Archives

ICER News

Apr. 21 – Starting a Conversation with Alanna Coady

April 9, 2021

How do shame and social support impact depressive symptoms for people living with chronic pain?

Wednesday, April 21,
12 Noon – 1 pm

Please join us for the next Starting a Conversation discussion series! These noon hour discussions are an informal opportunity for presenters to and audiences to explore a variety of topics and works-in-process. Everyone is welcome!

Please register via icer.ok@ubc.ca to receive the Zoom link.

Abstract

Approximately one in five adult Canadians lives with chronic pain. Sixty percent of those with chronic pain also experience depression. Depressive symptoms related to pain increase with experiences of social invalidation, such as discounting the legitimacy of one’s pain, yet little is known about the affective mechanisms that link invalidation to harmful mental health outcomes. This study is the first to investigate shame as an affective pathway through which social invalidation can lead to depressive symptoms in the context of chronic pain. It also examines whether social support can protect against these harmful effects. As the first study carried out in partnership with The Bill Nelems Pain and Research Centre (BNPRC), the largest pain clinic in the BC Interior, this project involved developing and implementing the clinic’s research infrastructure, which can be used for future studies with pain populations in the Okanagan. By exploring how patients with pain seek and access formal and informal social support and what kinds of support they find most and least helpful (e.g., online forums, peer support groups), this work highlights peers with pain as an important but understudied resource of support to mitigate feelings of shame. Results will help to identify whether shame poses a promising treatment target for individuals with pain and inform psychotherapeutic and support group services within the network of BC community pain clinics associated with BNPRC.

Bio

Alanna Coady is currently completing her MA in Clinical Psychology at UBC Okanagan. Her research focuses on moral emotions as affective determinants of health, linking social relationships to mental and physical health outcomes. She is interested in research that can be translated into effective treatment services for those coping with chronic illness. Her work is supported by SSHRC and the Institute for Community Engaged Research.

 

Posted in , ,

March 23 – ICER is hiring!

March 17, 2021

Be our videographer this summer!

Deadline: April 16, 2021

The Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER) has a Work Study opportunity this summer with our University / Community Video Speed Dating project.

Details:
May 1 – Aug.30
20/hrs / week (340 hrs total)
$20/hr

The project:
Working with the ICER director and coordinator, and under the mentorship of UBC Studios Okanagan, the student will contribute to part 1 of this project and work on background research and video profiling:

1A). The student will conduct physically-distanced video interviews with representatives from fifteen Okanagan-based community organizations to profile their work and identify their research needs.

1B) The student will produce short video bios of fifteen ICER members, these will highlight their current research interests and areas of expertise. These ICER member videos will sit on the institute’s website and be used in social media to introduce and connect researchers, students and potential community partners.

The student will be supervised by ICER Director, Dr. Jon Corbett, and ICER Coordinator, Joanne Carey and will be further mentored in the technical aspects of video production by our partner in this project UBC Studios Okanagan. The student will be responsible for co-planning, conducting and editing the video interviews. NB: The student’s safety will be paramount, and the style and design of the video will depend on best safety protocols at the time. For example, instead of face-to-face interviews, the videos could include the use of stock photos, audio, and video media.

Qualifications:
Ideally, the student will have some video, audio and/or photography experience. The student should be comfortable with operating and maintaining the technology and be willing to learn new skills as required. The student must be an upper level undergrad or graduate student with excellent coordination and communication skills (i.e. be willing to state needs and ask for more information). To be a great fit for this position, the student must have a genuine curiosity about community engaged research and a willingness to work with ICER’s community partners. They will need an enthusiasm for meeting new people, and discovering and sharing stories. They must be confident enough to contact new people, set them at ease in front of a camera and converse openly. Time management and collegiality are also key attributes.

To apply: 
Follow the steps on the UBC Okanagan student & alumni career board.

