Message from the Director - Patty Douglas
Happy holidays to the growing CCESC community! We are delighted to share our first newsletter as we look back over a remarkable fall term and ahead to 2025. Highlights of the term are CCESC’s phenomenal capacity building initiatives, the Amplify Grant opportunity for faculty and staff, added student positions in research and outreach, and a disability justice graduate student group fostering community and access at Queen’s and initiating student-led community engaged research. A heartfelt thank you to the entire CCESC team and community as we initiate projects to realize our vision: elevating participatory and transformative community engaged research in education to collaboratively build a world in which all students, families and communities belong, thrive and flourish. See you in 2025!
Message from the Associate Director
At the heart of our work lies the belief that meaningful community engagement enriches education, fosters innovation, and strengthens partnerships. We are proud to be in the early phases of implementing initiatives that bring people together to create lasting impact. A CCESC highlight has been collaborating with nine students on internship projects with five diverse community partners. These projects span critical areas such as Indigenous youth art-making, equity and inclusive education, youth entrepreneurship, and municipal engagement. Together, we aim to foster innovative research, inspire learning, and nourish networks that address pressing needs of our communities. Thank you for joining us on this journey!
Our Team is Growing! Student Spotlight
Rachel Su- SWEP Student
Rachel Su (she/her) is a Master of Education student and an Ontario Certified Teacher whose research explores the experiences of racialized teacher candidates navigating stereotype threat—an emerging psychological barrier rooted in the fear of confirming negative group stereotypes. As part of her role with the center, Rachel focuses on developing promotional materials and managing communication channels to spotlight the remarkable community-engaged research taking place within and beyond the faculty. Her work includes conducting interviews with prominent researchers and capturing the essence of events that highlight the center’s impact.
Haley Clark - Research Assistant
Haley Clark (she/her) is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University. Her research focuses on lived experiences of systemic ableism and disability identity in education, particularly as this relates to Autism and ADHD. Haley’s background in the sociology of education and critical disability studies spurs her active involvement in inclusive education in addition to being actively involved in service with the Queen’s Community. Haley is currently supporting CCESC as a research assistant. She is working with Patty alongside project manager Jennifer Thompson to conduct a scoping review on storytelling for social change that will support grant proposals for CCESC research. She also assists with the Disability Justice graduate student group.