New Publication Showcases Action for Positive Change
May 17, 2021
Sustainable Progress and Equality Collective (SPEC) today launched a new publication, the Journal of Engaged Research (JoER). SPEC opened its doors in June 2020 to respond to the challenges of the pandemic and social injustice facing their communities. SPEC’s mission “is to empower individuals to become globally-minded change agents by helping them learn the essential skills required to build sustainable careers and make a positive impact in their communities. SPEC works to achieve that mission by offering internships, mentoring, training, micro-credentials, and hosting events.
As an extension of SPEC, JoER functions as a learning and service space, where everyone who participates — from editors to writers — can engage in ongoing collaboration and upskilling.
The twin crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current period of social unrest inspired the SPEC team to create a space for diverse individuals who may not have access to traditional academic publishing channels. The launch of JoER is driven by a collective desire to give voice to those who take action, no matter their formal training.
Nan Eileen Mead, Research Lead at SPEC and Editor of the inaugural edition of JoER, writes in her opening note, “Many of our contributors come from what would be considered non-traditional backgrounds. We are the first in our families to attain higher education. We are visual and performing artists. We are entrepreneurs and career changers. We range in age from the mid-teens to the early sixties and come from all walks of life. The uniting factor is that each of us is actively involved in working to improve our communities.”
Plans are already in the works for the next issue of JoER targeted for mid-November. A call for submissions will be circulated in the coming days.
Sustainable Progress and Equality Collective (SPEC) was founded by Dr. Rhianna Rogers and Mr. Joe Torreggiani. Dr. Rogers is the Lead Principal Investigator of the Buffalo Project, an 11-year longitudinal participatory action research project utilizing data-driven diversity initiatives to inform solution-making efforts in college and community environments. Joe Torreggiani, a senior software engineer and philanthropist, joined forces with Dr. Rogers to advance the Buffalo Project’s actions and apply technological innovations focused on the areas of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM).
The JoER may be found here: https://medium.com/journal-of-engaged-research. For more information on SPEC, visit https://specollective.org, or connect with them via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and the Buffalo Project Twitter.
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