If you know a student who would love this job, please share this opportunity with them.
Any questions? Please email icer.ok@ubc.ca

 

Posted in , ,

Feb. 9, 2021 – Starting a Conversation with Kelly Panchyshyn: Can food foraging offer avenues for advancing community cohesion?

January 26, 2021

Join us on Tuesday, Feb.9, from noon to 1 pm for our next Starting the Conversation discussion. This will be an online Zoom event, so please email icer.ok@ubc.ca to register.

The question for discussion: Can food foraging offer avenues for advancing community cohesion?

Abstract

The practice of harvesting wild plants and fungi is an integral part of the health, culture and economy of Whitehorse, Yukon. In a 2017 municipal survey of residents, almost 60% of respondents indicated securing a portion of their food from foraged sources (City of Whitehorse 6) . Yet, strategies for the protection of wild harvest are seldom addressed in local food and land planning. Drawing on the methods of community-based research, my project examines the impact of omitting harvest from planning and what it would mean to chart a new course. In partnership with Kwanlin Dün First Nation, I asked: how the regions ongoing legacy of colonization has shaped its resident’s relationship to the practice of wild harvest and to each other, and; what tensions and opportunities exist within the convergence and divergence of Indigenous and non-Indigenous foodways? Our research reveals that decision to exclude harvest not only harms northern and Indigenous food security but exasperates conflicts around wild resources and spaces rooted in colonial and patriarchal power dynamics.  However, it also demonstrated that wild harvest supports have the potential to advance community cohesion. With this, we set out to explore food solutions that better account for the region’s unique geographical, political, historical and cultural landscapes. My presentation will dive into these findings, with the aim of ‘starting a conversation’ around what it means to confront injustice and promote well-being through food and land planning.

Bio

Kelly researches within the Traditional Territories of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council and ancestral lands of Tagish Kwáan, in a region known locally as Chu Lin, but widely recognized as Whitehorse, Yukon. To the Indigenous Peoples of the area, she is recognized as Guch’an meaning ‘people of the clouds’, indicating that she is a settler in the region.

In 2017, Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Studies, from UBCO. Following graduation, she successfully applied for the Jane Glassco Northern Fellowship. As a Fellow, her research focused on the ties between food security and regional identity. Her desire to build on this research, led her to pursue a Master’s in Community Engagement, Social Change and Equity. In the spring of 2020, she received an ICER scholarship, along with funding from SSRCH and the NSTP in support of her work.

 

Posted in , , ,

Jan. 21 Starting a Conversation with Dr. Mary Stockdale: Engaging Okanagan Communities in Climate Action

January 19, 2021

Join us on Thursday, Jan.21, 2021 from noon to 1 pm for our first Starting the Conversation of the year.  This will be an on-line discussion, so please email icer.ok@ubc.ca to register for a link.

The question for discussion will be: How can we effectively engage our Okanagan communities in climate action?

Abstract:

In order for government at all levels to take the actions needed to address urgent and ambitious climate targets, a broad social mandate is necessary – one that reaches across divides to avoid political polarization. To achieve this mandate, government, civil society, and other actors need to invest in higher quality and quantity of public engagement on climate change. These efforts need to be tailored to the particular community that is being engaged. In this ‘Starting A Conversation’ event, Mary will outline what constitutes effective climate engagement at the community level, drawing from the research evidence base as well as her experience in training and implementing a climate ambassador program in collaboration with the City of Vernon, where over 30 ambassadors were trained to reach out to their particular community networks, ultimately reaching over 1000 people (and counting).

Bio:

Mary, a Lecturer in Human Geography at UBCO, has made addressing climate change her central concern. She recently returned from living in the UK on sabbatical leave (2019-2020); while there, she volunteered as coordinator of videographers a two week Extinction Rebellion event in London last October, and began her current part-time work at Climate Outreach in Oxford as project manager for an ambitious international project called the Climate Engagement Initiative. Locally, she has acted as Co-Chair for the Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAAC) of the City of Vernon, who have just released a draft Climate Action Plan for community engagement.

