Changemaking on Campus

1. Laurier has been a Changemaker Campus since 2016 and recently renewed its designation for another four years. In your experience, how have you seen changemaking evolve at Laurier? How do you hope to see it continue to grow?

Changemaking has always been part of Laurier’s DNA. The designation though, has been a catalyst to make what was essentially organic, more strategic and purposeful. It’s been a slow and steady process, first with efforts to increase awareness around campus, putting a name to the activity that was already happening, and engaging more students through events like ‘Changemaker Awareness Month’ and our participation in the Map the System competition. With this last renewal we have made a greater commitment through a new pan-university innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) strategy with a focus on purpose-driven or changemaking I&E, to involve more students in the kind of activities that our Enactus Laurier team are involved in. We’ve revamped our website to provide students with a changemaking ‘map’ essentially, providing information on how they can learn about it, try it, and do it for real, both in a broad way and with targeted information on how they can focus their changemaking efforts on specific UN SDGs. It’s still a work in progress, but we’re excited to see it grow, adding stories about student and alumni changemakers, as well as faculty doing research in the field. We have some exciting interactive events planned year long and are also looking at new curriculum and dedicated space, which will help to accelerate the potential impact. Without the designation this would not have happened.

2. You recently attended the Ashoka Changemaker Summit, a global gathering of changemakers from around the world. What were your biggest takeaways?

My biggest takeaway was that there is so much that can be done and needs to be done to create an ‘everyone a changemaker’ world. I came away with so much enthusiasm and with so many ideas and great connections, it really helped to push the boundaries on what is possible. Hearing stories from Ashoka Fellows was great inspiration. Mostly, having brought a student changemaker with me, who is the Co-President of our Enactus team and the founder of an enterprise focused on building climate-resilient housing for northern Indigenous communities, seeing the impact it had on her and how it has energized our activity on campus as a result, that was the most tangible takeaway.

3. As a Change Leader, what keeps you energized in doing this work?

Without a doubt, what keeps me energized is seeing how this work changes the students. They are hungry to learn how they can make a positive difference in the world, and to start making a real impact. Their energy and passion, and their limitless thinking is truly inspiring and keeps me going. This work is not easy by any means, but the effort reaps huge rewards in seeing how transformative it is. All the students I’ve worked closely with have become true changemakers and have continued that path. I’m incredibly honoured to be part of their journey.

4. What is your advice to emerging Change Leaders and people trying to transform their institutions?

My advice would be to focus on the end goal and never underestimate what your students can do. Building a Changemaker Campus can be slow and time-consuming work, but it is incredibly rewarding. Not everyone is lucky enough to do work that truly energizes and inspires them. If you stay focused on the end goal and not get discouraged with the pace and the amount of work, it really is worth it. But most importantly, believe in the power of passionate students. It’s incredible what boundaries they can push when they have enough knowledge to get started on something, but not enough to think it can’t be done. I’ve seen students do amazing things that are incredibly innovative in areas that are sometimes not even related to what they are learning in their programs. Changemaking just needs passion and action, and it will grow exponentially.

5. What’s a book, article, Ted Talk, etc. that you think everyone should read or watch?

Recently I’ve been listening to Adam Grant’s book ‘Hidden Potential.’ As soon as the book ended, I started listening again, so it’s definitely my current must read/listen. On his website he says: “Hidden Potential illuminates how we can elevate ourselves and others to unexpected heights.” I can’t think of a better topic related to changemaking. Isn’t that what we’re trying to do – empower our students to be changemakers so they can elevate themselves and the world? What he talks about in the book really opened my mind and helped me to see how to better support my students to uncover the hidden potential inside all of them.

Laura Allan with the Laurier Enactus team.

We wish a very fond farewell to Charmaine Lyn as she steps out of her role as Ashoka Canada’s Director of Changemaker Education. In this brief Q&A, she reflects back on the last four years of impact with the Changemaker Campus network and anticipates what’s ahead for the field.

1. In your view, why is changemaker education so important for Canada’s post-secondary sector?

Canada’s post-secondary sector is at a crossroads, which is scary – and exciting. Years of increasing attention to community engagement and social accountability are coming to a head and institutions that have moved that previously marginal work into the center of their educational mission and institutional operations are better equipped to provide the kind of education that is so acutely needed right now, for learners and society at large. Changemaker Education is a powerful way of activating students’ knowledge (what they are learning), experiences (who they are, what they have lived) with a clear sense of purpose. The purpose is to shape and sustain deep change: to processes, policies, and systems.

