The Social Work Praxis Lab

The Social Work Praxis Lab is a community-engaged research space dedicated to advancing equity, social justice, and transformative change across mental health, health, and social care systems. Rooted in the core values of social work, our research centers lived experience and critical inquiry to examine how individuals and communities navigate complex social, health, and institutional landscapes. We investigate structural inequities, stigma, access to care, and the policies and practices that shape outcomes for marginalized and underserved populations.

At the heart of our work is praxis, a foundational concept in social work that captures the dynamic integration of theory, critical reflection, and action. Praxis means moving beyond research as a purely academic exercise, and instead using knowledge to inform ethical practice, advocacy, and systems-level transformation. It demands that we critically examine power, oppression, and lived realities, and translate that understanding into meaningful interventions that promote equity and community well-being.

We are committed to research that is collaborative, action-oriented, and grounded in the voices of those most affected by systemic inequity. Through qualitative, critical, participatory, and community-based methodologies, we partner with people with lived and living experience, practitioners, students, and policy leaders to co-create knowledge that is both academically rigorous and socially meaningful. By bridging research, education, and practice, we work toward systems of care that are more just, compassionate, and responsive to the communities they serve.

Contact: Dr. Aman Ahluwalia-Cameron | amanac@uwindsor.ca