March 2019

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS ™

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Alberta School of Business

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Sarah Simoes

March 19’ Activism & Awareness

T H O U G H T V S T H O U G H T >>

E X T E R N A L R E L AT I O N S >>

M I S C E L L A N E O U S >>

#Bell Let’s Talk Helpful?

Or just a marketing strategy?

Unitea - U of A Mental Health.

What Actually Makes an Activist?

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Represent a Fortune 500 Company Hiring new grads for sales executive positions in over 70 locations across Canada. Build your career with us.

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Table of Contents

CONTENTS SOCIAL STUDIES Black History Month: How it has Changed and the Importance of Recognizing the Past

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EVENTS THIS MONTH TEDxUAlberta

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GUEST ARTICLE Centre for Family Literacy - Interview with Donna Lemieux

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LF REVIEWS The Hallway (Café + Restaurant)

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LAZY CHAT Voters Gonna Vote, Do-ers Gonna Do

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FASHION Girlfriend Collective FYI The Ins and Outs of Donating Blood THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT #Bell Let’s Talk Helpful? Or just a marketing strategy?

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Sarah Simoes EXTERNAL RELATIONS Zoe Kruschke - Unitea CLUBS CORNER 5 Days for the Homeless

BSA Wellness Initiative: NEW Conference What Actually Makes an Activist?

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Editor’s Note

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or the month of March, we want to inspire you, valued reader, to stand up, speak out or march (pun intended) for causes that you believe in! This month our theme is activism!

When it comes to making a difference in the world we live in today, there are many ways to go about doing that: from participating in social movements, to volunteering, to supporting businesses that exercise social corporate responsibility. With so many ways to make a difference, we wanted to dive into a few easy and accessible ways that students like us can all spark positive change in our communities and for the future. We hope you pick up this month’s issue with hope for a better future, and finish reading it with some ideas on how to make that happen. Read on!

Rodvie Barnachea

RODVIE BARNACHEA Editor-in-Chief

Haya Masri

HAYA MASRI Editor-in-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

VALERIE LEOW VP Editorial

DYLAN WEE Photographer

DENISE NGUYEN Writer

JOANNA FADDOUL VP Art & Design

KATIE FITZGERALD VP Editorial

AUSTIN YEE Photographer

TYLER KEFFER Writer

MELANIA ANTOSZKO Designer

ELIZABETH JUN VP Marketing

DIANE JEON Photographer & Writer

CLEO WILLIAMS Writer

LEIRE DOMENECH Designer

ERICA WEE Social Media Director

ERICA HU Photographer

RACHITA CHUGH Writer

ALYSSA RICIOPPO Designer

ALEX HO Suits LF Director & Photographer

WYATT LYNDS Writer

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KATIE FITZGERALD VP Editorial

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Describe yourself in five words.

Energetic, Ambitious, Creative, Passionate, Thoughtful What's your favourite hobby?

Long distance running and Videography Best study spot on campus?

Quiet Room in Van Vliet building

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AUSTIN YEE Photographer

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Describe yourself in 5 words.

Easy-going, relaxed, reliable, friendly, open-minded.

What’s your favourite hobby?

I really enjoy playing volleyball.

I taught myself how to play by watching YouTube tutorials.

Teamwork is crucial in volleyball, so I’ve learned to both lead and work well in a team by playing volleyball.

What's your favourite movie quote?

"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are going to find it at all" Dead Poets Society

Best study spot on campus?

During the school year, I like to look for quiet spots around CCIS. However, during finals, my friends and I like to study together in a classroom. That way we can study together and keep each other from procrastinating.

Why did you join Lazy Faire?

To meet like minded students within the university as well as improve on and utilize my writing skills.

What’s your favourite movie quote?

“Life’s simple. You make choices and you don’t look back.”

Han Lue | The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) Why did you join Lazy Faire?

I joined because I wanted to practice more photography and meet new friends. I had known some of the Lazy Faire members before I joined, and they highly recommended me to join because of the fun and dedicated team.

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Meet the Team

DIANE JEON Photographer & Writer

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Describe yourself in 5 words.

Conciseness = Not My Strong Suit.

What’s your favourite hobby?

Hiking.

Best study spot on campus?

Winspear computers, second last row. Large desk and monitor, plug-in for laptop charger, and pin-drop silence.

Oh yes.

What’s your favourite movie quote?

