Background of the organization:
Founded in 2011, CityStudio Vancouver brings students, city staff, faculty and community members together to make their cities more sustainable and liveable. By collaborating on experimental projects, postsecondary students have the opportunity to actively contribute to the development of their city and gain job and life skills. It also inspires a culture of collaboration in City Hall and supports colleges and universities to shift their curriculum and pedagogy.
Grant description:
The road to a more equitable and sustainable future leads to new kinds of collaboration among civic institutions – such as universities, colleges, and cities. The City Studio model is globally recognized for providing municipal administrations and postsecondary institutions a well-tested model for effective collaboration. By breaking down institutional silos, City Studio shifts the ways students, city staff, faculty and community members work together and co-create solutions for the city. In the process, cities benefit by having access to new ideas and extra support, and students benefit by enhancing their education via an applied learning experience.
A grant from the Foundation will be used to hire additional program and administrative staff in order to increase the number of City Studios in Canada and to build a pipeline of new project sites. Funds will also be used to strengthen the network of cities engaging with post-secondary institutions and to support a movement of civic action in higher education.
Overview
- 2019-2022
- $ 300,000
- Funding Type: Past Initiatives
- Initiatives: Social Innovation Fund