Abstract
This workshop explores how participatory action research (PAR), integrated with critical race theory, can inform the design and practice of diversity education in Canada. Grounded in a three-year community driven project led by the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society (CCIS), one of the largest immigrant service organizations in the country, this research examines how “voice” serves as both a methodological and epistemic foundation for fostering inclusion and collective transformation. By engaging immigrants, service providers, and community leaders as co-researchers, the study places lived experience at the centre of knowledge creation and community action. The research process unfolded through four iterative stages, including community forums, participatory workshops, feedback cycles, and reflective dialogues, each designed to co-construct knowledge, deepen reflection, and promote agency among participants. Our research findings highlight that centring voice through PAR helps participants move beyond individual storytelling toward collective reflection and action. Participants transitioned from sharing personal experiences of marginalization to co-developing educational content, policy ideas, and community initiatives that address inequities across social and institutional contexts. This approach redefined traditional researcher and participant roles, fostering collaboration and emphasizing empowerment, reflexivity, and shared responsibility. This 45-minute interactive workshop invites attendees to experience the key elements of the PAR process through guided reflection and small group dialogue. Participants will work with real community/organizational stories, identify systemic barriers, and explore possible responses, experiencing how shared dialogue and collaboration transform lived experiences into collective understanding, practical insight, and action-oriented learning for inclusive and equitable social transformation.
Presenters
Sinela JurkovaManager Diversity Education Program, Community Development and Integration Services, Calgary Catholic Immigration Society, Alberta, Canada
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Education and Learning Worlds of Differences
KEYWORDS
Participatory Action Research, Immigrants integration, Diversity education, Inclusion, Reflective learning
