Participatory Action Research (PAR) is research that is actually done by someone within the community. The person actually goes out and finds the answers are solutions to their research question by either interviewing someone or taking surveys of a particular group of people.  It is also the process of deep inquiry into a topic of interest and importance in service of moving towards the future. It is systematic, reflective study of one’s actions and the effects of these actions in a community context. Some people also look at it as a way of learning from and through one’s practice by working to develop expertise.

My internship site was North Cambridge Catholic High School (NCC). Its mission statement is as follows: “North Cambridge Catholic High School is a coeducational Catholic school, offering students of multicultural backgrounds and limited economic means a rigorous college preparatory program in a safe, nurturing environment. Through a comprehensive curriculum, the Corporate Work Study Program, and a close partnership with families, the School prepares its graduates to become exceptional community leaders and persons of strong moral character. The School embraces the cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity of the student body, enabling each student to develop a unique sense of personal responsibility, global awareness, and spiritual growth.” The school is made up of approximately 282 students, 13 main faculty members, and no more than 7 teachers.