Photo by Ryan Shiver.
Shelly Steward is the chief research officer at The Workers Lab and former director of the Aspen Institute’s Future of Work Initiative. Before sitting on a panel for the Zócalo/The James Irvine Foundation public program in Oakland, “What Is a Good Job Now? In Gig Work,” she swung by the green room to chat about Oregon, participatory action research, and the future of work.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever had?
The one I have right now at The Workers Lab. It’s a great team with a great culture and a shared vision of what we’re trying to do.
You live in Eugene, Oregon. What’s one place you really like to go there?
The bike and running trails along the Willamette River. Lots of rivers, lots of mountains.
Tell me a little bit about participatory action research.
It is an approach to research that gives all of the control and decision-making to the people at the heart of the research. So rather than researchers on one end and subjects on another, everyone is a participant who comes together to decide what are the research questions, how are we going about this, and why are we doing this. It’s as much about finding knowledge as it is about finding solutions.
What is one prediction you have for the future of work?
The more power that workers have, the better jobs are going to be.
Who is somebody that inspires you?
My mom. She also lives in Oregon.