enhance moisture retention, and boost nutrient availability, thereby promoting plant growth.
This summer, funding from the Partnership Recognition and Exploration (PRE) Fund was awarded to 20 collaborative community-university initiatives. From supporting parents of children with speech delays to exploring Indigenous-led solutions to wildfires, this summer’s projects showcase the diverse ways in which communities are partnering with UBC students, faculty, and staff on reciprocal initiatives.
One of the projects, the Woolwerx Wool Pellet Project, is a joint effort between the Elizabeth Fry Society (EFS) and UBC. Together, the project transforms waste wool into soil-enhancing pellets while providing employment opportunities for criminalized women in BC’s Lower Mainland. Reflecting on the project’s impact, Kirsty Gordon from EFS remarked, “The women expressed feeling empowered when they came to UBC to participate. They felt part of something big, and they felt that they truly gained an understanding of how the results of the project might positively impact the sales of our product. We hope for more collaborations in the future.”
The Partnership Recognition and Exploration Fund awards up to $1,500 to bridge small resource gaps, enabling community partners to forge reciprocal relationships with the university. Since 2017, the fund has invested more than $547,000 in 361 community-university partnerships, with approximately 50% of the funding supporting IBPOC-led community organizations.
Please visit the Community Engagement website to learn more about these inspiring community-university partnerships.
Through Strategy 20: Co-ordinated Engagement, UBC is committed to working with diverse partners to listen, learn and develop shared values for effective engagement, and to reinforce a culture of reciprocity.