Centre for Social Innovation (CSI)

June MacDonald-Jenkins Director, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) Sr. Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services Principal, Lakeshore Campus

THE CENTRE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION is the latest member of the Humber’s Centres of Innovation (COIs) Network, which is pioneering a new model of education that brings together interdisciplinary teams of faculty, students, and partners to solve complex industry-relevant problems.

The Centre for Social Innovation aims to contribute to Humber’s strength in social innovation that focuses on community development. Through the mobilization of fresh ideas, new technologies and entrepreneurial thinking, community issues are addressed on local, national and global levels.

—June MacDonald-Jenkins, Sr. Dean, FSCS/ Director of CSI

Although there are numerous definitions of social innovation, it is fundamentally about developing new solutions to complex social opportunities and challenges. This is illustrated in the following two definitions:

• “The creation, development, adoption, and integration of new and renewed concepts, systems, organizations and practices that put people and planet first” (Centre for Social Innovation, 2021)

• “Bringing new perspectives and approaches to bear on a social challenge [and at its core] supports people and organizations to co-create, learn, adapt and scale more effective solutions to entrenched social problems—making our human and natural systems more adaptive and resilient” (McConnell Foundation, 2021)

Social innovation is not new to Humber and can be seen embedded in curriculum through capstone projects or Work- Integrated Learning (WIL) experience, research projects, global learning opportunities such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), and community-driven research, projects, and partnerships.

According to rankings released in February 2022 by Research InfoSource Inc., Humber was identified as the second top research college in the country. Humber’s leadership in Canadian applied research is also highlighted by its top three ranking nationally for research partnerships. Some examples of these research projects include five multi-year grants totalling $1.6M in research funding from the College and Community Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) awarded in 2020. The CCSIF grants are intended to support college social innovation research projects in partnership with local community organizations and are managed by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC). Four CCSIF projects are being led by professors in the Faculty of Social & Community Services (FSCS), and one CCSIF project is being led by Ginger Grant, PhD, Dean, Office of Research & Innovation. The research projects explore a breadth of themes, including affordable housing initiatives, youth cannabis engagement and education. In 2021, Humber College received two additional CCSIF grants with a total value of $720K, led by professors in the Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness (FHSW) and Faculty of Media & Creative Arts (FMCA).

In addition to community-based research, a project that exemplifies collaboration with community partners is the GARDENS Pod Project which addresses Food Security in South-Etobicoke and beyond. The GARDENS Pod Project was established in South Etobicoke in 2015. It is a joint initiative between LAMP Community Health Centre (LAMP CHC) and Humber, with oversight by the GARDENS Advisory Council (GAC), a grassroots group made up of residents, agencies, and faith groups in Ward 3 Etobicoke Lakeshore. The primary goal of the GARDENS Pod Project is to create an Urban Agriculture Framework for South Etobicoke and improve food security for low-income earners, lone-parent families, seniors, people living on fixed incomes and people with disabilities. The project engages, educates, and empowers the community through access to sustainable food and hands-on training and learning experiences.

Humber students have been engaged in social innovation work, in addition to community projects, while earning academic or Co-Curricular Credit. Since summer 2021, students in the Child & Youth Care (CYC) Diploma have engaged in the CYC Virtual Hangout. The project enjoyed such great success that it expanded this past Fall to include both Diploma and Degree CYC students. Students are designing and facilitating three workshops for three age groups over the semester. The workshops are 1-hour each and cover a variety of topics. Community agencies that provide services to children and youth can book workshops to be delivered by Humber CYC students. A few of the many topics include Emotional Development: Exploring Emotions (children under 6), Staying Home Alone: Safety (latency to pre-adolescence), and Sex and Sexuality (adolescence, ages 13-24).

To gather the insights, opinions, ideas and engagement of Humber’s entire community, the Faculty of Social and Community Services (FSCS) launched a Social Innovation Survey in January 2022. The purpose of the survey was to solicit feedback from internal and external stakeholders to inform, shape and advance Humber’s Centre for Social Innovation. A broad range of stakeholders was invited to share their experiences, expertise, and perspectives including faculty, staff, students, and community partners. Over 200 Humber community members engaged in the survey. More than half of the respondents said that they could see themselves being directly involved in social innovation work as participants, volunteers or principal investors. The respondents also identified employment, education and training, reduced inequalities and poverty reduction as critical priorities to explore. Social innovation survey summary:

• A total of 235 respondents participated in the CSI Social Innovation Survey.

• Over 75% of respondents shared that they had some awareness of what represents Social Innovation.

• Half of all respondents could see themselves directly involved in social innovation work as a participant, volunteer or principal investigator working on social innovation projects.

• Employment, Education and Training, Reduced Inequalities and Poverty Reduction were identified as three key priorities to explore.

As part of the next steps in the development of the CSI, consultations will be held with individuals and teams across the college community to explore how they see their work intersecting with that of the CSI.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can participate in Social Innovation with CSI at Humber College, please contact Stephanie Byer, Manager, International and Strategic Initiatives (stephanie.byer@humber.ca).

June MacDonald-Jenkins, MSc, BScN (She/Her)Director, Centre for Social Innovation (CSI), Sr. Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services, Principal, Lakeshore Campus

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une.macdonald-jenkins@humber.ca

June MacDonald-Jenkins is Senior Dean, Faculty of Social and Community Services at Humber College and Principal of the Lakeshore campus responsible for the planning and launch of Humber 5 th Centre for Innovation. With 20 years of experience in the education sector, June has a strong commitment to teaching and learning, research, social innovation and academic leadership. June is experienced in leading strategic initiatives, building partnerships, and program quality assurance. June enjoys finding creative solutions to problems that allow all students the opportunity to learn. The majority of her work has involved working with post-secondary students as they transition from traditional classrooms to alternate delivery methodologies.

June is the recipient of a national teaching award for the use of technology-based resources to enhance the learning environment. She holds a Master of Science in Nursing from McMaster University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Laurentian University and a Nursing Diploma from Halifax Infirmary School of Nursing.