Community leaders edition - part one
Faculty of Community Services (FCS) students tell us how they live out “FCS In Action” in their communities.
Tell us about your community involvement and your leadership roles outside of Ryerson. What groups are you involved with and what is your role?
I lead A Voice for Transit (external link) , where I guide our leadership team and oversee our projects. We advocate for improved transit equity. In other words, we advocate for improved access to transit for those who need it most. In May, 2020, we released our first report titled " (PDF file) Inequitable Transit in Toronto (external link) " which identified the provincial government as a key and powerful stakeholder in transit planning. We have participated in consultations with the TTC on their annual plans. I have represented the group through deputations at the City of Toronto, the TTC Board of Directors and the City of Vaughan.
Tell us why this work is important to you and the impact you are making for your chosen community:
Individuals who identify as women, BIPOC or coming from low-income communities depend on transit to get to and from jobs, school and their homes. We advocate for them, particularly those in the suburbs because they do not have enough representation in transit decision-making. These individuals need transit service levels to be maintained as many are frontline workers. In November, 2020, we advocated for improved service on a York Region Transit line. While we have not achieved this yet, our advocacy has led to improved lighting and better transit service for frontline workers.
Looking 15 years into the future - tell us what you would like to see improved in the world, and how you would like to be part of that solution:
Individuals who identify as women, BIPOC or coming from low-income communities, particularly in the suburbs, being at the centre of transit decision-making in the GTA. We would like to see transit investments that serve these riders in the short-, medium- and long-term. For instance, we have concerns with the Ontario Line and the Scarborough subway project over the types of technology being considered. As well, we would like to see our group grow so that our concerns can be included in transit priorities.
How have your studies at FCS helped you in your community leadership roles?
Academic literature about feminist, intersectional and equity planning in Magdalena Ugarte's Advanced Theories of Planning class have influenced our thinking in recent months. Our campaign focused on York Region Transit is centring the concerns of intersectional individuals (e.g. women, people of colour) and is an outcome of professor Ugarte's class. The exposure to new ideas through my studies at FCS has been beneficial.
What is your advice to future community leaders and FCS students?
1) Be open to how learning in your classes can influence your current project or your next one. 2) Don't be afraid of reaching out for help from fellow students. 3) Take advantage of the resources available through Ryerson University.
What makes you a student leader:
I value diversity and free speech to develop a shared vision and facilitate change for the common good of all community members. I enjoy taking part in student leadership opportunities including Tri-Mentoring because it allows me to enhance student experiences and shape the future development of our school community. I appreciate the Faculty of Community Services Society (external link) slogan: “We are the changemakers of tomorrow” because it is true. We have the power to identify priority needs in our communities and address change.
How have your studies at FCS helped you in your community leadership roles?
I believe leadership is present everywhere, particularly when working with a team. In my program, whenever working in facilitation or clinical groups, I take pride in role-modelling professional values, beliefs, attributes, and acting as a mentor to less experienced nursing students. I have demonstrated leadership as a member of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (external link) , external lin, by actively participating in modules and events to increase my knowledge so that I may confidently share evidence-based information with my peers. This year, our focus is on community health. I am utilizing leadership skills such as conflict resolution and open communication when working with my peers to develop goals and steps, to achieve an outcome that equally benefits all the members of our community.
What is your advice to future community leaders and FCS students?
My advice for future community leaders and FCS students is a simple quote from Lisa Haisha, “Great leaders don’t set out to be a leader, they set out to make a difference.” This means that being a leader is not only a title but it is about having a vision and the motivation to achieve collaborative goals. Also, remember, no matter how small the difference you make, change starts somewhere, thus increasing your participation and awareness are the foundational steps for change. So be a part of the community and share your voice!
What makes you a student leader?
I am currently the communications officer for the Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee at my program. Through this role, I communicate with my cohort to discuss relevant issues and how we plan on addressing them. Connecting the ideas of my peers to my work within the committee has helped me grow as a leader while teaching me how to engage with and implement the thoughts of others.
Tell us why this work is important to you and the impact you are making for your chosen community:
I find this work to be important because the foundation of urban and regional planning is built through a colonial framework. Understanding and acknowledging how planning has been complicit with the unequal treatment of the marginalized is of the utmost importance for me. Through this understanding, I hope to be able to make a positive impact in communities by focusing on accessibility from an equitable standpoint.
How have your studies at FCS helped you in your community leadership roles?
My studies through FCS have given me an opportunity to learn more about how urban and regional planning functions. Through this knowledge, I have gained confidence in my abilities to decipher what I find to be morally correct. Additionally, FCS has provided me with a space to have these conversations with like-minded individuals, and for that, I am extremely grateful.
Tell us about your community involvement and your leadership roles outside of Ryerson. What groups are you involved with and what is your role?
I am currently the communications co-lead for the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council (external link) . Alongside my partner, I am in charge of all communications on social media and I put together a monthly newsletter of events going on in the community. As well, I advocate for causes geared towards uplifting and empowering youth voices to change the current food system.
Tell us why this work is important to you and the impact you are making for your chosen community:
This work is important to me because I am working alongside marginalized communities to shed light on their stories and assisting them in creating a just food system. I’ve witnessed how impactful advocacy and education is and the power that youth voices have in creating change, and I want to continue doing this kind of work.
Looking 15 years into the future - tell us what you would like to see improved in the world, and how you would like to be part of that solution:
Fifteen years into the future, I hope to see a more just food system for all. There are many injustices currently happening at the hand of our current food system: lack of Indigenous food sovereignty, immigrant worker rights, and inequitable food distribution. My time with FCS has helped me understand the current food system and I’m hoping to be a part of the solution by continuing my advocacy and education efforts.
How have your studies at FCS helped you in your community leadership roles?
My time at FCS has helped me build confidence in both my knowledge and leadership skills. I’ve taken on some really amazing opportunities through FCS that have been fundamental in building my confidence and developing myself personally and professionally.
What is your advice to future community leaders and FCS students?
Find something you're really passionate about (through trial and error) and stick with it. There's no point in taking on too many roles because you won't be able to do them all well. Finding one or two roles you're passionate about will allow you to stay focused and will open up some amazing opportunities for you.