"How are you gonna be a revolutionary if you're such a traditionalist?" - La La Land (2016).

Why did you join Lazy Faire?

I wanted to provoke thought among the Faculty of Business community.

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Social Studies

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Black History Month:

How it has Changed and the Importance of Recognizing the Past The forerunner to Black History Month was “Negro History Week,” created in 1926 in the United States by historian, Carter G. Woodson, and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now ASAHL). With the week’s launch, Woodson declared that the teaching of Black history was essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of the race within broader society: “If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated.”

This week was designated as the second week of February, as it overlapped with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (February 12th) and of Frederick Douglass (February 14). Black communities had already celebrated both dates since the late 19th century due to the two individuals’ immense contributions to the fight for Black freedom from slavery.

Fast-forward to February of 1970. Black educators and student group, “Black United Students” at Kent State University, expanded the week to a month-long celebration, renaming it accordingly as “Black History Month.” The amplification of the event was widely accepted and spread throughout America.

Six years later, President Gerald Ford officially recognized the observance of Black History Month during the United States Bicentennial. He urged Americans to “seize the opportunity to honour the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.” It may not seem like much, but this institutional acknowledgement reinforced the significance of the month-long celebration and provided more visibility of Black history on an international level.

Black History Month later spread to the United Kingdom in 1987, Canada in 1995, and Ireland in 2014.

Every year, ASAHL curates a particular “theme” for Black History Month. Themes include “Helping America Understand” (1974), “Black Women in American Culture and History” (2012), and “The History of Black Economic Empowerment” (2012). This year’s theme is “Black Migrations” (2019), which ASAHL says is meant to emphasize “the movement of people of African descent to new destinations and subsequently to new social realities.”

Daryl Michael Scott, history professor at Howard University and ASALH president, explains that the themes are meant to focus observances of Black History Month on the deeper consideration of history, rather than allowing for the tendency to celebrate only the individual accomplishments of Black people. Scott asserts that, according to Woodson: “We’re not supposed to simply be talking about black people doing great things in the past. It is not as simple as that. We are supposed to be talking about what our involvement in human history really meant.”

I’m with Scott and Woodson. Recognizing collective history cannot be deemed more important in this day and age. I’m no expert on Black history, nor am I Black myself, but reaching back and bringing the past events, inequities, and accomplishments into the present builds greater dimensions of understanding on how race affects people today. And that’s difficult, because history is not always pretty.

In their 2015 publication of Black History Month, MadameNoire shakes their fist at corporations who have commercialized the month, tying history into “slick marketing campaigns” and making national Black History Month observances “almost frivolous.” In the same vein, when Beyoncé emulated Black pride and history through her X-formations in the 2016 Super Bowl halftime show, critics claimed she was being “too political.” In reality, corporations and critics alike are afraid to recognize the darker, racially discriminatory themes that were rampant in American, Canadian, and European history.

So, buckle in, folks. Take the time to learn about history and see its effects on the present. Racism may not be dead, but freedom and reconciliation can be found in recognizing history, its reverberations in unjust structures and stereotypes today, and how it can shape futures.

Black History Month theme for 2020: African Americans and the Vote.

Written by Diane Jeon

Designed by Leire Domenech

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Fashion

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Girlfriend Collective

How often do you hear about fashion brands making serious strides towards sustainability? It should come as no surprise that the fashion industry and the way we design, manufacture, and discard clothes has an indelible impact on our environment. However, consumer preferences and value systems are shifting the world over, which has contributed to a critical change in the way companies and brands operate. Sustainable, or eco-fashion, is the driving force behind the changing landscape of the fashion industry.

Companies often focus on making one aspect of their operations sustainable – and although this is still commendable – there are very few companies that are dedicated to sustainability and transparency quite like the Girlfriend Collective.

Girlfriend Collective is a Seattle-based company that was first launched in 2016. Ellie Dinh, Girlfriend’s Co-Founder and Creative Director is very forthcoming about the company’s values. Community, ethical and sustainable sourcing practices, and sheer transparency lie at the heart of this brand.

What does Girlfriend offer its customers? Girlfriend has a collection of limited edition leggings, bras, and shirts in a wide range of sizes. In fact, the brand also recently gained some attention after they expanded their leggings and bra sizes to 6XL and 3XL, respectively. Girlfriend is one of the few brands that recognizes the potential of plus-size active wear; their newly expanded legging sizes are a clear testament to inclusivity and diversity.

