Statement of Purpose

The Neighborly Engagement Research Lab (NERLab) is a community-engaged research collaborative based at Providence College (PC). We're committed to fostering more just and equitable relationships between PC and the surrounding 02908 neighborhoods. Grounded in participatory action research and community organizing, NERLab approaches community-campus relationships through a neighborly lens — centering community voices, lived experiences, and local knowledge. 

 

Through practices of critical empathy and collaborative inquiry, we seek to better understand and transform the dynamics between institutions and neighborhoods. Our work challenges power imbalances and reimagines what it means to be a good neighbor. Led by Dr. Carmine Perrotti, NERLab explores how colleges and universities can responsibly leverage their resources to build sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships with the communities they call home.