ARW 2020

Instead of going on a trip, relaxing at home, or maybe even reading, ten Schulich students spent their Winter Reading Week volunteering at local organizations near York University.

Alternative Reading Week is a new initiative to create connections between Schulich students and the communities surrounding York University. As a contained campus, it can be hard to connect with the people who live and work near us – we hope through continued efforts like Alternative Reading Week this can change.

To participate, students attended a training session on community-engaged learning, and completed a reflection at the end of their experience.

This year, students had the opportunity to volunteer at one of three organizations: Success Beyond Limits, The Jane-Finch Community Ministry, or the York University TD Community Engagement Centre. Students worked on projects ranging from tutoring to creating a strategic plan to developing surveys.

Read on to learn about Roisin O’Dell’s experience with the York University TD Community Engagement Centre.

Active Citizen Continuum

https://www.cmich.edu/ess/volunteer/Programs/Pages/ABactivecitizen.aspx

by Roisin O’Dell, BBA candidate 2022

York University’s TD Community Engagement Centre works to bridge the gap between a conscious member and an active citizen by welcoming community members and volunteers. It was an absolute pleasure to be selected for this volunteer position and discover more about the CEC’s work to develop entrepreneurial resources for the Black Creek community.

My partner Nuscha Fathianpour and I prepared for the three-day placement on February 18th to 20th; we were filled with ideas and questions about what we could do. Upon arriving, we met the current manager of the CEC, Byron Gray, and proceeded to have a discussion about the goals we hoped to achieve in the short period of time we had. For the three days we were researching and developing a survey based on opportunities for entrepreneurship.

As a second-year student, it’s very easy to become consumed in the academic demands of my classes, which often makes me lose sight of my what my actual strengths are and how they are applicable to the real world. This placement showed me that I am capable of applying concepts I learn at school to real-life issues and using them to solve problems and helped me to find the confidence to continue to do so in the future. Most importantly, this opportunity has taught me how crucial it is to be involved in my community; being a part of a greater purpose and helping others is the key to creating changes and being a valuable member in my community.

I have spent many years volunteering in a variety of organizations, meeting people I wouldn’t regularly come across, learning new things about myself and how as a volunteer I can impact the lives of others with even the smallest of actions. I learned from the CEC that as I further my education and head towards the future, the lessons I learn in the classroom could and should also be applied in these volunteer environments.

“This opportunity has taught me how crucial it is to be involved in my community; being a part of a greater purpose and helping others is the key to creating changes and being a valuable member in my community.”

At Schulich I gain knowledge of how all businesses operate, in all departments, and I should take advantage of the opportunities to apply this to my own life and the communities I am a part of. I’m lucky to be a part of so many incredible communities, and it is my duty to bring my experiences and insight to any situation.

The CEC is an integrative hub for the community to find a support system for experiential learning; the centre goes beyond their formal responsibilities to provide essential accommodations for members who reach out. Their goal is to work towards finding ways for York University to be more integrated in the Black Creek community by opening their space and cultivating learning and development. They help to teach the application of knowledge to one’s aspirations.

It was an honour to volunteer there.