Andy Pham  + Mukhtar Aldulaym

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL placement?

The biggest takeaway was to see the power and strength of the community in supporting and helping each other. It can be through simple food hampers that are distributed through Community Brokers to those in need. It is simply incredible to see how every Thursday, a group of 30 volunteers from various walks of life and cultural background gathered under a single roof with a single goal that is to give back to the community that they are a part of. 

How can you apply any newly gained knowledge/skills to your future endeavours (courses/employment/volunteering)?

We worked closely with the volunteers and coordinators to fully understand the experience of every volunteers. The experience was very collaborative as we frequently drop in and participate in their day to day operations. More often than not, we put down our equipments, gloved up, get in and help in whatever way we can. 

Why should students consider being involved with CSL, and how does it enhance their academic learning?

CSL is an excellent way to apply classroom knowledge to the real world. We were able to make connections between the various theories in class and be more aware of our own biases when it comes to helping the community. We learned a lot about the impacts of community efforts, especially in recognizing and using the strengths of the community to make tangible impacts. 

During your CSL placement, can you share the knowledge and skills you developed in relation to climate change mitigation or sustainability activities? 

The most important knowledge I learned is to approach a problem by utilizing the strengths of the community, rather than fixating on mending its weaknesses. For example, Edmonton and Alberta has a whole has a strong agricultural sector with a large community of experts that are currently working or retired. Consequently, even when retired, their expertise can be used to benefit the community in social work programs that continues to help the community. Furthermore, the skills I developed is to utilize the most of the available local resources. The produce acquired for the Grocery Run are often deemed as unfit for selling at the grocery store. However, most of the produce only have minor cosmetic blemishes that does not affect the quality and nutritional value. Consequently, with numerous local farms around Edmonton, it is beneficial for farmers is that they can recuperate some costs from these produce while also benefiting clients that receive these food hampers who can benefit from fresh fruits / produce. 

How did you and your community partner meet project objectives that were aligned with environmentally conscious goals?

The Grocery Run Program's objective to address food security among the Edmonton's community. The main method use to achieve this is through food hampers. The content of the food hampers often consists of donations from local food banks and grocery stores' surplus / clearance. In some cases, the hampers also includes fresh fruits / produce from farmers and local cooperatives. These fresh produce are usually rated to be subpar quality for the grocery stores and are often donated / can be bought at a much lower price. Consequently, the MCHB's Grocery Run Program meets their main objective of addressing food insecurity in Edmonton while also reducing food wastes in the community. Additionally, the food rescued also ensured that the Grocery Run's clients nutritional needs are met with fresh produce. 

What was the biggest takeaway from your CSL placement?

The most important thing I learnt was the potency of visual storytelling as a way of creating awareness. I learnt that real testimonials and engaging photos not only tell important social issues but also mobilize support from the community. The experience consolidated my video-making skills and photography while expanding my knowledge of community services.

How can you apply any newly gained knowledge/skills to your future endeavours (courses/employment/volunteering)?

I gained hands-on experience with video production, photography, and event planning from my CSL placement. As a volunteer with the University of Alberta Students' Union, I look forward to applying these skills as we generate new event concepts, further academic outreach on campus, and create significant visual content that resonates with our community. Not only will these experiences strengthen my existing role by educating and enriching campus activities, but they will also enable me to build a solid portfolio for future professional pursuits in a career such as marketing or public relations.

Why should students consider being involved with CSL, and how does it enhance their academic learning?

Joining CSL is a great means of bridging the classroom education with actual influence. It provides an opportunity to contribute to projects that have tangible influence, such as ending food insecurity. This hands-on learning not only adds depth to the academic education but also builds practical skills like communication and teamwork, coupled with a very strong sense of civic responsibility.

During your CSL placement, can you share the knowledge and skills you developed in relation to climate change mitigation or sustainability activities? 

In the process of producing testimonial videos and images, I was introduced to techniques like sourcing from local produce, reducing food wastage, and encouraging reusable or compostable packaging. These not only decrease our overall carbon footprint but also help make our food supply chain more efficient. Additionally, creating digital content taught me how to convey sustainability messages effectively, which would come in handy for any future outreach or advocacy endeavors.

How did you and your community partner meet project objectives that were aligned with environmentally conscious goals?

My team partner and community partner were also on the same page regarding the goal of minimizing environmental footprint throughout our project. We prioritized digital outreach over printed materials to limit paper usage. For the volunteer appreciation party, we selected locally produced food to lower transportation emissions, and we employed compostable utensils where available. By presenting these efforts within our videos and photos, we were able to illustrate how small, deliberate actions can make a large impact in both combatting food insecurity and defending the environment.