%0 Journal Article
%T Pre-capacity building in loosely-coupled collaborations: Setting the stage for future initiatives
%A Cheryl A. Hyde
%A Karen Hopkins
%A Megan Meyer
%J Gateways : International Journal of Community Research & Engagement
%D 2012
%I 
%X This article examines the benefits and limitations of ¡®loosely-coupled¡¯ research collaborations between university faculty and 12 grassroots community-based organisations (CBOs). The authors assert that community-based research projects that develop the knowledge base within CBOs, and can be described as ¡®pre-capacity building¡¯ work, can be an important stepping stone to the subsequent development of more formal and strategic capacity-building partnership ventures. However, such projects must be approached carefully with a clear understanding of the ¡®threshold dimensions¡¯ that must be met before proceeding with any collaboration. Written as a cautionary tale, the authors identify some of the problems that arise when the threshold stage is poorly executed, and more generally speak to the dangers of initiating even loosely-coupled collaborations in the absence of an explicit and well-established campus commitment to and support for community engagement and partnerships. Keywords: Community capacity-building, community-university partnerships, community research, collaboration
%U http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/ijcre/article/view/2382