Apart from leaving its impact in the social sphere, Girlfriend’s production process is also a clear indication of their dedication to a cleaner, greener planet. All of their products are designed from a variety of recycled plastics – most notably their leggings. Each pair of leggings is made from 25 recycled bottles. They also offer Lite High-Rise Leggings that are made from recycled fish nets. Their products come in several beautiful colors, including Wine (burgundy), Blossom (lilac), Smoke (grey), and Midnight (navy blue).

The company is selective about the materials used, their facilities, and their partners. The brand is so committed to keeping their customers in the know that they have devoted an entire page on their website to details on their production process. You can learn more about how they source their materials, how their fabric gets made, and how they bring their products to their customers on the About page of their website.

Girlfriend’s facilities are SA8000 certified – this means that there’s no trace of forced or child labor. The certification also guarantees safe working conditions and the right to unionize for all employees.

If all of this hasn’t sold you on the brand yet, just browse through their product catalogue on their website or visit their social media platforms to see how beloved this brand truly is.

Girlfriend is on its way to making a dent in the fashion industry, especially after having been recognized by prestigious names like Vogue. Girlfriend proves that fashion can be both profitable and sustainable.

Written by Rachita Chugh

Designed by Leire Domenech

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FYI

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The Ins and Outs of Donating Blood We all know that there are numerous reasons why we should be donating blood. Blood donations save the lives of people who have cancer, have suffered some type of trauma, suffer from sickle cell disease, burn patients, and patients with other chronic diseases. According to the Red Cross website, one donation can potentially save three lives!

How to donate blood: The University of Alberta is a member of the Partners for Life program - a nationwide program designed for corporate and community organizations to join forces with Canadian Blood Services to save lives. By being a Canadian Blood Services Partner for Life, the University of Alberta has made a commitment to save lives by donating blood as a team.

If you would like to give blood as part of the program, and have it counted towards the University’s annual donation goal, please register as an individual member on the Partners for Life Membership website and use the University’s Partner ID UNIV010313. You do not have to be a staff or faculty member to have your donations count towards the U of A’s goal. Family and friends can also donate using the U of A Partner ID. What Types of Blood Are Needed?

People with type O-negative (O-) blood are considered universal donors, as they can donate red blood cells to all other blood type recipients. That’s why it’s always in high demand — it’s used in emergency situations when there is no time to test a patient’s blood type.

The most common blood type in Canada is O-positive (O+), with about 39% of our population having it, which is why we have the greatest need for “type O blood.”

People with type AB-positive (AB+) blood are considered universal recipients for red blood cells, as they can receive them from any other blood type donor.

The least common type is AB-negative (AB-), with less than 1% of the population having it.

It is always a good idea to find out which blood type you have - you never know if you might have a rare type of blood that could potentially save someone’s life!

Other Ways To Help: Not very keen on donating blood? Don’t worry! There are plenty of other ways you can lend a helping hand to the Canadian Blood Services.

You can become a donor centre volunteer, where you greet the donors and make them feel comfortable during their visit. In addition, you can be a volunteer leader where you help host, coordinate, and promote blood donation events in local communities and workplaces. Finally, you can become an “ABO Typer”, where you help put on blood typing events, which provide the opportunity for individuals to learn about both their blood type and how they can contribute to the blood system.

Via: https://www.blood.ca/en https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help.html Written by Katie Fitzgerald

Designed by Leire Domenech

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Thought vs. Thought

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Helpful?

Every year, millions of individuals are affected by mental illness, and, unfortunately, not enough support is available to counteract its effects. Bell has taken the initiative to attack this problem head on with their #Bell Let’s Talk program. This program is dedicated to help fight mental illness within Canada through their four key pillars: anti-stigma, care and access, research, and workplace health. Bell’s outreach and awareness initiative has allowed them to receive, and then donate, $100,695,763.75 to fund the battle against mental illness. This initiative is truly helpful to those suffering from mental health, which is evident from the amount of money raised, the key pillars, and the Bell Let’s Talk Team.

The fact that Bell was able to raise over one hundred million dollars for mental health awareness, research, and care proves that the initiative is helpful and defeats the notion that it is purely a marketing strategy. In terms of magnitude alone, this amount of money will be able to open a whole range of new research opportunities, increase care in Universities and hospitals, and remove the stigma around mental illness. Bell’s unique position in being able to fund many mental health organizations will open up opportunities to combat and raise awareness in many diverse ways due to this high level of capital.

