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Short abstract:

Based on decolonizing and social justice principles, insights and community-driven "best practices" for inclusive sustainability research will be presented. These stem from two years of collaborative engagement with marginalized BIPoC and immigrant communities in Berlin, Germany.

Long abstract:

Drawing from two years of co-productive and collaborative engagement with community activists from marginalized communities in Berlin (Or 2023), lessons learned and "good practices" for sustainability and transformation research with communities will be presented. In recent years, amidst university decolonization efforts, Indigenous perspectives have garnered attention in sustainability and transformation research (Cajete 2020). This has sparked interest in decolonizing and ethical research methods, moving beyond postcolonial extractive science (Degai et al. 2022). A similar shift is occurring regarding transformative knowledge and practices in marginalized urban communities in Europe, including BIPoC (Black Indigeneous and People of Color) and immigrant communities, which have historically been undervalued and delegitimized. While currently a new interest of researchers to learn from and with these communities is emerging, there is a need to design and carry out novel research formats that engage these communities. The presentation draws on decolonizing and social justice approaches to research (Cohen Miller/Boivin 2022) and identifies community-led practices that facilitate respectful engagement with community knowledge holders, navigating painful histories of exploitation and marginalization of alternative knowledges, and addressing the power relations between researcher and co-producers. It reflects on experiences of implementing "good practices" while co-producing an edited volume with diverse members from marginalized communities in Germany (Or 2023). The presentation aims to promote research approaches that foster genuine collaboration, rather than perpetuating patterns of exploitation, communication breakdowns, or a lack of engagement. With this, the presentation aims to contribute to more inclusive and effective approaches to sustainability and transformation research in urban contexts in Europe.