Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences (Class I)

In the last 15 years, Dr. Dorothy Holland has conducted a large-scale study of grassroots environmental groups in North Carolina and with other researchers has been involved in a project on local democracy and its difficulties in five sites across North Carolina. Both projects examined how and why people organize in grassroots and nonprofit groups to change their environmental and economic practices. Holland also helped initiate The Center for Integrating Research and Action (CIRA), a collaboration of grassroots groups, nonprofits and faculty at local universities. CIRA addresses poverty reduction, environmental challenges, community economic needs, historical awareness/celebration and other social problems. In the past year, CIRA has collaborated on a variety of projects including research with communities on food and justice, a community engaged class on environmental justice, a series of community/university dialogues on student internships and service learning, and conferences and initial community/university meetings on cultural tourism.