Summer Placement at Urban Systems

By Mo Crossman-Serb, 2nd year MDP student

I’m working at Urban Systems in Winnipeg this summer as a Community Consultant Intern. Urban Systems is an interdisciplinary consultant firm working alongside municipalities, governments, Indigenous communities, agencies, and private sector clients. The company has offices across Western Canada, with Winnipeg being its only one in Manitoba.

I’ve been really lucky to work closely with my coach, Mike Wakely, who leads the Indigenous Practice for the Winnipeg office. So far, within the Indigenous Practice, I’ve been able to work on housing, economic development, and land-use planning projects with First Nation communities in Manitoba and Ontario. I’ve also been able to support with land-use planning on municipalities close to Winnipeg and work on some proposals for new potential projects. The activities for my role consist primarily of research of various topics, community engagement, and writing reports/strategies. Research for the role consisted of reviewing previous Urban Systems work, reading governmental reports, and conducting interviews or discussions with community members or organizations.

I look forward to continuing my work with Urban Systems until the fall. I would like to thank the Winnipeg office and all the other Urban Systems colleagues for all their patience and help.

Enhancing Community Safety and Wellbeing: My Experience with Persons Community Solutions (PCS)

By Daniel Yeboah, 2nd year MDP student

I’m currently completing my first year placement at Persons Community Solutions (PCS), a social enterprise in Winnipeg. I have been working as a Development Specialist on a Community Safety Host (CSH) program

Purpose of this Placement

I chose this placement because of my passion for community well-being and safety and my love to serve my community. My goal is to gain hands-on experience in the Canadian professional space, developing and implementing safety programs that foster a secure and supportive environment for all community members.

Daily Activities

Daily Routine: A typical day at PCS is working either from home or the office. I work independently according to my assigned tasks as well as an active team member when required. My mornings usually start with checking my emails to respond to funding program officers and arranging meetings, followed by updating candidates spread sheets and folders, and finally prescreening candidates through phone calls.

Learning Curve: One of the most valuable skills I’ve developed is understanding different perspectives and the impact of lived experiences. Interacting with candidates has taught me to appreciate their unique backgrounds and experiences, which significantly influence their views on safety and well-being.  Again, I have learned more about cultural competency; understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds of our clients as a crucial means for create a safe space to enhance access to essential services and resources.

Key Projects and Contributions

Community Safety Host Initiative A significant project I’m involved in is the Community Safety Host Initiative. My role includes prescreening candidates to be trained and employed as hosts and researching and reviewing funding opportunities. These efforts ensure that the program is staffed with capable individuals and has the necessary resources to thrive. Seeing the positive impact of our efforts, such as reduced incidents of petty crime and increased community trust, has been incredibly rewarding

Addressing Challenges One major challenge we faced was insufficient funds to train as many hosts as needed. To address this, I researched and reviewed various funding opportunities wrote grant proposals, and sought out partnerships with local organizations. This proactive approach has exposed us to some additional resources, although the need for more funding remains a critical issue.

Reflection and Personal Growth

Growth and Insights This field placement has been transformative. I’ve learned to navigate complex social dynamics and develop solutions that balance immediate safety concerns with long-term community well-being. The experience has also strengthened my leadership and problem-solving skills as well as my networking abilities.

Academic Connections The theories and frameworks I’ve studied, such as Indigenous Research, Indigenous Worldviews and Indigenous Economic Development have been directly applicable to my work. Implementing these concepts in real-world settings has deepened my understanding and provided a solid foundation for my future career.

Future Goals and Aspirations

Looking Ahead As I continue my placement, I aim to further develop my skills in community organizing and advocacy. I plan to initiate a new program in my home country that will focus on youth engagement, as empowering young people is crucial for sustainable community safety economic community development.

Career Path This experience has solidified my desire to work in community development and public safety. I’m now very open further studies in community development to enhance my impact in this field.

Conclusion

Final Thoughts Overall, my time with Persons Community Solution has been incredibly enriching. I’m grateful to my supervisors and colleagues for their support and mentorship. This placement has not only provided me with invaluable experience but has also ignited my passion for community service.

