Arlene reached out becuase she was interested in using research to create visuals that communicate complex and challenging social topics, and also evaluate their effectiveness. She created a blurb for a research4impact newsletter and ultimately had several informal and formal collaborations with researchers who responded. Afterwards she shared this about her experience: 

"Every field speaks in its own lingo - this seems particularly true in academic research. As a practitioner, the difference in language made it challenging for me to understand academic publications and connect to research in adjacent fields. So, while the process of research has always been a black box for me, through research4Impact I've come to understand more concretely how research is done in an academic context. I've made great connections, have started collaboration on research projects, and exchanged ideas."

Tatiana responded to a blurb in the research4impact newsletter from a practitioner looking to discuss participatory research. They had a collaborative conversation with some brief follow-up, and here's what she said afterwards about the experience:

"I appreciate the opportunities research4Impact offers to connect with other researchers and practitioners across the county. I met with a non profit evaluator to discuss ways to incorporate community-based participatory research (CBPR) practices into program development. I was excited to meet with others who share passions for equity and in centering communities. I was able to offer some frameworks and models that I had used previously in CBPR related projects. I shared some tips and lessons learned for others who are just starting to engage in this type of work. I was also able to advise on how to create community advisory groups expanding the scope of "community" to boots on the ground program implementers. Really fun and engaging conversation! Look forward to future collaborations or discussions with others interested in embedding CBPR into their work."