Key projects and programs
A showcase of the pivotal projects that define the Office of Community Engagement's commitment to collaboration and community programming.
Current initiatives
Here are the key events, funds and projects led by the team at the Office of Community Engagement.
Interested in starting your own community-engaged project? Before getting started, take a look at some of the resources produced by the Office of Community Engagement for guidance.
Community-engaged learning fund for Indigenous students (CELFIS)
A collaboration between the Office of Community Engagement and the SHIFT Centre for Social Transformation, this community-engaged learning fund is a grant opportunity to support Indigenous graduate students at Concordia in sustaining their community-based research projects.
Experiential learning program for Indigenous students
In partnership with local Indigenous-led organizations, the Office of Community Engagement facilitates experiential learning opportunities by offering paid internships to Indigenous students.
Micro-grants to support community-university collaboration
The Office of Community Engagement supports meaningful collaborations between local communities and the university by offering modest financial assistance. Some examples of projects that we have supported include the "Covid in the House of Old" exhibition hosted by the Centre for Oral History and Digital Storytelling, and the “Uncovered: A Critical and Timely Discussion about the Anti-Trafficking Industry”, an event organized by the Simone de Beauvoir Institute in collaboration with Stella.
Quebec Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (Q-BEKH)
Q-BEKH is the Quebec branch of the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, led by Concordia in partnership with UQAM. As a key element of the Government of Canada’s Black Entrepreneurship Program, the knowledge hub stream connects researchers, Black entrepreneurs, and community organizations to strengthen the Black Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem through collaborative research.
University of the Streets Café
Since its inception in 2003, University of the Streets Café has hosted over 400 bilingual public conversations in neighbourhoods throughout Montreal. The simple act of talking with one another provides an incredible opportunity for personal growth, community engagement, critical thinking and lifelong learning. As a flagship program of Concordia University’s Office of Community Engagement, the conversations organized by University of the Streets Café are free and open to participants of all ages, backgrounds and levels of education.
Projects we support
Here are some projects that are supported by the Office of Community Engagement team.
Community Centered Knowledges: Fostering Black Wellness in Montreal (CCK)
The overall goal of this SSHRC-funded community-university research partnership is to develop a virtual knowledge and physical knowledge hub to research, document, and disseminate Black community-based and centered approaches to address the psycho-social impacts of anti-Black racism. Co-led by Drs Lisa Ndejuru and Marie-Jolie Rwigema, this project is housed within Concordia’s Department of Applied Human Sciences who have partnered with the Black Healing Centre to understand the nuances to Black wellness as it exists in Montreal.
The Indigenous Youth Chair Network
The Office of Community Engagement supports the Indigenous youth stream of the Youth Chair Network of Quebec (Chaire-réseau de recherche sur la jeunesse du Québec) which is led by Professor Natasha Blanchet-Cohen at Concordia. This collaborative, experience-based research project targets systemic transformation to promote autonomy, personal and social fulfilment and citizen engagement of First Nations and Inuit youth in Quebec.
Press Start Mentorship Program
The Office of Community Engagement supports a mentorship project with Press Start, a youth-led cooperative in Pointe-Saint-Charles, and students in the Faculty of Fine Arts. Pointe-Saint-Charles youth are matched with Fine Arts students to explore a variety of artistic media while learning about different pathways to careers in the arts.
Sexual violence project
This collaborative project between Éduconnexion, Simone de Beauvoir Institute and the Office of Community Engagement aims to build sexual and gender-based violence prevention programming for racialized and underserved and underrepresented communities throughout the city of Montreal. The project is founded on transformative justice principles and features popular education tools.
Previous programs and projects
Delve into the Office of Community Engagement's history of programs and project which enhance both academic and public life and continue to serve as a foundation for future activities.