Posted in

ICER Student Scholarship Deadline extended to Friday Jan.15.21

January 12, 2021

The ICER Student Scholarship was originally due, Wednesday, Jan.13.21, at midnight; however, we’re extending the intake to Friday, Jan.15 at midnight.

The online application can be found here.

The application asks for contact info for yourself as the student applicant, the community partner, and an academic referee (NB – no reference letter is required ) and the following questions:

  1. Providing the working title for your project.
  2. Briefly summarize your research and your research question. Identify how you intend to collaborate and work with your community partners. (max 250 words)
  3. Describe what research methods you intend to use, and explain why? (max 150 words)
  4. How will you report back the findings of your research to the community? (max 150 words)

There will be 3 scholarships of $1000 each awarded. The scholarships are meant to support students as they conduct their community engaged research (regardless of what discipline or theme they are in).

If you have any questions, please email: icer.ok@ubc.ca

Posted in

Announcing the inaugural Institute for Community Engaged Research Community Grant

November 25, 2020

The Institute for Community Engaged Research (ICER) is awarding two $2,500 grants in 2021 to encourage community organizations to conduct Community Engaged Research (CER).

The purpose of the grant is to support community organizations to undertake a research project in collaboration with members of ICER. Our hope is that the grant will help to answer questions that are of importance, and build closer ties between the Okanagan community and ICER members.

For the purposes of this grant, CER is understood to be:
– Research that is done collaboratively between community partners and researchers;
– That the research question is of importance to, and impacts the wellbeing of the community; and
– That the research results are shared with the community.

For examples of community engaged research, please visit the ICER website www.icer.ok.ubc.ca

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 (midnight)

Eligibility:
– Applicants must be a community organization with a bank account in their name;
– They must be based in and do their work in the Okanagan Region;
– Propose a project that aligns with the principles of CER outlined above; and
– Must work with an ICER member or ICER affiliated student (and the commitment to this project must be confirmed by that individual)

Following the completion of their research project, recipients will present at ICER’s lunchtime discussion series to share their research process and findings. The names of the recipients will be published in the ICER newsletter and social media.

The application is online.

Questions may be directed to: icer.ok@ubc.ca

Posted in , ,

Dec. 2 – Starting a Conversation with Norah Bowman: Mapping Whiteness and White Supremacy on Unceded Syilx Territory in the Central Okanagan.

November 24, 2020

 

Abstract:
As a result over a century of colonial policies, laws, and practices, the Okanagan Valley has become a cultural space in which whiteness is associated with regional citizenship. By regional citizenship, I mean the Okanagan associations of valley land-ownership, access to local capital, and participation in leisure and pleasure culture. In my recent research on land use in the valley, I have found repeated examples of the presence of BIPOC in the Okanagan Valley. Farmers, families, and workers from China, Japan, Jamaica and India have been part of Okanagan valley
settler culture for over 100 years. As well, this land is the unceded home of the Syilx Okanagan Indigenous people, whose knowledge and cultural contributions should form the idea of regional
citizenship.

So why do people say “Kelowna is so white”? What is the effect of this kind of statement? And how can we trouble it? One idea I have is mapping the movement, presence, forced relocation, and cultural and economic contributions of BIPOC in this valley, and seeing how Central Okanagan Whiteness is a result of purposeful white supremacist culture. Let’s talk!

Bio:
Norah Bowman, PhD, is a professor at Okanagan College. She is Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies and teaches English Lit as well as Gender, Sexualities, and Women’s Studies. Norah is a school board trustee in school district 23. Her book of poetry and prose about Okanagan Mountain will be published with Caitlin Press in 2021.

Join us for the next talk in ICER’s Starting a Conversation series on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020 from 12 noon to 1pm. This presentation will be via Zoom.
To register, please e-mail: Icer.ok@ubc.ca by Dec. 2 at 10 am.

