At Engaged Stories Lab, our work bridges the gap between research and lived experience. Rooted in Kansas State University’s legacy as the first land-grant institution in the United States, our lab is guided by the belief that knowledge should serve the public good. When Congress passed the Morrill Act of 1862, it created a framework for universities like K-State to democratize education and engage directly with the needs of their communities—not just to study the world, but to help shape it (National Research Council, 1995). In this spirit, our research isn’t just about producing knowledge—it’s about putting that knowledge into action.

We believe stories hold power. At Engaged Stories Lab, we document and preserve narratives from communities across Kansas and beyond, particularly those often left out of traditional academic research. These stories—whether from immigrant food-system workers in western Kansas or students navigating basic needs insecurity on college campuses—offer crucial insights into the complexities of social justice, resilience, and community change. By centering these voices, our work reflects a growing movement in the academy toward publicly engaged scholarship that is participatory, responsive, and justice-oriented (Saltmarsh & Hartley, 2011).

This approach aligns with the land-grant university’s evolving mission to build partnerships that not only share knowledge but co-create it. We work alongside community partners, not as subjects of study but as collaborators and co-educators. Through this model, we equip students, scholars, and practitioners with the tools to understand and address systemic challenges—such as food insecurity, labor inequality, and climate resilience—through both critical reflection and practical intervention (Boyte, 2004; Fitzgerald et al., 2012).

K-State’s Office of Engagement reinforces this mission by fostering reciprocal relationships between the university and communities throughout Kansas and the world. Our lab is proud to contribute to this broader ecosystem of engaged research by training the next generation of leaders in what Ernest Boyer (1996) called the "scholarship of engagement"—a model of inquiry that connects theory with action, and learning with service.

Ultimately, Engaged Stories Lab exists not only to document but to inspire—to create a platform where narrative becomes a tool for advocacy, a method for understanding, and a spark for sustainable social change. We are committed to producing research that speaks with communities, not just about them, and to cultivating leaders who understand that the most powerful change often begins with listening.