A Three Part Series From the Coordinators at the USC – Part 2
At the USC, community has served as the foundation upon which impactful changes are made, relationships are built, and students are empowered to thrive collectively to improve the student experience at Western. For those seeking a supportive community of students committed to making a positive impact on campus or interested in community-building practices, the coordinator position offers an ideal avenue for engagement and collaboration.
Jenna Lam, this year’s Food Support Services Coordinator, offered her experience of community in her role as a coordinator, saying, “We provide a space where everyone can access the food they require without fear of judgment or stigma. We strive to bring nothing but positive energy to individuals who are already likely facing challenging times in their lives.”
In her role, Jenna collaborates closely with others, whether she’s working with her team members to establish and maintain a supportive community that provides food services for students or fostering an environment where students can cultivate their own sense of belonging. She emphasized that for her, “Community signifies a welcoming and safe space where you can be your own genuine self.” At the USC, students are encouraged to embrace their individuality while still being an integral part of a larger community. It is the diverse qualities of each individual that make community possible at the USC.
When reflecting on her role as a coordinator, Jenna shared, “For the past two years, it’s been an incredible experience for me to recruit volunteers who share a deep passion for food security. What’s even more remarkable is that they are all exceptional human beings! I can’t count how many times I’ve gone down to the food bank just for a quick check-in, only to find myself fully engaged in conversations with the volunteers for much longer than I initially intended.” Though each coordinator role may encounter community in various ways, Jenna’s experience underscores the essence of working as a coordinator, demonstrating the profound connections and sense of community that can emerge from shared dedication and purpose.
Sophia Hartvikson, the Gender Equity Network Coordinator, shares a similar experience building community with the student body. She has fostered inclusive spaces and meaningful connections among diverse members, taking an existing community being Western students, and creating a new community of individuals passionate about gender equity on campus.
“Through collaborative initiatives, events, and open dialogues, I’ve witnessed the emergence of a supportive network dedicated to advancing gender equity on campus. To me, the concept of community encompasses shared values, mutual support, and a commitment to creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered to contribute to our collective goals,” emphasized Sophia.
Operating more behind the scenes, Michael Zhao, the Student Appeals Coordinator, assembled a committee of students dedicated to offering guidance and support to those navigating the appeal process and seeking valuable resources. This committee serves as a community where students in need of assistance and those willing to offer help converge. “We collaborate to navigate challenges together,” said Michael.
The collaborative nature of the coordinator role empowers students like Jenna, Sophia, and Michael to establish new communities and engage with existing ones interested in forming fresh connections. Earlier this year, Shveta Suresh, the Wellness Equity Coordinator, successfully forged a new community by partnering with the Western Sign Language Club to organize an ASL workshop. Shveta remarked, “Students came together to learn something new, and the meaningful conversations that took place at this workshop fostered a wonderful sense of community.”
While community manifests differently in each coordinator role, all coordinators share the opportunity of belonging to a unified community at the USC. Many events, initiatives, and services are not solely executed by individual coordinators but rather by multiple collaborating with one another. This story, for instance, necessitates the contributions of not only myself but also the coordinators, who have generously shared their experiences. This series owes its existence to the collective efforts of coordinators who are willing to collaborate and work together toward a common goal.
Further illustrating the presence of community among coordinators, Shveta and Jack Liang, the Student Experience Coordinator, collaborated alongside their Vice President of University Affairs, Maria Farooq, to organize a World Mental Health Day event for students last semester. When asked what community means to her, Shveta said, ‘Seeing everyone come together and being engaged with one another. The more students are involved, the more student-focused initiatives we can undertake.”
By fostering collaboration, empowering students to make a difference, and facilitating meaningful connections, coordinators play a pivotal role in shaping the collective student experience at Western. Through their dedicated efforts, coordinators exemplify the transformative power of community, illustrating how, together, we can create positive change and enhance the university environment for all.
If being a coordinator interests you, please visit https://westernusc.ca/jobs/coordinators/ for more information.
Thank you to all the coordinators who contributed to this story. Next week, more coordinators will be featured to highlight the theme of opportunity within the USC and coordinator roles.
