Enhancing Newcomer Research and Knowledge Mobilization Through a Community-Based Knowledge Engagement Hub (2022)

As immigration to Canada increases, the complexities associated with serving newcomers (immigrants, refugees, temporary foreign workers, and international students) of diverse ethnogeographical backgrounds also increase. A range of stakeholder groups including researchers, policy makers, immigrant service provider organizations, and newcomer grassroots community organizations aim to help ease the process of settlement and integration for newcomers. A community-based knowledge engagement hub, which has been previously applied in the Indigenous community context, can facilitate the reciprocal flow of knowledge between those involved in newcomer settlement and inform newcomer-centered practice, policy, and research on settlement issues.

The establishment of a community-based knowledge engagement hub can better address newcomer settlement issues and be beneficial for all stakeholders involved. As described in 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10, 16, and 17, inclusive and representative multi-stakeholder partnerships facilitate the mobilization and sharing of knowledge. In turn, shared knowledge can support the implementation of planned and well-managed systems and policies for newcomers.

The authors recommend that a community-based knowledge engagement hub be established to facilitate reciprocal knowledge engagement across the cross-sectoral stakeholders in newcomer settlement. Examples include researchers, policy makers, and SPOs, all centered around newcomer grassroots community organizations. The establishment of a community-based knowledge engagement hub is recommended to be led by researchers in collaboration with policy makers, SPOs, and the community.