2. Looking back on your time as Director of Changemaker Education, how have you seen the field grow and evolve?

I have seen Changemaker Education evolve and mature to become a robust framework that enables the integration of social innovation education into post-secondary institutions. The changemaking framework helps complex organizations like colleges and universities to see and make coherent the wildly different ways in which social impact work is happening on their campuses. This process moves organizations toward greater alignment and clarity, which in turn supports them in demonstrating and communicating how they are moving the needle on priorities such as community engagement, sustainability and reconciliation. I’m also really excited to see the extent to which changemaker education has been understood and championed by senior leaders on the campuses and in the sector.

3. What do you think is on the horizon for this field?

Moving from building and strengthening the field to gaining a better understanding of the kinds of impact that Changemaker Education brings for students and communities. Students should be able to choose their institution based on the diversity and availability of opportunities to develop changemaker competencies and practice them in their programs and in the real world.  Changemaker Education has the potential to exemplify the unique role and relevance of post-secondary education, and to demonstrate the myriad social and economic benefits it brings to our society.

John Fischer, Interim Associate Vice-President, Indigenization and Decolonization, Mount Royal University

1. What do you think is the most exciting part about MRU recently renewing its designation as a Changemaker Campus? Why do you believe this work is so important?

I was excited to see the wide range of initiatives and activities happening on our campus and how changemaking is a common element of our collective identity. I am fascinated by the ways that our society has adopted the terminology and am most pleased that MRU faculty and students have continued to value changemaking as a key aspect of learning. Changemaking incorporates our values to improve the lives of others, to invest in living a good life, and to activate a better future.

2. How do you see the connection between Indigenization, decolonization and changemaking in post-secondary? What does this look like at MRU?

Changemaking at a system level is a collective effort that requires vision, energy, and patience. Educational reconciliation is as much a goal as it is a process, and about the renewal of and commitment to a treaty relationship. We understand the impacts that settler colonialism has had on Indigenous governance systems, educational systems, economies, spirituality and health. Rebuilding an ethical treaty relationship can be challenging, and we need to be invested and prepared to examine how power and control have limited and inhibited Indigenous student success. We must consider ways to address the past and move into a future honing Indigenous rights and self-determination. Many governments, institutions, and organizations are on this journey, and MRU continues on its path.

MRU has passionate faculty and students who are invested in indigenization and decolonization and their actions include:

• Connecting with elders and knowledge keepers in the Treaty 7 community,
• Partnering with Indigenous peoples on curriculum initiatives,
• Partnering with national and international Indigenous communities in research and teaching and learning,
• Actively supporting Indigenous student academic success
• Faculty partnerships with elders

The MRU community has actively advanced initiatives for many years, and their energy and commitment has not waned. The university community has been continuously learning and now it is time to renew the Indigenous Strategic Plan. I am always cautious about profiling success because I see indigenization as a journey and as teaching. Please note that the work being done on campus is characterized by a strong element of humility and drive to continuously learn and improve on our collective efforts.

3. As a Change Leader, what keeps you energized in doing this work?

I am energized by the passion and commitment on a campus fully engaged in indigenization. I thrive on the support for the many actions that are taking place. In addition to reconciliation initiatives, there are many ways that changemakers are working on campus. I see how alive changemaking is through coursework, research, events and celebrations, and student leadership.

4. What are you reading right now?

I am reading Colonized Classrooms by Sheila Cote-Meek and I am revisiting the MMIWG Calls to Justice as MRU prepares to revisit the Indigenous Strategy . I am also reading Moon of the Turning Leaves, and the next book on my list is Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange.

5. What has your pathway to senior leadership looked like? How has changemaking influenced your own path?

My journey has been influenced by the intent to provide value and service and to build good relationships in work that is intricately connected to hope for a better future. My work has been in the education system, initially in secondary education. I came to MRU as the Director of the Iniskim, tasked with broader campus responsibilities prior to senior-level leadership positions. This experience provides me with the experience and opportunity to work with a wide range of leaders in the university.

I see my grandfather’s influence in my own changemaking. His dedication to hard work, commitment to working for his people, and sense of responsibility are values that I live. This has translated to the ways that I work on campus and the ways that I volunteer in the Calgary community.

6. What is your advice to emerging Change Leaders and people trying to transform their institutions?

Systems change is a slow process that relies on collective work over a long period of time. It can sometimes feel as if the work is cyclical as initiatives operate, lose momentum, and new allies and collaborators become involved. I think that systems are self-replicating and sustaining by nature. Hence, it is essential to be diligent, passionate, and courageous as you work to disrupt and achieve your goals for a better way of doing things.