Utilizing CBPR Charrette in Community-Academic Research Partnerships – What Stakeholders Should Know

The purpose of this article is to describe how researchers and community stakeholders can use Charrette processes to effectively build partnerships and stimulate successful community-based participatory research (CBPR). The term “Charrette” originated in the architectural design field. Kotval et al. (2014) described the Charrette as “a process of collaboration, intense dialogue and deliberation among participants to promote understanding and facilitate planning activity” (p. 494). The use of Charrette in CBPR is still an emerging concept in the literature, however, a few key studies have demonstrated that Charrette is a promising tool for CBPR researchers and stakeholders. Kennedy’s (2017) eight Charrette characteristics serve as an evaluative framework for examining the use of the Charrette in the two CBPR projects described in this paper. These cases illustrate how the CBPR Charrette was tailored to fit the needs of the project stakeholders. Recommendations for utilizing the CBPR Charrette are discussed, and important considerations are highlighted for community and academic groups who engage patients and community stakeholders in the research process.