Serving and Engaging Society Strategy

The Serving and Engaging Society Committee serves as a compass, an example, and a resource.

• As a compass, it sets the overarching direction of Serving and Engaging Society activities.
• As an example, the individual and collective projects of the committee lead Serving and Engaging Society by example.
• As a resource, it provides clear lines of communication with department members and funding opportunities.

Guiding Principles

The department’s stated Guiding Principles were co-developed by our department with community partners. These five Guiding Principles inform departmental equity work across all streams to promote alignment between our stated Values and our actions.

• Nothing about us without us: To promote reciprocal co-creation and co-ownership of programs and all academic deliverables
• Do no harm: To include awareness of past/present colonial harms, potential future harms, and environmental stewardship
• Pluralism/Two-eyed seeing: To include a stance of curiosity & reciprocity in learning and to promote diversity
• Strengths-based: To align with positive psychiatry/psychology and to support advocacy
• People-first with kindness: To promote a sense of belonging and community

Operational areas of focus

To implement the Serving and Engaging Society strategy, the committee focuses on its function in the department, equity-denied communities we serve, its guiding principles, funding, developing anti-oppression skills, communications, sharing knowledge, evaluation, and positive reinforcement.