In this webinar, presenters shared some of their experiences and strategies for bringing community voices more fully into the post-secondary sphere.

The webinar touched on:

• How Abbey Gardens has advocated for community voices at Trent University
• How, as a faculty member, Peter has advocated for community voices at 杏吧原创 University
• How the Harris Centre at Memorial University works to connect the Newfoundland and Labrador communities with the people and resources at Memorial University

Video Link

If you missed out on the day-of presentation, not to worry. We鈥檝e made it accessible below.

You can also access the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations:

A community organization’s perspective advocating for community voices

A professor’s perspective advocating for community voices

An engagement centre’s perspective advocating for community voices

Presenters

Heather Reid works as the Operations Director of Abbey Gardens, a not-for profit charity providing economic and recreational opportunities for Haliburton County.聽Heather has a background in Recreation Management, Outdoor Education, Small Business, and Community-Based Research. She gained experience brokering projects between the university and community in Nova Scotia at Acadia University. Upon moving to Haliburton, she was the program coordinator and then director at the U-Links Centre for Community Based Research. In 2013 Heather took on the role of Operations Director at Abbey Gardens and continues to foster relationships with the university through her current position.

Peter Andr茅e is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science. His research focuses on international and Canadian environmental politics, the political economy of agri-food systems, and community-based responses to the challenges of food security and agricultural sustainability. He is co-editor of 鈥淕lobalization and Food Sovereignty: Global and Local Change in the New Politics of Food,鈥� to be published by University of Toronto Press in March 2014. He is also author of 鈥淕enetically Modified Diplomacy,鈥� on the global politics of regulating genetically-modified crops and foods, published by University of British Columbia Press.

Amy Jones is the knowledge mobilization coordinator with the Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Amy helps make research, teaching and public engagement at Memorial relevant to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador through creating connections and facilitating effective partnerships. Amy delivers the Thriving Regions Partnership Process, which engages communities and provides funding and supports to faculty, staff and students to build meaningful research partnerships for thriving social and economic regions.

Moderator: Dr. Michelle Nilson is an associate professor with the Faculty of Education at SFU, where she teaches in the Educational Leadership programs. Her research and scholarship is inspired by questions concerning the nexus between postsecondary institutions, their environment, and the social, physical, and political. Her current work is a critical examination of student financial aid and teacher education policies and their implications for access, equity, and postsecondary student participation. Her research draws on her previous experience as an administrator of several large National Science Foundation and Ford Foundation grants that fostered opportunities for building networks and communication between various stakeholder groups. Her early days were spent in Detroit, Michigan, where she taught high school mathematics and middle school science.

On January 13, Trent University’s Masters of Sustainability Studies (MASS) Colloquium featured the work of local community leaders, students and faculty. This event was brought together by the (Ptbo/Halib) of the Community First: Impacts of Community Engagement (CFICE) project.

, Chair of the Political Studies Department and MASS faculty, hosted the event as the Trent Academic Co-lead of CFICE . 鈥淧utting Community-First involves learning new ways of communicating and partnering among community and academy,鈥� said Nadine.

, Executive Director, from the internationally recognized (TCRC) and Community Co-lead of CFICE, discussed research opportunities available through the Centre. TCRC is a bridge organization connecting Trent and community, bringing together students and community organizations for community-based research.

Sheila Ziman from the presented her experiences working with faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students to maintain and restore ecosystems in Haliburton. 鈥淭he outcomes are important,鈥� said Sheila.

Next, Heather Reid, the Operations Director of , and Melissa Johnston, in second year of MASS, shared their experiences from Melissa鈥檚 summer working at Abbey Gardens. 鈥淢y immersion in the community created an ease and depth of interaction. My 鈥榠nsider status鈥� helped to build trust and open doors,鈥� said Melissa.

Tessa Nasca, also in the second year of MASS, outlined her experience with the project that brings together the Stewart Street neighbourhood, community organizations, the City of Peterborough, and faculty to build capacity within the Stewart Street neighbourhood and the ability to strengthen community participation in planning processes. 鈥淗igh value comes from embedding oneself in the community,鈥� said Tessa.

Finally, Prof. from Environmental Resources Studies and MASS spoke of his experience as a faculty member who seeks partnerships outside of academic institutions. The day鈥檚 speakers represent only the start of the many rewarding partnerships possible when academia and the community partner together.

Community-campus engagement opportunities like those featured at the Colloquium offer a platform for students to see local initiatives that build capacity for both community and Trent in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Building upon the work of CFICE, the new聽 stream provides experiential learning and community-based聽action research聽opportunities for students in a full-time field placement in a community organization聽during Year 2 of the Program. 鈥淚t aims to meet the growing need for professionals as a distinct group of skilled, entrepreneurial individuals with the knowledge, tools and practical聽expertise to address social and environmental challenges and opportunities聽in community based organizations,鈥� said Asaf Zohar, Director of MASS.