Hundreds of DC-area community-based organizations (CBOs) work for social change by providing basic services, empowering 'voiceless' communities through the arts, media, and civic engagement, and advocating for policy and institutional change at the local and national levels.  To meet the growing challenges of poverty and social inequality, CBOs need up-to-date, relevant, accessible information for effective service delivery, public awareness campaigns and fundraising. Through its partnerships with research institutions, CoRAL provides CBOs with the theoretical and technical skills of research design, quantitative and qualitative data analysis and reporting, dissemination strategies, and information management. CoRAL's Partners in Urban Research Seminar (PURS) brings together faculty and community leaders to develop a community-driven research agenda on critical social justice issues. For 2004-2005, PURS focus was on public education to create linkages with schools and CBOs in support of K-12 and higher education.  While most university civic engagement activities in public schools are directed toward mentoring and tutoring, few faculty partner with local schools to conduct collaborative, change-oriented research.  The PURS process is designed to produce methodologically rigorous research on educational issues, grounded in the articulated needs and interests of the community.  Community partners are eligible for CoRAL stipends and mini-grants to support their innovative research and evaluation projects.