Bell’s four pillars supporting their initiative are a sentiment to the argument that this program is truly helpful. Firstly, the anti-stigma portion addresses a key issue in today’s modern society that often is not dealt with. Bell uses its influential social media presence and power to draw people away from the use of negative “crazy” or “insane” labels, and instead invites discourse on the appropriate understanding of mental health. Secondly, Bell uses its funds to support hospitals and universities in order to provide more assistance to those in need. Thirdly, large amounts of Bell’s donations are being donated to research in order to better deal with mental health and be able to provide a higher level of support for those who are suffering. Lastly, Bell is exemplifying proper workplace health initiatives by using the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. The fact that Bell is actively using these four pillars in purpose of providing support to mental health issues truly represents the initiative’s purpose: to help individuals with mental illness.

The Bell Help Team is an excellent example of Bell’s attempting to reach out to those affected by mental illness in a helpful manner. The Bell Help Team consists of a large number of diverse individuals, each with their own story of mental illness and recovery, on the Bell Let’s Talk webpage. This extraordinary effort by Bell to reach out to different groups of people is another reason why it is helpful.

In closing, the Bell Let’s Talk program is an outstanding initiative, which breaks down the walls put up by stigma, and also funds research, all in the purpose of helping those affected by mental illness. https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/our-initiatives/ Written by Wyatt Lynds

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

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Thought vs. Thought

Just a marketing strategy?

Mental illness has always been surrounded by a stigma and, in all honesty, it’s a difficult topic to open up about. For years, people have felt that they need to struggle alone. In this way, opening up the discussion on mental health is undoubtedly a positive thing, but is being told to do so for 24 hours by a large corporation really the way to do it? Since Bell Let’s Talk started in 2011, the company has donated millions to mental health initiatives, with a recorded donation of $6.9 million in 2019. The numbers are no doubt impressive, but it’s debatable whether Bell has the same enthusiasm in regards to creating a mental health inclusive company culture, or if they’re simply using Bell Let’s Talk to make consumers believe they care.

As reported by CBC, many Bell employees have come forward saying that they suffer from mental health issues due to their work. Panic attacks, vomiting, and crying due to stress were all noted as common occurrences in the call centre. In order to meet goals, the mental health of employees is put on the back burner. This tradeoff seems ironic for a company that is so openly determined to contribute to the improvement of mental health. Bell com-

Written by Cleo Williams

pletely contradicts their advertised image by disregarding the mental health of their own employees, reducing the meaning of Bell Let’s Talk to a simple marketing ploy.

In addition to the true intentions of the company itself, the people who are involved in Bell Let’s Talk can sometimes have similarly contradicting actions.

Supporting those with mental illnesses is much easier to do from afar than it is up close, and, as a result, some of the people who participate in Bell Let’s Talk aren’t really doing anything to help the people in their lives who are personally struggling with mental illness. After all, typing out, “It’s okay not to be okay :) #BellLetsTalk,” once a year is a lot simpler than making the conscious effort to support those around you who are struggling.

When it comes down to it, the real way to improve people’s mental health is not by making sympathetic comments on people’s Facebook posts and then forgetting about it, but by taking the time to actively care. This simply can’t be achieved in a 24-hour period, and it would seem that even the creators of the movement are lacking in actually practicing the values they preach.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Sarah Simoes

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Student Spotlight

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A familiar face on campus, Sarah Simoes is in her final semester at the ASoB. This month, Lazy Faire caught up with her to chat about what it means to be an activist, and how she is using her voice to amplify the voices of others.

Could you explain what involvement on campus has looked like for you?

So, my first year, I lived in residence, and I didn’t really do all too much, but I was super involved in high school and I wanted get involved on campus, and the first place that I did was through the Alberta Public Research Interest Group (APIRG). I applied to be on the board, my first year, and I got a position as the CFO, and so I just helped with their financials, and that was a lot of fun. They’re a public interest group that really fights for people, giving people their voices, and giving them the opportunity to be heard. So I really enjoyed that kind of philosophy, and so I joined that group, and I learned a lot, so then I did it again in the following year, but I did a portfolio as the office portfolio on that team.