Advice for Fellow Students To my fellow students considering a field placement, I encourage you to embrace every opportunity to learn and grow. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone – the rewards are well worth it!

Options Housing Reconciliation Action Plan

By Alice Egbedeyi, 2nd year MDP student

Reconciliation is everyone’s business, and it’s a responsibility that OptionsHousing takes very seriously. In 2022, Options Housing, a seasoned nonprofit housing corporation in Ottawa, released their Reconciliation Action Plan, a framework for building the future while repairing the past. This RAP, as they fondly call it, guides the organization’s contribution to the work of reconciliation and the provision of culturally sensitive services to their Indigenous clients and tenants.

This summer, I was privileged to support this effort, furthering the organization’s goals to decolonize standard practices and create a welcoming and safe space that respects, honors and welcomes Indigenous Peoples and practices. When I arrived, the organization had already made significant progress on implementing this plan, starting with formally stating their position on reconciliation and executing their land acknowledgement protocol organization-wide.

During my time here, I quickly picked up on several ongoing activities. I coordinated the event for National Indigenous Peoples' Day, where we hosted tenants to attend the powwow. Later, I developed a training plan to engage staff members in Indigenous awareness and relationship-building training. In the final weeks, I completed drafting a comprehensive proposal document to help create a culturally-embracing lounge space within Options Housing for its tenants, especially its Indigenous clients.

Options Housing has made significant strides in implementing this plan, demonstrating that the RAP document is not merely a form of tokenism. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience how Options is intentionally creating space for Indigenous Peoples in housing. While there is still a long way to go for true reconciliation, as is the case across Canada, I am excited to see how Options continues to make a difference and advance their efforts towards respectful partnership. 

Community-Led Solutions: My Experience with The Winnipeg Boldness Project

By Md. Abul Kashem, 2nd year MDP student

This year, I had the incredible opportunity to complete my second field placement with the Winnipeg Boldness Project, an Indigenous-led, community-driven social innovation lab based in Winnipeg’s North End. This project aims to address systemic issues impacting children and families by empowering the community to co-create meaningful, sustainable solutions. Working with the Boldness Project has allowed me to see firsthand the power of community-driven change and the profound impact it has on shaping development initiatives that prioritize the needs and voices of the people they serve.

At the Winnipeg Boldness Project, I collaborated on various initiatives, including writing a project proposal for the Baby Basket Project, an essential support program for new mothers. I also conducted environmental scans and performed data entry for the Community Helpers initiative, ensuring that crucial information was organized and accessible. Participating in guided group meetings and community programs enriched my understanding of the project's holistic approach, where community members are placed at the center of the development process.

One of my key takeaways from this placement has been the significance of co-creation. Through the Braids and Proofs of Possibilities (POPs) model, I learned how innovative, community-led prototypes can bring about impactful, long-lasting change. Seeing the role that Indigenous leadership plays in fostering social innovation has deepened my understanding of the importance of community involvement in development work. This experience has shifted my perspective and reinforced my belief that development efforts must be driven by the community to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.

In addition to the hands-on work, I reflected on several readings, including Looking Back and Living Forward: Indigenous Research Rising Up and You Are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom. These texts provided me with theoretical foundations for community-led development and enhanced my understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems, which are vital in shaping meaningful social innovation.

This placement also highlighted a contrast with my previous work in Bangladesh. While many Bangladeshi NGOs focus on top-down approaches, the Winnipeg Boldness Project’s community-led model showed me the profound benefits of empowering local voices. This experience has inspired me to advocate for participatory development in future projects, both in Canada and Bangladesh, and to emphasize cultural sensitivity and local knowledge in all my work.

Overall, my time with the Winnipeg Boldness Project has been transformative. It has deepened my commitment to community-led, culturally-focused development and reinforced the value of collaboration and innovation in addressing systemic challenges. I look forward to applying these insights in future development projects and continuing to advocate for approaches that prioritize the needs and leadership of the communities they aim to serve.