CommuNiTy ACTiOn
ResEarCh NETwOrK

The Community Action Research Network (CARN) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing education through publicly accessible research and inclusive educational programming. Our work focuses on topics related to community development, economic justice, and the social economy. We support individuals and communities in building knowledge and capacity to engage with economic systems rooted in cooperation, sustainability, and democratic values.

To fulfill this purpose, CARN is committed to:

  • Conducting and funding non-partisan, methodologically sound research that contributes to public understanding
  • Sharing research findings widely through public events, online publications, and other open-access formats
  • Delivering accessible, non-credit educational programs informed by research and designed to reflect real-world contexts
  • Ensuring that all educational activities are open to the public and free of mandatory fees

acTiviTiEs

Research 

We conduct and support non-partisan, community-based research on topics related to public understanding of economic justice and community vitality. All publications are made freely accessible and shared through launch events, panels, conferences and joint publication intiatives.

CARN Members Public Engagements & Speaking Events:

  • Sommet de l'économie sociale (2025) — Speaker: Malcolm McClintock
  • The Great Transition Conference (2024–2025) — Speakers: Olivia Champagne & Malcolm McClintock
  • Housing Justice Convergence (2025) — Panelist: Olivia Champagne 
  • DevOur Campus Conference (2024) — Panelists: Erik Chevrier, Olivia Champagne & Malcolm McClintock
  • Building Food Sovereign Campuses, Bishop’s University (2024) — Keynote: Erik Chevrier
  • Adaptations Futures (2023) — Panelist: Erik Chevrier
  • Food Insecurity Panel, Culture Shock, McGill (2023) — Panelist: Erik Chevrier

Public Education

CARN supports accessible, non-credit education on the solidarity economy by contributing to community-based learning initiatives focused on economic justice, sustainability, and collective self-determination. Our educational offerings are open to the public and designed to make complex social and economic issues understandable and actionable. CARN’s educational offerings are:

  • Evidence-based and informed by research we conduct or support

  • Delivered online, in-person, or in hybrid formats to support broad accessibility

  • Free of mandatory fees, with pay-what-you-can or subsidized participation options

  • Designed with clear learning objectives and reviewed regularly for quality and relevance

These activities are grounded in our mission to advance public education and ensure broad access to learning that supports community resilience and systemic change.

PublicatioNs

While CARN has not yet published original research, the individuals involved in our network have contributed to community-based research projects and public scholarship that reflect the values and focus areas we aim to support.

These publications were authored or co-authored by members of CARN’s founding team and partners. We share them here as examples of the type of research we value: work that is grounded, public-facing, and committed to economic and ecological justice.

Past Work by Collaborators:

Chevrier, E. Building Food Sovereign Campuses:  A Case Study of the Campus-Community Food Groups at Concordia University (September 2022)

McClintock, M., Champagne O.  From Crisis to Consensus, SEIZE (April 2024)

Chevrier, E.  Cultivating Food Sovereign Campuses, in Hungry for Change, UofT Press (Forthcoming)

Chevrier, E. et al. Transformative Food Literacy: Empowering Students to Rewrite Campus Food Systems, in Food Literacies, UofT Press (Forthcoming)

Chevrier, E. & Classens, M. Cultivating Change: How Education Can Revolutionize Institutional Food, in Teaching Food Studies, UofT Press (Forthcoming)

As a registered nonprofit seeking charitable status, CARN does not promote specific political positions, support or oppose legislation, or engage in advocacy campaigns. All of our activities are educational in nature, grounded in research and designed to increase public understanding of community economic development, economic justice, and the social economy. Our work is non-partisan and focused solely on furthering our charitable purpose of advancing education.

MEmbeRs

EriK ChEvRier

Olivia ChampagNe

MalcOlm McClintock

Interested in Joining the Community Action Research Network? 

Reach out to us at info@solidarityresearch.ca