PD Facilitator

October 2021 - Present

​

Click here to check out our author interviews on our Chapters4Change YouTube Channel.

October 27-28, 2021

​

Title of Session: Connecting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with Learning Outcomes

​

Description of Session: Drawing on experiences from academic leaders at Carleton University, George Brown College, Georgian College, the University of Ottawa, and the University of Toronto Scarborough, this session will consider approaches and learnings that have contributed to structural change and the creation of spaces of belonging in higher education. 

 

Panelists:

• Noël A. J Badiou

• Kahente Horn Miller

• Katie Larson

• Nadia Richards

• Jennifer Shelswell (she/her)

​

 Click here  to register for this event. 

March 9, 2022

​

Shared what Chapters4Change is doing in the field of education to promote equitable, diverse, inclusive, and safe learning experiences for all students during TESL Niagara's March Madness Webinar Series.

April 22, 2021

​

Faculty, staff, and stakeholders were invited to come and listen to Georgian's second year ECE students as they pitched their amazing Change the Now project ideas! These students worked their a remote online #ChangetheNow placement.

Teams focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education, and they tackled the wicked problem of providing quality education in remote and digital environments. Their question of focus was "How might quality education evolve in remote and digital environments.

Students used Human Centered Design Thinking when tackling the wicked problem.

Empathize: In order to identify a specific problem, the students interviewed stakeholders in order to learn about the struggles they were facing with remote and digital environments.

Define: From there, students were able to define a specific problem that they could try to find a solution to.

Ideate: The teams then brainstorms possible solutions to their wicked problem.

Prototype: Students tested out their solutions on their stakeholder to ensure that the solution is something that their stakeholders would find useful.

Pitch: Finally, the students completed Pechka Kuncha Presentations and pitched their ideas at our ECE #CTN Presentation!

This was an amazing opportunity for our students, and I am proud to call myself a Changemaker Faculty!

Focus on Teaching & Learning Conference

• May 6, 2021

Brock University

• April 6, 2021

​

This session focused on the benefits of mindfulness and mindfulness meditation on student learning. Tools that promote mental relaxation and decreased stress were introduced. Participants took part in interactive activities which they can implement within their own teaching contexts.

Session Objectives
Through participation in this session, participants had the opportunity to

• identify their own stressors and possible stressors that their students may be facing

• learn about the value and benefits of mindfulness & meditation

• learn different types of mindfulness meditation and mindfulness tools that can be used with students

• discuss how they might use these tools with their students.

​​

Click here to view Wellness Resources for student engagement. ​

November 2023 - Present

​

 Click here if you didn’t get a chance to watch the videos

Team Georgian is invited to:

• digitally connect and share stories of grit, fun, failure, success, anticipation and more

• engage across disciplines, departments/academic areas, campuses and roles

How it works:

• Every semester, the team will share prompts through the employee portal, a dedicated SharePoint site and social media to encourage employees to create 1.5 to 3-minute videos on a topic(s). 

• Employees will have about a week to respond.

• Use Flip, a video discussion application from Microsoft, to share and engage with stories

• The videos will then be shared out with Team Georgian.

Your Dare to Share Big Ideas team, 

Aya K., Jarrod O., Jenn H., Jenn S., Mary D., Taiwo, H., and Tracy M.A. 

Saturday, March 25, 2023

​

Title of Session: Beyond the Book: Equity-Based Literature Circles as Educational Tools with Chapters4Change

​

Description of Event: Hosted by the MA in Social Justice and Equity Studies, the Niagara Social Justice Forum is a day-long program of activities such as concurrent workshops, performances, exhibits, and information tables in a fair-like atmosphere. Activities are proposed and organized through connections with community-based individuals and groups committed to social justice. 

 

Presenters:

• Jennifer Shelswell (she/her)

• Janice Desroches (she/her)

 Click here  for event details. 

Georgian College Students, Faculty, Staff, & Admin

Start Date Pending for Fall 2023

​

District School Board of Niagara (DSBN) Staff & Teachers

April 11 - April 25, 2022

March 4 - April 4, 2022

January 10 - February 7, 2022

​

Georgian College Faculty & Staff

October 6 - November 3, 2021

​

This learning circle is based around Jeannie Gainsburg’s book ‘The Savvy Ally: A Guide to Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate.’ This book provides a guide that will benefit the LGBTQ+ community, as well as allies alike through knowledge, education, and introspection.

 

Using the “Circle Way,” participants work together through a 5-week learning circle, to become knowledgeable allies, while we learn ways to take action to create more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ folks.  

​

Testimonials:

 

"Thank you so much for all your work in creating our Learning Circle. It has been such a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow. Although I knew some information coming into the Circle, there were so many new ideas and perspectives to be open to, not to mention the tips and strategies that will help me use my voice in a positive, proactive way as an ally. 

 

You created a safe, encouraging, non-judgmental space to share ideas, listen to one another and to have some laughs along the way. Although our group was quiet at first, we started to come out of our shell (it's too bad the Circle isn't a few weeks longer) because of your gentle supportive, encouragement.

 

Please keep up the amazing work you are doing. You two are truly changemakers."

​

"I feel that the experience with our learning circle was very meaningful.  By reading and discussing The Savvy Ally, I was able to educate myself on the role an ally plays – not an identity but something you earn with action – and also share ideas and experiences in a safe place with people who are driven for change."

​

"My experience with The Savvy Ally book club was one of joy and learning! Full of community and love; we learned and connected together in a common goal of making schools more equitable. Thank you so much for holding this experience and I know we will all continue the work!"

​

"The Savvy Ally book club is an essential experience for any adult who is connected to a school.  You will gain knowledge, strategies and the motivation to “get it right” when it comes to creating inclusive and thriving school communities for our students!"

March, 2022 - "Untamed" by Glennon Doyle

September 2021 - "The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate" by Jeanie Gainsburg

August 2021 - "21 Things You May Not Know about the Indian Act" by Bob Joseph.

July 2021 - "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo

​

Click here to check out Chapters4Change