn about a unique university-community partnership between the Syracuse University Geography Department and the Central New York Community called the Syracuse Community Geography Program (link is external). Now in its tenth year, the initiative uses community-based participatory action research (CBPAR) and spatial analyses to investigate topics of concern to the local community. Research projects use Participatory GIS to provide a fresh perspective on community and economic development, health inequalities, neighborhood planning and social service delivery. Robinson will speak about why community-based organizations are interested to use GIS and spatial analysis, barriers they face to accessing technology and data, and the reciprocal benefits to the community and university in using a collaborative approach.​

Presenter: Jonnell Robinson an Assistant Professor of Geography and has been the Director of the Syracuse Community Geography Program at Syracuse University since 2005. Her research and teaching interests include community-based and participatory action research, and specifically Participatory GIS (Geographic Information Systems). Robinson collaborates with grassroots and community-based organizations to use geographic inquiry to better understand and address social and economic disparities. Robinson is also interested in how and why community-based organizations use geospatial technologies, as well as the limitations to these approaches, in advancing grassroots action research agendas. She teaches courses in community geography, geographic field methods, and advanced GIS. She received a Ph.D. in Geography (2010) and a Master of Public Health (2003) from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

This webinar is premium content and a link to its recording can be found by logged-in Members in the Community Forum section of our website.