ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a narrative of the process by which people developed important research partnerships, and how these relationships yielded valuable lessons that informed evolving research methodology as well as blurred the line between "successful" and "failed" research. It discusses the stories of the two community partnerships and how they have co-evolved with the authors' academic research and teaching programs. The community discussions created an opportunity to more deeply connect with Portland actors who were creating an economy based on local distinctiveness and sustainable production. The process of engagement with the local artisan and maker community began with research and writing that led to the publication of Brew to Bikes: Portland's Artisan Economy. Margolis-Pineo helped us craft a database of Portland's apparel maker community, and helped arrange a larger meeting of interested actors, including the Portland Apparel Lab partners, a representative of the Portland Development Commission, and a select group of local apparel business owners.
