Rooted in Research, Growing Through Community

Building on local partnerships to advance community-driven research on integration and inclusion

FOCUS ON OUR HUBS

At the University of Alberta (U of A), research into migrant integration is grounded in place, guided by collaboration, and informed by the communities it serves. Under the leadership of Sandeep Agrawal, the Bridging Divides team at U of A brings together interdisciplinary researchers working on projects that connect national conversations with life on the ground in Alberta and across Canada.

"Our research is intentionally community-focused and policy-relevant. Almost all of our research projects are rooted in local realities,鈥� says Agrawal.

Whether exploring the role of places of worship in welcoming newcomers, examining intergovernmental immigration agreements, or asking how data privacy is protected in a digital age, researchers at the University of Alberta approach integration as a multi-dimensional process.

Among the organizations researchers are working with are Alberta Municipalities and BILD Edmonton Metro, collaborating on projects related to housing affordability. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also working with the City of Edmonton鈥檚 Multicultural Unit, the Edmonton Local Immigration Partnership, and other civil society organizations on everything from food security to the idea of what makes a community feel welcoming,鈥� adds Agrawal.

Community gardens as places of belonging

One project that captures the spirit of this locally grounded work is led by Elizabeth Onyango, whose research examines how community gardens are supporting the cultural food needs and mental well-being of immigrant and refugee communities.

For Onyango, these gardens are far more than places to grow fresh produce. 鈥淓ngaging on the land through community gardening has been a far-reaching experience, not just to myself as an immigrant to Canada, but also to all the people that come to work with us on the land,鈥� she says.

鈥淎s we put small seeds into the ground, they germinate into what most immigrants refer to as 鈥榓 taste of home鈥�, a sensory link to memory and place, and a reconnection to the land in cities of destination.鈥�

And so underused urban lots become spaces for gathering, greening, and reconnecting with land. Access to fresh produce improves, particularly for families who face financial barriers to purchasing culturally appropriate foods. New 鈥渢hird places鈥� 鈥� neither home nor work 鈥� are created, where people gather, share stories, and build connections. In communities where food insecurity and mental health challenges are common, these gardens offer not only practical support, but also a restorative space to reconnect with others and with oneself.

Partnerships in progress

In Edmonton, Onyango鈥檚 team is building a relationship with the Sinkunia Community Development Organization (CDO), a grassroots group serving African-descent communities through culturally grounded programming. With deep ties to newcomer families, youth, and seniors, Sinkunia CDO brings essential lived experience into the research process.

鈥淲orking alongside Sinkunia CDO in our food security research program has allowed us to generate evidence that is relevant in addressing current and emerging needs in the community."

鈥淐ommunity-based organizations have close connections with the people they serve and know the actual needs of the individuals and households in their programs,鈥� says Onyango. "These include cultural food insecurity, social isolation, mental health, and other related well-being issues within immigrant communities."

The team is also collaborating with Statistics Canada to access data through the Canadian Community Health Survey. With support from the Research Data Centre at the University of Alberta, researchers will analyze national trends related to food insecurity and mental health among immigrant youth, particularly in relation to access to culturally appropriate foods.

This dual approach, combining community-based and data-driven efforts, reflects the interdisciplinary strength of U of A鈥檚 Bridging Divides researchers and their commitment to scalable, actionable insight.

Looking ahead in the spirit of collaboration

鈥淭he hallmark of the Alberta team鈥檚 research is its focus on small and mid-sized communities, as well as rural areas, through partnerships with local officials and settlement agencies,鈥� says Agrawal.

鈥淥ur work examines how small and rural municipalities in Alberta can attract and retain immigrants while fostering more welcoming and inclusive communities.鈥�

The team鈥檚 commitment to collaboration was also evident when members of the Bridging Divides network gathered in Edmonton during the 2024 Canadian Ethnic Studies Association Conference. The pre-conference Bridging Divides meeting and the event itself served as a platform for researchers and partners to exchange ideas, share emerging findings, and deepen the relationships that make this kind of work possible.

The work underway in Alberta reflects the complexity of migrant integration in Canada鈥檚 mid-sized cities and rural communities, places often underrepresented in policy discussions. By connecting academic research with community experience, the team is helping build a more inclusive understanding of what integration looks like and how it can be supported through shared knowledge, local leadership, and practical innovation.