Sharing the past: A reciprocal approach to community‐engaged research

Establishing a reciprocal working relationship with a community for research purposes is the goal of any ethically minded social scientist, yet building trust can be one of the most difficult and time‐consuming aspects of launching a project in a new location. The difficulty should come as no surprise given the sordid history of data collection—especially among marginalized communities. Over the last several decades, awareness of these challenges has led to more inclusive, collaborative, and community‐based approaches to research. I argue here that the sharing of visual media or other material of historical significance with a particular community can be a first step toward potential collaboration. With promising results, I mainly relied on taking older documentaries back to the location where they were filmed, hosting public screenings, and having conversations with community members about the changes they have experienced—thus establishing a strong rapport leading to meaningful engagement and, in some cases, collaborative work.