I have had the great pleasure to be involved in a number of volunteer positions, community engagement, and social justice efforts. These experiences fundamentally shape the way I approach work, learning, and my day-to-day life and give me the chance to actively and practically apply so many of the conceptual knowledge I have gained over the course of my undergraduate degree.
Community Cabbage
Community Cabbage is a group that utilizes food that would otherwise be funnelled into the waste stream to provide free meals and groceries for campus and community members. I have been involved with them for three years and am so grateful for the community it has provided, and the opportunities for meaningful and direct action it has opened up. Cabbage has been a primary inspiration for the direction I want to take in the world of research in terms of food sovereignty, mutual aid, and community-building.
Bureau of Sociology Students
I am a director at large and community outreach coordinator on the Sociology Students Union. During my time with BOSS, I have had the opportunity to coordinate a workshop based on food security, support fellow board members in workshop development, and connect with a solid network of fellow students and faculty members in sociology.
FED Urban Agriculture
This past school term, I enrolled in a community engagement course that included a placement with a non-profit community partner. I was paired with FED Urban Agriculture and over the course of the term I was able to be involved in a number of projects, from recipe collection for their community supported agriculture program to hands-on farm support. One of the most practical experiences I have had in a sector I am interested in, my time with FED taught me many valuable lessons such as the importance of taking initiative, time management, and various agriculture-based skills as well.
Edmonton Folk Festival
Growing up in Edmonton, I had the privilege of attending a stellar music festival every summer. As soon as I was old enough to be able to give back, I started volunteering for the festival as a means of further connecting myself with the community. From the age of 14, I have participated in a variety of positions for the festival, all with the commonality of allowing me to connect with fellow music lovers and community members. My volunteer shifts with the festival are something I look forward to every year, and are the highlights of my summer, allowing me to spend quality time with family and friends while contributing to the complex and involved process of the amazing event.