Ucalgarycares Sustainable Cities Team Report

One of the first goals I aimed to expand upon within the UCalgaryCares Sustainable Cities Program is learning to integrate diversity and understand the role it takes on in collaborative workplaces. Implementing diversity involves the process of recognizing our differences and similarities and creating an environment that capitalizes on them. This can be achieved both inter-culturally and inter-disciplinary – an area I knew I wanted to explore given the diverse organizations and individuals I would have the opportunity to meet.

From the pre-service workshops, I learned that sustainability is a four-direction compass labelled Nature, Economy, Well-being, and Society. With the absence of one, it is impossible to meet the needs of the present

As a biological science major, opportunities to work in a team are limited, and even after this fact, we all mostly come from a similar niche group. By participating in the UCalgaryCares Sustainable Cities project, I had the ability to connect and work with analytical engineers, futuristic urban planners, deep-thinking philosophers and creative graphic designers. I truly gained an appreciation for the distinct value that each of us brought everyday, and I am able to acknowledge that we functioned the way we did because of each unique effort, which combined to a success. On the very first day, for example, we went to a warehouse to sort through boxes of donations for the charity: Inn from the Cold. A daunting task, the entire wall was stacked, and I felt as if it would take the whole day to categorize and re-package every item. However, by properly utilizing our team, the mundane job became easier and more fun, and we were out of there by noon! I learned that when we collaborate with others, we maximize our strengths, inspire new ideas, and conceal our weaknesses. From this experiences with Sustainable Cities, I am no longer afraid to take on tasks that are unfamiliar to me and I am excited collaborate with other diverse

Although no one can do everything, each of us can do something. Through open dialogue with community change-makers, I have come to understand that the best way to sustain your own energy is to devote your time to where you feel a personal motivation. Having that feeling of “want to” instead of “have to” will provide the determination to continue doing something no matter the amount of adversities that will arise down the line. This especially resonated with me after hearing from a group of women (the first set of female engineers to head a municipal project) and their experience implementing bike lanes in Calgary. Although their entire process of research and development was met by overwhelming opposition by both policy-leaders, citizens and the media, they were able to embrace their idea in a conservative city, expand upon it years later, and build their resilience. To be a catalyst for tomorrow, one needs to make a commitment and lead by example, regardless of the level of effort. It’s ok to start small, but it is important to start now - that is what will make the greatest difference