Exploring tensions and opportunities of community-university engagement work within colonial systems

Event Description

This event is an opportunity to engage in meaningful self-reflection and discuss the colonial systems at play within our community engagement work. Our objectives are to foster increased awareness, build interconnectedness between units, and ultimately drive meaningful change. By the end of the event, we hope that you will feel more connected to your colleagues, and leave feeling inspired to continue this important work.

This event is free and open to UBC staff.

Co-Hosted by: UBC Community Engagement, UBC Equity & Inclusion Office, and the Institute for Community Engaged Research.

Time & Location

This event will be hosted in-person at both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan:

• UBCV: April 6, 9:30-11:00am, Dodson Room (Room 302, Irving K. Barber Learning Commons, 1961 E Mall). Co-facilitated by Madison Tardif (Equity & Inclusion office) and Kat Cureton (Community Engagement).
• UBCO: April 5, 9:30-11:00am, Institute for Community Engaged Research (ART368 – 1147 Research Road). Co-facilitated by Jenica Frisque (Equity & Inclusion office) and Donna Langille (UBC Okanagan Library).

Agenda

• Intro & icebreaker activity
• Small group discussion on reflection questions:
  • What supports have you found helpful for thinking about (de)colonialism in your work?
  • Where have you seen or done work that feels good?
  • What does decolonization look like in your context?/ How does the legacy colonialism show up?
• *5 min break*
• Mapping exercise (spheres of influence)
• Closing

This event is intended for UBC staff and community engagement librarians in the Community Engagement Network. We welcome faculty members and student staff who are in community-university engagement-related roles and are interested in the objectives below.

Objectives

1. To slow down, take time, and be intentional in our self-reflection on the colonial systems we are navigating in community engagement work.
2. To share some wins and hear examples of the little steps Community Engagement Network members are taking to embed equity in community-university relations.
3. To consider how we can continue to move forward, as a community of colleagues.
4. To break down silos between units and build interconnectedness.