ABSTRACT
Flagship urban museums still struggle to connect to traditionally underserved communities. The Field Museum has been using participatory research to build relationships and relevance, recently undertaking collaborative research into ways to engage Chicagoans in action that addresses climate change. The process produced some tangible and creative responses within the context of implementation initiatives that grew out of the research. An important lasting value for many of the collaborators appears to be the continuation of relationships that both preceded this project or started with it; relationships that increase the knowledge and capacities of all partners so they can better fulfill their missions and serve their publics.
