The two themes for CityLAB this year were ‘Community Engagement’ and ‘Climate Change’. Part of our role as CityLAB Semester in Residence (SIR) students, was learning about the different facets to community engagement, and how to ethically employ the skills developed this semester, when interacting with local communities. As SIR students, we worked on various mitigation projects that have both an environmental and humanistic focus. Both aim to provide solutions to local issues caused by the fallout from climate change by engaging with the community to discover their needs and develop strategies that they can utilize to promote self-sustenance.
Twice a week we were under instruction by Anna-Marie Pietrantonio, to learn how to effectively engage in dialogue. One of the most profound takeaways I’ve had from her lessons, was the difference between discussion and dialogue. In my opinion, understanding the difference is one of the most important skills to employ when interacting with others. Dialogue is a framework that focuses on understanding all opinions and perspectives rather than engaging in discussion which emphasize our own opinions. Another skill, appreciative inquiry, provided a mindset and strategy for not only approaching community projects but any collaborative project. Appreciative inquiry helped us to recognize and utilize the strengths already present in a project and use them to their fullest extent through valuing and encouraging those strengths.
As an environmental science major, I have been able to learn a lot of skills from both my peers that come from different professional backgrounds, as well as from the community we’ve engaged with, which has helped me to be more well-rounded in my own discipline. I am extremely grateful for the experience CityLAB has provided me with, the friendships gained and the opportunity to work alongside city partners as well as other stakeholders within the community.