Community-based research (cbr) has emerged over the past decade as a more comprehensive and participatory approach to traditional higher education research. It is a particular research model in which community organizations, schools, residents and civic leaders partner with academic researchers (faculty, academic staff and students) to produce knowledge that is used for the benefit of the community. In contrast to earlier research practices in which community members were simply “human subjects” and passive recipients of information, community-based research values the local community’s perspectives and engagement at each phase of the research project.