CCEL + Community
CCEL connects communities with UBC faculty and students to co-create transformative projects that tackle social and environmental issues which impact society today.
Our Work
Our work is focused on bringing community organizations, with their diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences, together with faculty and students to approach complex societal challenges. We do this by working collaboratively with campus and community partners on program and initiatives, both on and off campus.
Featured Projects
Community Action Days
Local community organizations and UBC students can collaborate on diverse short-term, community-based projects via UBtheChange Community Action Days. Past projects include:
- Cooking workshops
- Social media campaigns
- Educational fairs at an elementary school
- Video production
- Resource creation
- … and more!
Eligible projects and resourcing
CCEL is looking for projects to be conducted by a team of undergraduate students. Projects deemed suitable will receive the following resources and support:
- A student project manager who will support 15-20 hours of planning over a one to three month period.
- A team of student volunteers whose size is equivalent to the scale of the project.
- Deliverables completed in one to three engagement days or over the course of a month with milestone check-in meetings as needed.
- A budget of up to $500.
If you have questions
For more information about the program, please connect with Sydney Kroes at sydney.kroes@ubc.ca.
Climate Action Mobilizers (CAM) Project
The Climate Action Mobilizers (CAM) Project was a 2-year initiative that aimed to empower UBC students to tackle social and climate justice issues to address the climate emergency.
CAM engaged with neighbourhoods and communities in Vancouver to collaborate in the development and implementation of climate action projects to address the climate crisis.
Events and projects included workshops, panels, and climate walks with community members of various ages and backgrounds.
1,450+
Community and faculty members
have collaborated with the Centre
1,500+
Community-based projects
were supported by the Centre
* Totals from 2015-2017 academic year
17,000+
UBC Students
connected with community-based experiences
Project and Partnership Development
Community organizations interested in developing projects that connect with UBC students and faculty can receive support and guidance to scope, develop, implement, and support community-based experiences for students.
Project proposals are accepted throughout the year. CCEL can also assist applicants with developing a project’s alignment to organizational priorities, student learning outcomes, and community value.
Featured Projects
Student Grants for Community Projects
The Centre funds student-led projects that partner with BC-based community organizations. These projects typically fall under one or more topic areas:
- Food security
- Representation
- Ethnocultural
- Climate
Past community organizations that students have partnered with include Flavourful Science, Watari Counselling and Support Services Society, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre, Environmental Youth Alliance, and many more.
Reaching the Hardly Reached: Development of a Community Dental Resource Line
The Centre’s Advancing Community Engaged Learning (ACEL) Fund awards grants of up to $3000 to faculty, academic administrators, or staff.
Using an ACEL grant, Dr. Leeann Donnelly from the Faculty of Dentistry initiated a pilot project, Dental Link, aimed to help address access to care issues. Dental Link was a community dental resource line that allowed community members to contact a dental professional by phone, e-mail, or virtual visit to facilitate access to needed care and resources during the pandemic.