Launched at the Welcome Back Breakfast on August 31, 2016, the 2016 President’s Creative Challenge asked staff, faculty and students from across Sheridan how we might design and create a community that cultivates participation and belonging for everyone at Sheridan.
After reviewing 51 submissions, the organizing committee has selected four finalists based on the extent to which the solutions embrace Sheridan’s creative campus philosophy; demonstrate potential for growth and adaptability; support participation, belonging, and relationship-building; show evidence of collaboration and include plans to measure anticipated impact and success.
Congratulations to the four finalists, listed below in no particular order. As the selected entries align closely with several of Sheridan’s existing strategic priorities for our community, over the coming weeks finalists will meet with the corresponding academic or business departments to discuss how the proposals might coordinate with the departments’ operational plans, and discuss resource expectations and adjustments based on college budgets.
- People’s Choice Award: Community Kitchen, by Richard Mohorovich. The proposed initiative will create open community kitchens at Sheridan, cultivating collaboration by encouraging community members to prepare and enjoy food together while building new connections with those around them.
- Community Spirit Award: LGBTQ+ Resource Centre by Krista Carew, Jonathan Saunders, Kaitlyn Randall and Ernest Gleeson, students in the Social Service Worker program and members of the Sheridan Social Justice and Action Committee (SJAC). The initiative would see the creation of LGBTQ+ Resource Centres on all three of Sheridan’s campuses, beginning with Trafalgar, to offer a safe space for acceptance, inclusion, community, learning and support for people (students/staff/faculty) who self-identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
- Community Wisdom Award: The Human Library by Karen Lints, Patricia Buckley, and Susan Shepley (Library and Learning Services). The Human Library is a worldwide movement that originated in Copenhagen, Denmark. The proposed inaugural Human Library event at Sheridan will bring together students, staff, faculty and community partners who are willing to share their unique stories and perspectives with event participants to create meaningful conversations as a platform for social change.
- Community Impact Award: Honouring the Truth; Reconciling for the Future: Building a Foundation for Reconciliation at Sheridan by Paula Laing and Elijah Williams (Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support), Alex Hollenberg, Peter Kikkert, Christian Knudsen, and Jessica Pulis (FHASS). The proposed educational program, which includes scheduled lunch-and-learns, pop-up teaching in the college’s public spaces, community seminars, guest elders, creative performances, interactive exhibits featuring student work and film screenings, will engage the Sheridan community and the general public to explore the issues fundamental to understanding the current circumstance of Indigenous Peoples across the country and build an empathetic and historically literate community that can take the first step towards reconciliation.
Thank you to everyone who submitted a proposal for the 2016 President’s Creative Challenge. In the spirit of celebrating the many creative ideas that came forward, we will be sharing highlights from all the submissions with the community at a later date.
Stay tuned for further updates on these great projects at the 2017 Welcome Back Event!