CCEL’s Grants Project Library contains reports and infographics documenting the social impact work conducted by students in partnership with community organizations that CCEL Grants have funded. We hope this resource is helpful as a database to support and inspire further work around community-rooted social justice, equity and access issues. Read about examples of project topics here.
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GOLDEN YEARS: EMPOWERING HEALTHY AGING
This project delivered a series of workshops on healthy aging, covering topics such as stroke prevention, nutrition, osteoarthritis, and senior loneliness. Co-designed with community input and UBC researchers, the sessions combined scientific knowledge with practical strategies, drawing 50+ participants per workshop and fostering strong connections between seniors and the academic community.
UBC Student Project Lead: James Wu
Community Partner: 411 Seniors Centre Society
Grant Type: Connect to Community
Year of Publication: 2025
Topic: Stroke Prevention, Healthy Aging, Scientific Literacy
Keywords: Community Engagement, Health Education, Nutrition
Population: Seniors
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UNLOCKING FUTURES
This project aimed to strengthen reintegration support for individuals navigating probation, bail, and post-incarceration challenges, and address how Indigenous peoples are disproportionately represented in correctional facilities across BC. By analyzing over 700 client records, this project identified service patterns and outcomes that informed the creation of a pamphlet distributed in correctional facilities, legal clinics, and community outreach events. Site visits and workshops with peer mentors and community members highlighted the importance of lived experience in building trust and fostering successful reintegration after incarceration.
UBC Student Project Lead: Nicola Fong
Community Partner: Unlocking The Gates Services Society
Grant Type: Global Fund
Year of Publication: 2025
Topic: Reintegration Support, Post-Incarceration Transition, Program Development
Keywords: Criminal Justice, Workshops, Peer-Led Services
Population: Indigenous Communities, Adults
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ARTS BASED WILDLIFE RECOVERY IN THE DOWNTON LAKE WILDFIRE AREA
This project, in partnership with the Bridge River Valley Community Association, brought together artists, researchers, and residents to explore post-wildfire recovery through creative expression and community dialogue in the Bridge River Valley Community in the aftermath of the Downton Lake fire. The three-day resulting FireWeave Festival featured workshops, guided hikes, art installations, and a community BBQ, all grounded in lived experience of the 2023 fire. Events like the Paint & Sip, Pine Needle Basketry workshop, and Wildfire Film Screening created space for storytelling, grief, and healing, while highlighting the emotional and ecological landscapes shaped by fire. The festival also fostered new collaborations with local artists and knowledge holders, and marked an important step toward building relationships with nearby St’át’imc communities.
UBC Student Project Lead: Gillian Der
Community Partner: Bridge River Valley Community Association
Grant Type: Chapman & Innovation
Year of Publication: 2025
Topic: Wildlife Recovery, Environmental Awareness, Experiential Education, Indigenous Knowledge Sharing
Keywords: Advocacy, Arts-Based Practices, Storytelling, Community Programming
Population: Bridge River Valley Residents
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TOGETHER WE GROW: GARDENING FOR ECOLOGICAL AWARENESS, FOOD LITERACY, AND INDIGENOUS WISDOM
This project involved the creation of an after-school program, developed in partnership with Stride Avenue Community School, to address food security and social isolation in high-density Burnaby neighbourhoods. Grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems, participants engaged in land-based experiential learning to deepen their understanding of sustainable food practices and strengthen their connection to their community and the land. The initiative fostered peer and intergenerational relationships, enhanced well-being, and promoted ecological awareness through hands-on gardening and cultural teachings.
UBC Student Project Lead: Sangeeta Bhonsale
Community Partner: Stride Avenue Community School
Grant Type: Chapman & Innovation
Year of Publication: 2025
Topic: Indigenous Knowledge, Land-Based Learning, Ecological Awareness, Community Well-Being
Keywords: Food Literacy, Intergenerational Connection, Culture, Heritage
Population: Youth, Women
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UKE CONNECT
This project, in partnership with Burnaby Neighbourhood House, used ukulele learning and public performances to foster connection, joy, and inclusion among older adults, especially those living with dementia. Events like a Ukulele Flash Mob and community showcases helped participants build confidence and express creativity, while also engaging local policymakers in conversations about aging and visibility. Emphasizing enjoyment over technical skill, this project created a welcoming space for intergenerational engagement and collective celebration.
UBC Student Project Lead: Dibbo Roy
Community Partner: Burnaby Neighbourhood House
Grant Type: Chapman & Innovation
Year of Publication: 2025
Topic: Community Building, Social Inclusivity, Collective Art
Keywords: Music, Accessible Programming, Empowerment
Population: Older Adults, Seniors, Burnaby Residents