Posted in

Nov. 15 – Starting a Conversation with Liam King: Digital Wellness Project for Young Indigenous Men

November 17, 2020

Digital Wellness Project for Young Indigenous Men

The identity of young Indigenous men is extremely important to their ability to live happy and healthy lives. However, little is known about how young Indigenous men use digital media to develop their identity and the impacts this has on health and wellness.

This project seeks to bring together young Indigenous men in a community-based participatory project to understand the ways that digital media may be influencing their identity, health and wellness. We will be co-researching with a small group (~6) of young Indigenous men (<30 years old) who are undergraduates at UBC Okanagan to empower these men to create and answer questions related to their digital media use, identity, and health and wellness. The knowledge created from this project will be used to create future Indigenous Digital Wellness projects that seek to promote the development of positive identities within Indigenous youth.

This is a CIHR-funded project being run in partnership with Aboriginal Programs and Services Center at UBC Okanagan.

Liam R. King, BSc., is a Cree-Metis scholar currently completing his MSc., specializing in Indigenous Health and Wellness. Liam’s research interests include community-based participatory research with young Indigenous people’s and investigating the intersections of digital media, Indigenous identity, gender, health and wellness.

Liam is also one of three recipients of the 2020 Institute for Community Engaged Research Scholarship.

To register, please email: Icer.ok@ubc.ca by 11:00 am Nov. 18.

Posted in ,

ICER Student Scholarship Deadline Jan.13, 2021

November 13, 2020

The online application for the Institute for Community Engaged Research is now open.
In recognition of ICER’s commitment to supporting students involved in community engaged research, we are awarding three $1000 scholarships in 2021.

The scholarships offer financial support to current UBC Okanagan graduate, or in exceptional circumstances, undergraduate, students. The recipients should be actively involved in community engaged research projects or activities, and have a community partner.

The purpose of the scholarship is to assist with supporting research and building closer ties with the community.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 (midnight)

Eligibility:
• Applicants must be students of UBC Okanagan;
• Graduate, or in exceptional circumstances undergraduate, students; and
• Actively involved in community engaged research.

Following the completion of their research, scholarship recipients are invited to present their research at a ‘Starting the Conversation’ – ICER’s brown bag discussion series. And their names will be published in the ICER newsletter and social media.

To access the scholarship, please click on this link.

Posted in ,

March 4, Relax-a-cucha 2020: Literacies Writ Large

February 25, 2020

Relax-a-cucha 2020: Literacies Writ Large (It’s more than ready & writing!)

Join us for an informative and engaging evening that explores aspects of literacies not often thought about.

The speakers have been asked to present 12 visual slides that highlight an aspect of literacy other than reading and writing. Each speaker will have 7 minutes to speak to their slides as they introduce the audience to new ways of thinking about literacies that help us navigate the world.

This is a free event, however registration is required and will be capped at 100 people. There will be opportunities for socializing and refreshments.

Presentations: 

The Art of Visiting
Vanessa Mitchell, Aboriginal Lead & Program Manager of Journey to Aboriginal Cultural Safety Program, Aboriginal Health, Interior Health

Developing Digital Literacy in 2020: Kinetic Learners & the Modern Public Library
Chris Stephenson, Kelowna Head Librarian, Okanagan Regional Library

A Probably Not Boring Introduction to Answering Research Questions with Math
Zakary Draper, MA, PhD student Psychology at UBCO

Over 100 Genders?! Queer & Trans* Literacy
Jey Benoit, Harm Reduction Educator, Living Positive Resource Centre

 How Emojis Make Us Feel
Dr. Christine Schreyer, UBCO

Designing for Accessibility and Inclusion: Presenting for Everyone
Meghan Currie, Inclusive Technology Lab Coordinator at UBCO

Space Matters! Inequality and Spaces of/in the City
Dr. Shelley Cook, Health System Impact Fellow at UBCO

Engaging in Mental Health Literacies
Dennis Jasper, UBCO School of Nursing

Please register for this free event @

https://relaxacucha2020_literacies_writ_large.eventbrite.ca

 

Posted in