A qualitative and ethnographic research lab co-housed in the Department of Anthropology and Center for Substance Use, Addiction, and Health Research at Umd
Why “The Ofrenda?” : In many Latine cultures, an ofrenda is a sacred altar of remembrance for the dead—an offering composed of elements that honor people and legacies, sustain life and community in the present, and bridge the gap between the living and those that have passed. Altar building is not just a visual display, but an active, relational practice of respect, memory, and accountability to those who came before us, who we are today, and who we are committed to becoming.
At The Ofrenda Lab, we bring this model to bear on our research practice. Our research is mindful of structural violence and legacies that have created health inequities, community histories forged as people navigate and respond to embodied legacies, and how research can uplift models of structural and community healing. Our praxis is rooted in memory, relationship building, acknowledgement of harm, and respect and accountability for healing-centered research.
What we do at the Lab:
Community-Engaged Research & Reciprocal Partnerships
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We use longitudinal, qualitative, and collaborative approaches to conduct research in the following key intersecting areas: drug use, harm reduction, homelessness/housing instability, mental health, poverty, social marginalization, socio-structural harms, and legacies of exclusion in urban and rural contexts. We partner with community organizations, health departments, and community organizers to co-construct research agendas and plan for how a university partnership can add capacity to community or other health equity efforts.
Community KNowledge Sharing & Data Mobilization to promote health equity
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We are committed to valuing the wide array of expertise that exists in the communities we work in. We are also committed to creating spaces for knowledge sharing and using research findings for community education to promote health equity. We also want to ensure that our data and dissemination centers the histories and experience of those most impacted by structural harms and engages community-generated models for healing. We join partners in community dissemination events, knowledge sharing, and workshops on how to mobilize findings to promote health equity and reduce harms.
Student training, mentorship, & Community building
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We train students in rigorous qualitative and ethnographic research methods and the importance of upholding qualitative data as critical parts of what is considered the evidence base in health equity research. Students are given hands-on training and guided through how to ethically engage in community-engaged research.
Mixed methods partnerships across Disciplines @ UMD, UMB and beyond
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We work with research partners across methods and disciplines at UMD, UMB, and beyond. We believe that approaching complex research questions through multiple methods enriches data and facilitates more robust findings. Our research teams comprise qualitative, quantitative, and clinical collaborators to ensure the most robust approaches to research and implementation.