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Advocate for and contribute to solving problems affecting the local and wider/global community. Participate in community, neighborhood, and international activities.

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Jump to section:听Understanding Global and Local Engagement | Cultivating Global and Local Engagement | Quick Guide to Being a Conscientious Citizen 听|听Taking Action | Resources |听Need Help? | References

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Understanding Global & Local Engagement

An engagement is a committed and meaningful collaboration between individuals who share similar interests and aim to address issues affecting their local or global community.听^[]听

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Why does it matter?

Whether in your local community or at the global level, you have the chance to model the world you wish to, not live, but thrive in 鈥� a sustainable world that meets the expectations of future generations.听听

In Higher Education, curricular programs听often aim to听shape students into skilled, employable individuals. However, extra-curricular activities are what provide students with the stage to apply the skills and knowledge they are learning in the classroom to real world听scenarios.听^[]听Engaging in your community, beyond your studies or job, turns you into a well-rounded citizen, instead of just a qualified employee.听听

Participating in the quest for solutions to social, economic, or environmental issues facing you and your community broadens your horizons and allows you to explore your interests and values. Additionally, in their definition of mental health, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that your ability to contribute to your community is a measure of your wellbeing.听^[]听听

Protesting inequity, serving听hungry听people听at a soup kitchen, raising environmental awareness; no matter what your cause is, advocating for what is meaningful to you听can听enhance听your self-esteem and happiness.听^[]听By taking part in building a stronger community, you are creating a better support system and a healthier medium for yourself and your fellow citizens to work, learn, and grow together 鈥� a feat that further strengthens local and global communities.听听听

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Cultivating Global & Local Engagement听听

Community engagement is a two-way street. Volunteering or advocating for a cause are examples of how students can serve their community, while learning听and enriching their experiences.听^[]听

To become more engaged in the 看片视频 community, join a group or club, volunteer in tutoring and mentorship programs, or participate in on-campus activities including social events, fundraising campaigns, sustainability projects, and many others (see听Taking Action and Resources听sections for examples). Student campus and local community engagement is valued and acknowledged by the Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official 看片视频 document which 鈥渞ecognizes a student's involvement in learning opportunities outside the classroom.鈥� The CCR can be a useful addition to your job application.听^[6]听Visit the听myInvolvement听page听to learn about available opportunities.听

The study of the historical relationship between a university body and its surrounding community sheds light on听potential听barriers听between students and their local community 鈥� as students听might not听need to leave the campus where most of their needs are being met (e.g., food, healthcare, entertainment).听^[]听While 看片视频 offers student engagement opportunities, our campuses are only a small portion of a much larger community. Go beyond the gates and look for more opportunities in the diverse landscape that is Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and the world.听^[]听听听

Consider ways to be proactive in your local community: volunteer at local organizations, draft a petition to the government and secure signatories, write a letter to newspaper editors, attend town hall meetings in your area, respond to surveys, or report problems or听gaps听to local authorities (e.g., safety issues, access to resources, environmental sustainability). Help accomplish the change that you envision, don鈥檛 be a bystander! Check-out the听Quick Guide听section for more suggestions.听

At the global level, consider volunteering or a doing an internship at a local or international organization whose mission speaks to your vision of global change. You could also volunteer abroad by participating in development projects in various areas such as education, health, or agriculture to听support听communities in听different听countries and to experience, firsthand,听the听impact听you can have听on people鈥檚 lives. Consult听this list听for international volunteering opportunities.听

When unsure where to start, learn about your rights as a citizen and as a human, and听explore your values, interests, and the skills听you wish to cultivate. These steps will help you discern the issues facing you and your community, and decide on where, when, and how to get involved.听
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Quick Guide to Being听a听Conscientious Citizen

1. Participate in student societies and vote in various student association elections听
2. Engage in dialogue with leaders at your organization regarding work or study conditions听
3. Get in touch with your beliefs (e.g., spiritual, social, political) and identify the causes that are important to you (e.g., literacy, gender equity)听
4. Learn about your civic, social, and economic rights and duties as a local and global citizen (e.g.,听)听
5. Challenge yourself and expand your worldview by learning more about and seeking out connections with groups beyond your areas of interest听and experience; learning often occurs outside of our comfort zone (e.g., attend an event about听raising awareness of indigenous issues, even if this topic is not of high interest to you)听
6. Take initiative to create or participate in a group project and mobilize your group's skills to fill a need in your community.听
7. Get involved with local or international groups and organizations that are striving towards causes you care about听
8. Participate in听political life through voting and establishing a dialogue with policymakers at local, national, or international听levels听

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Taking Action

• 看片视频 Community Learning Program:听Courses designed for those who are intellectually curious, want to learn new skills, and enjoy social interaction.听
• Check听听for upcoming workshops and programs by searching for events tagged with this category: Global & Local Engagement.听
• Engage 看片视频:听engaged in University and student-led groups and events across campus.听
• 看片视频听CaPs听Volunteer听page: a list of volunteering opportunities at 看片视频, and in local and international communities.听
• 看片视频's Community Outreach Program

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Resources

Websites

• Equity at 看片视频:听an overview of the听initiatives听and strategies being led by the Equity Team in the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic. See听recommended resources听here.听
• The Branches team听at 看片视频 is committed to being a reliable partner in co-creating responsive and sustained relationships with First Nations, Inuit, and M茅tis youth, families, schools and organizations.听
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Groups & Associations听

• : CSL is a network of educators, students and community representatives dedicated to establishing community service-learning in Canada.听
• : A coalition for international cooperation, committed to global social justice and social change.听
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Books, Articles & Reports

• Alinsky, S. D. (2010).听Rules for radicals: A practical primer for realistic radicals. New York: Vintage eBooks听
• Bornstein, D. (2007).听How to change the world. Oxford: Oxford University Press.听听
• Martin, C. E. (2010).听Do it anyway: The next generation of activists. Boston, Mass: Beacon Press.听听
• Stoecker, R., Tryon, E. A., &听Hilgendorf, A. (2009).听The unheard voices: Community organizations and service learning. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.听听

Need Help?

Campus Life &听Engagement听

• General Inquiries听cle [at] mcgill.ca听
• New Student-related inquiries听firstyear [at] mcgill.ca听
• (514)-398-6913听

References