We investigate community members’ perceptions of their engagement with university researchers’ engaged research conducted in their neighborhoods. Analyzing interviews, first, we find perceptions are not simply developed from singular experiences, personal experiences, or even research experiences. Most interviewees did not, or could not, clearly distinguish engaged research from other university activities. They also regarded the university as a monolith. Second, perceptions were related to broad narratives that endure over time and differed by neighborhood and by racialized group. This implies that university engagement in communities should seek to understand current and historical relationships while setting clear expectations with community members.
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