Since the onset of the pandemic, I have felt deprived of social connections and thoughtful engagement with peers in the city. Through RISE, I look forward to meeting folks with diverse experiences and outlooks as we collaborate on community projects.

I joined RISE because I loved the intersectional approach to creating stronger, healthier, and happier communities. The climate crisis is a huge focus of mine and we need to resilient communities to create change and prevent what we can. The opportunity to work on developing hard skills to combine with knowledge was very appealing; as there's only so much you can learn from reading. Being a newcomer to Vancouver, I was excited to meet like-minded young people and be more involved in the well-being of our communities and planet.

I like to study justice and volunteering and I am excited to meet everyone.

I joined RISE to help me become a more active member of Canada’s democracy and because of my interest in community-based projects. I joined RISE because of the opportunity to collaborate with youth on a community-based project with a mission that I am interested in. This experience will allow me to create meaningful and positive change in my community and connect with like-minded individuals!

CECE

I am eager to participate in AisB's BUILD program because it offers a unique opportunity to transform my passion for public health and social equity into actionable policy advocacy. As a pre-med student majoring in health sciences, I have gained a comprehensive understanding of the systemic barriers affecting marginalized communities, particularly concerning public health and gender inequality. However, I recognize the need to complement this academic knowledge with practical skills in civic engagement and political advocacy to drive meaningful change. I am also enthusiastic about the prospect of refining my leadership skills, expanding my civic participation, and contributing to the creation of a more inclusive and equitable society.

CECE’S EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOCUSED ON CREATIVE ADVOCACY & WORKER JUSTICE IN HEALTHCARE

• As GirlUp chapter founder and board member, proposed a focus on supporting healthcare workers, connecting with a Provincial Health Services Authority campaign and meeting with a local Member of Parliament to further their efforts
• Conceptualized a zine workshop with key speakers, which she will test with a personally organized event, and pitched it to campus medical and sociology clubs for fall programming
• Plans to assist the work of the Centre for Family Equity, focusing on eliminating family poverty

I chose to join the RISE program because I felt heavily aligned with their principles and aims, and wanted above anything to continue contributing to the collective spaces I am passionate about advocating for.

I joined RISE for the experience of conceptualizing and creating a project that helps to make a positive change in Vancouver. I want to remind myself that we have that power despite how turbulent things feel right now, particularly for young people.

I joined RISE to connect with others that have similar interests and goals, while simultaneously having the opportunity to become more involved within my community. I recently moved to Vancouver and one of my goals upon moving here was to expand my network and learn as much as I can from others, which I am confident I will achieve through the RISE program!

Joining RISE gives me a unique opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded people with different backgrounds. I believe being a part of such a diverse group would allow me to learn from others, explore diverse perspectives and in return share my personal experiences and learnings with others. Along the way we will be helping communities we love and cherish. I can’t find a better reason to join RISE.