Research is too often a process done to participants, but what if participants were viewed as co-investigators at every step of the research process? We will highlight the ways social scientists can reconsider and reconstruct research practices in a way that shifts power dynamics towards the study participants and their communities. We will share personal experiences adopting these practices with Photovoice, including the impact we observed on participants, our fellow researchers, and our study findings. 

Andrea Belgrade's academic work highlights the multidimensionality of experiences among structurally marginalized groups, highlighting the coexistence of individual and community strengths and vulnerabilities. She also has extensive advocacy and policy experience, having worked with the National Conference of State Legislatures and served as Co-President of Graduate Rackham International. Andrea currently works at the University of California, Office of the President, where she conducts system-wide survey research to inform university policy. She also consults through her LLC, Method4Change, which donates 2% of its revenue to support refugee education. Andrea is also the proud mother of a mini poodle who earns her keep by winning photo contests at conferences she attends with Andrea. 

Joy Agner is an Assistant Professor in the Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy at the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on improving health systems and services for underserved populations, specifically people in poverty and individuals with chronic disability or severe mental illness, using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach.