News

Stories of Partnership: Kelowna Museums and UBC Okanagan Library

Listen to the second CEN “Stories of Partnership” podcast featuring Erik Beardmore from Kelowna Museums, and UBCO Library’s Donna Langille and Christian Isbister. Discover how they collaborated on the Okanagan QueerStory podcast and Kelowna’s first Queer Zine Fair, as well as their future plans to celebrate and amplify Kelowna’s queer history.

Meet the CEN: Mandy Young, Community Engagement Coordinator

Mandy Young is the Community Engagement Coordinator for Patient and Community Partnership for Education in the Office of UBC Health. A dedicated patient partner and caregiver, Mandy works to integrate patient perspectives into the education of future healthcare professionals.

Challenges in Partnered Research: Dr. Moura Quayle, Associate Provost, UBC Vancouver

Adriaan de Jager, UBC’s Associate Vice-President of Government Relations and Community Engagement, interviews Professor Moura Quayle, UBC Vancouver’s Associate Provost. They discuss the evolving role of universities, navigating academic structures, fostering innovation, and strengthening knowledge exchange with the community.

Lingít: a Love Language for Community — Taku River Tlingit First Nation and UBCO Partner to Document Language Reclamation and Resilience

In this episode, we speak with K’èdukà Jack, executive director of the Children of the Taku Society, and Dr. Christine Schreyer, an associate professor at UBC Okanagan. They discuss their collaborative efforts to document language loss and revitalization, and how this work is strengthening cultural identity and community resilience.

Demystifying UBC’s Financial System: Supporting Fair and Timely Payments for Community Partners

In this Partnering in Research workshop, hosted on November 7, 2024, Ryan Brown, UBC Community Engagement, and Sam Filipenko, UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative, correct some common misconceptions about UBC’s financial system and share practical tips for navigating the payment systems, managing typical challenges, and processing timely, equitable compensation that can help to strengthen and sustain community-university relationships.

Feeding the Community: How Little Mountain Neighbourhood House and the UBC Farm Practicum Are Tackling Food Insecurity

Learn how the UBC Farm Practicum and Little Mountain Neighbourhood House have been tackling food insecurity for the past four years, featuring interviews with key contributors to the initiative.

Challenges in Partnered Research: Navigating Conflict in Partnered Research

In this episode, learn how to navigate and embrace conflict in partnered research to create stronger, more equitable partnerships and outcomes.

Meet the Summer Recipients of UBC’s 2024 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

From advancing Indigenous rights in Kaska Dena Traditional Territory to building seed-saving infrastructure at UBC Farm, this season’s projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff.

From Oral Tradition to Comics: Homalco First Nation Partner with UBC and Education Without Borders to Create Graphic Novel Based on the Stories of their Elders

In our latest podcast, we speak with project leads who have brought together a team of Indigenous graphic artists to create short comics inspired by archival recordings of Elders from the Homalco First Nation.

Stories of Partnership: AMSSA & UBC’s Centre for Migration Studies 

Listen to the first CEN “Stories of Partnership” podcast featuring the CEO of AMSSA, Katie Crocker, and UBC CMS’ Antje Ellermann, Sean Lauer and Javier Ojer. Hear about their longstanding partnership and gain valuable insights on the importance of relationship building.

Indigenous Leadership in Wildfire Management: Implementing Lessons Learned from Secwepemcúl’ecw 

CUES Funded Project | Discover how the project, “implementing lessons learned from Secwepemcúl’ecw,” has enhanced Indigenous leadership in wildfire management and resilience across BC

Peachland and the Watershed Ecosystems Project Work Together to Promote Collaborative Watershed Science and Governance 

PRE Funded Project | Read about how the Watershed Ecosystems Research Cluster Team partnered with Peachland to promote community collaboration on watershed science and governance

The Fraser Estuary Radio Explores Estuary Preservation and Mobilizes Public Action 

PRE Funded Project | Learn about how the Fraser Estuary Radio promotes estuary preservation and mobilizes public engagement through diverse, interdisciplinary content.

Meet the Spring Recipients of UBC’s 2024 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund 

This spring’s PRE recipients have formed valuable partnerships with UBC students, faculty, and staff who are passionate about making differences in their communities. 

Challenges in Partnered Research: The Power of Storytelling in Collaborative Research 

In this episode, learn how storytelling though a variety of mediums, namely comics, podcasts, and apps, are powerful tools for engaging audiences, securing research funding, and delivering impactful messages. 

Exploring the Future of STEAM: UBCO’s Expo of Awesome Inspires the Next Generation

PRE Funded Project | The Expo of Awesome celebrated the ingenuity and curiosity of young minds, bringing over 1,000 participants to campus for an exploration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). 

Valuable Insights From Defining and Describing Community-Engaged Scholarship for Promotion and Tenure with Dr. Emily Janke

Watch and explore key takeaways from the Partnering in Research Workshop, “Defining and Describing Community Engaged Scholarship for Promotion and Tenure” with Emily Janke

Celebrating Our Work Learn Students’ Journeys: Q&A with Kaialuna Scarpetta-Lee 

Kaialuna Scarpetta-Lee shares insights from their experiences and responsibilities during their Work learn term, reflects on key learnings, and discusses their favourite projects.

Celebrating Our Work Learn Students’ Journeys: Q&A with Lisa Kariuki 

Our latest Q&A features Lisa Kariuki, one of our office’s Work Learn students. Lisa reflects on her time with Community Engagement, favourite moments and more.

Hogan’s Alley Society Partners with UBC Students to Combat Anti-Black Racism in Social Work

In the summer of 2022, Hogan’s Alley Society founding director Lama Mugabo collaborated with a team of five UBC students to create an Anti-Racism in Social Work Toolkit.

Apply to the waitlist for the 2024 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

Get up to $1,500 to fill small resource gaps so community partners can build reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty and staff.

UBC Awards Over $700,000 to 30 Community-University Partnerships Through the 2023-24 Community-University Engagement Support Fund

From enhancing food security for new immigrants to partnering with First Nations for the better stewardship of our lands and wildlife, learn how these community-university partnerships are addressing priority issues throughout the province.

Folil Trafün: Connecting Afro-descendant, Indigenous and Latin American Communities in the Lower Mainland Through Film

In the fall of 2023, the Vancouver Latin American Cultural Centre (VLACC), Ficwallmapu, and UBC’s Faculty of Forestry collaborated to highlight and celebrate Indigenous and Afro-diaspora films from Latin America.

Meet the CEN: UBC’s Centre for Asian Canadian Research and Engagement

In our fourth episode, we interview the team behind UBC ACRE, an incredible initiative that is working to center the voices, experiences, and expertise of Asian Canadian communities, both within the university and, crucially, beyond it. 

Black History Month: Resources for Engaging with Black Communities Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow 

Engaging, learning and working with Black communities is not a once-a-year issue when Black History Month comes around in February. Community engagement is about building reciprocal relationships which takes time, meaningful effort and, most importantly, trust.

Meet the Winter Recipients of UBC’s 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund 

From working with First Nations to restore land along the Fraser Watershed to combating ageism through theatre and performance, this winter’s projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff on community initiatives.

Lessons from a Partnership: How United Way BC, UBC’s School of Public Policy, and the Office of Community Engagement Collaborated on a Public Policy Event

Reflecting on the collaborative success of “The Age of Disruption in Public Policy: DRIPA and Social Media” event, we share valuable insights for future collaborations including leveraging unique strengths, shared leadership, and clear communication.

Breathing life back into their language: A collaborative e-dictionary project with Klahoose, Tla’amin, Homalco, and K’ómoks Nations

Today, fewer than 47 native speakers of ʔayʔaǰuθəm remain, all of whom are over the age of 60. To help preserve their traditional language, four sister nations—Klahoose, Tla’amin, Homalco, and K’ómoks—are working alongside researchers from UBC and the University of Alberta to develop an ʔayʔaǰuθəm e-dictionary.

Three takeaways from our November CEN session: How UBC staff are integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into their community engagement work

On November 9, the Community Engagement Network gathered to talk about how UBC staff are integrating Indigenous ways of knowing into their community engagement work.

How to hire a UBC student: Four UBC resources for community partners 

Does your organization need extra help this year? Consider hiring a student from UBC. Whether for an internship, volunteer role, or paid position, UBC offers several ways for organizations to hire talented students from both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan.  

Meet the CEN: Kshamta Hunter, Manager of Transformative Learning and Student Engagement

In our third interview, we introduce Kshamta Hunter, the Manager of Transformative Learning and Student Engagement within the Sustainability Hub at UBC.

Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation and UBC Forestry Students Collaborate to Shape the Future of Fire Stewardship 

PRE Funded Project | The Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation and students from UBC Forestry are working together to find community-driven and decolonized solutions to wildfires in British Columbia. 

Meet the summer recipients of UBC’s 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

From supporting parents of children with speech delays to exploring Indigenous-led solutions to wildfires, this summer’s projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff on reciprocal initiatives.

A Sustainable Approach to Collecting Unwanted Items during Student Residence Move-Out 

PRE Funded Project | Each spring, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central and Southern Interior of BC partners with UBCO’s Student Housing to collect and sell donated clothing and household items in the thrift market.

Meet the CEN: Kat Cureton, Community Engagement Advisor

In our second “Meet the CEN” interview, we introduce Kat Cureton, an Advisor at UBC Community Engagement and leader of the Community Engagement Network.

Apply to be a reviewer for the 2024/25 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund

Join a diverse group of UBC faculty, staff, and community leaders to review CUES fund proposals and make recommendations for funding. The reviewer role involves a one-time commitment from January 2 to February 21, 2024.

Apply for the 2024/25 Community-University Engagement Support Fund

Get up to $25,000 to support community-university partnerships and projects. Submit a Notice of Intent by September 27, 2024.

Meet the CEN: Holly Kim, Operations and Program Manager

We’re thrilled to present a new series that shines a spotlight on the dynamic individuals who make up the heart of our Community Engagement Network (CEN). In our inaugural feature, we’re proud to introduce Holly Kim, the Operations and Program Manager at UBC Community Engagement.

UBC Strategic Plan: UBC Connects at Robson Square

Connects in the News | Located in the heart of Vancouver’s vibrant downtown core, UBC’s Robson Square facility expands the university’s reach beyond the Point Grey campus, and provides the perfect venue for encouraging equitable knowledge exchange between UBC and the downtown Vancouver community.

Museum of Vancouver and UBC Hosted “Making Space” Panel to Discuss the Complex Meanings of Asian Heritage Month and Asian Canadian Representation 

PRE Funded Project | the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) and the UBC Public Humanities Hub (PHH) co-organized “Making Space” in celebration of Asian Heritage Month. The event fostered a thoughtful conversation about the future of Asian Canadian communities and the importance for institutions to prioritize inclusivity and reciprocity.

Pancouver: Cultural researcher Kathleen Zaragosa nurtures Filipino heritage through power of language

Connects in the News | Kathleen Zaragosa speaks Tagalog and is now learning her family’s heritage language of Oasnon. Zaragosa will relate her own experience at a free Downtown Vancouver event that was inspired by the work she did as a UBC student.

The Revelstoke Child Care Society and HELP UBC Joined Forces to Enhance Child Development and Well-being for Young Families in Revelstoke, BC 

CUES Funded Project | The Revelstoke Child Care Society has partnered with the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC to improve access to services, programs, and positive experiences for families with young children in Revelstoke, BC.

Project TEACH final report: Bridging the gap between recognition and action in coastal ecosystems in Southern British Columbia

The final report of Project TEACH addresses conservation challenges within the coastal forests in southern BC, and includes recommendations to transition towards an ecologically-informed governance model.

Report: UBC’s 2023 Partnering in Research Conference

Relive the highlights of UBC’s 2023 Partnering in Research Conference, including video recordings of the plenary sessions, photos, and key takeaways.

Meet the spring recipients of UBC’s 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

We have already funded 12 community-university projects this spring! Discover how UBC students, staff, and faculty are collaborating with community partners on a range of initiatives.

Volunteer for the UBC Connects at Robson Square Program 

UBC Connects at Robson Square is seeking dedicated volunteers to support our innovative event programming.

Apply for the 2023 Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund

Get up to $1,500 to fill small resource gaps and empower community partners to build reciprocal relationships with UBC students, faculty, and staff.

Three takeaways from our April CEN session: Exploring tensions and opportunities of community-university engagement work within colonial systems 

The Community Engagement Network recently held its first in-person gathering in over three years, bringing together members from both Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

31 community partners receive funding from UBC’s 2022-23 Community-University Engagement Support Fund

UBC awards over $745,000 to support community-university partnerships that benefit communities and advance collaborative research, teaching and learning throughout British Columbia.

Preserving and sharing syilx digital heritage: Westbank First Nation and UBCO collaborate on interactive web map

The Westbank First Nation Archaeology Office have teamed up with Dr. Neha Gupta (UBCO) to develop a unique digital archaeology project that celebrates syilx heritage and strengthens Indigenous data governance.