The Community Research Platform (CRP) brings together five Social Infrastructure Organizations (SIOs) in the Greater Hamilton Area, including McMaster, into a formal, sustainable research relationship. The CRP is a joint initiative between the Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre [3] for Artistic and Social Practice, Canadian Mental Health Association of Hamilton, Hamilton Public Library, and YWCA Hamilton. The CRP offers a novel approach to university-community research collaboration by providing sustainable infrastructure and resources to increase research capacity of all partners and to produce scholarly knowledge that directly benefits the community. The CRP is organized around four thematic research areas that align with the research strengths and interests of McMaster faculty and the mandates of partner SIOs. These include: 1) Gender and Intersectionality; 2) Mental Health 3) Arts-informed Research; and 4) Aging and Social Engagement.