Chapter 10: O Grows and The Contextual and Interactive Model of Community-University Collaborations: (Re)incarnation Story

Acknowledging the central role community-university partnerships play in many social science fields, including education. Suarez-Balcazar et al. (2005) offered the interactive and contextual model of collaboration as a tool for understanding how partnerships come to be and are sustained. In their partnership model, people from different stakeholder groups come together to respond to a problem of mutual concern. The model features three phases: gaining entry into the community; developing and sustaining community-university partnerships; and recognizing the benefits and outcomes of partnership work. Those involved in the partnership are also likely to navigate challenges and conflicts related to resources and interests throughout these three phases (see Figure 10.1 for details about what occurs in the phases).