Afterwards, I did RMBS as VP Logistics, and that was lots of fun, then JDC West. And last year, I was also the Co-Chair of the Alberta Not-For-Profit Association.

So, in relation to giving people their voices, what does activism mean to you?

To me, activism is similar to the way APIRG describes it - you know their philosophy is ‘giving people the opportunity to be heard’.

Maybe it’s an unpopular belief, or not the status quo, and that’s ok, and people know that it’s ok to have an unpopular opinion about something. But just giving people the space and environment to be heard. You don’t have to be going to protests or going to major demonstrations just to be an activist.

You can be an activist in your own life, in a sense that if you’re at a meeting, whether it’s a school club or a business meeting, it’s asking people in the room what their thoughts are. Sometimes, there’s people that are going to be quiet in the room because they feel like they might not be heard or that their ideas aren’t good enough. Just giving them the voice or the little push that they need to feel confident in their own thoughts. Putting them on the spot might not be a great idea, but after the meeting, you can go to that person and be like, “Hey! What are your thoughts on this?” And in the next meeting, or the next time you meet,

say, “This person had a great idea, and we talked about it after the meeting, and I thought we should highlight it because it was awesome.” If you’re confident enough to speak your own mind and someone else isn’t, you really do have a job to ensure that everybody else’s thoughts and opinions are there and part of the conversation, because at the end of the day, decisions are best made when all thoughts are considered. That’s what activism to me means - it’s just bringing people up with you as you go through decisions in life.

How do you think this philosophy has influenced your life and your academic career?

You learn from other people. In school clubs, having an anonymous feedback form - that truly is anonymous and you have no idea who said it - is a great initiative. But the next step is taking that, and showing everybody, and being open and transparent. I don’t think you can truly be an advocate for other people or create a space and a culture that is open and inviting if you’re not transparent about what’s going on. So, when I was a Co-Chair, we ensured that our team had a feedback form, and then, when we had a competition, we had feedback forms. But not only did we read the feedback forms, we told people about what was said in the feedback forms, and how we’re going to fix it and improve things. I think that that might not be 100% activism, but it is taking the feedback, being open-minded, and creating change with it, and that’s kind of what the base of activism is. It’s speaking your mind, to create change in society, and even if it’s just a small component of your life, school club, your family, or your group of friends, where you can make a change just by listening to someone, I think that that’s valuable. Doing that as a Co-Chair, and being on different teams, and also asking for that real raw feedback without getting hurt and taking it personally. I firmly believe that, as people, we should always be looking to better ourselves in a sense that you should always be open to what others have to say.

Written by Cleo Williams

You don’t always have to follow with what they say, or take to heart what people are saying, but it’s important to understand different perspectives.

As you move into your career, how do you hope to influence those around you?

How? The impact I want to have is just being an open and honest person. I want to be able to have people come up to me, or to be comfortable saying what they truly feel, what they truly think about something.

Whether that’s your friend group or at work, I really want to be that person that creates a space that’s positive in terms of giving feedback or stating an opinion; maybe it’s unpopular, but being supportive in a sense that I’m listening to you and I hear you. I really want to make that impact. Just being open-minded to different perspectives and learning. How I want to do that… I think, again, it’s very simple in that I’ll ask people what they think. At work, starting from the bottom, you have to listen to others and see what their perspectives are, and kind of just go with the flow. But also, if I have an opinion, I would like to use my confidence to say it, and to tell people how I feel and what I think. Because, if I’m only telling people to do that stuff and I’m not doing it, then I’m not really doing what I preach. I want to be consistent in that sense, where if I’m telling people to go out and say stuff that they feel, then I should be able to do that too. I think a big thing, for me, is being a woman in the workforce - you read all the self-help books about “how to use your voice,” and “how to get a spot at the big table,” or things like that, and I really want to be a support for other girls and other women who are going through the same things, and are not afraid about talking about the hard things that we’re going through. Not creating any taboos, because there are a lot on that topic.

Just being open and honest, and being able to have those hard conversations, whether that be with a boss, a colleague, or a friend just putting it all on the table and not being afraid of what’s next.

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

Photograph by Dylan Wee

External Relations Zoe Kruschke

What purpose does Unitea serve?

Unitea is partly a mental health initiative. It is not meant to be for people with mental health problems, but rather accessible to anyone on campus. Uniteaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goal is to instigate conversation, primarily with students on campus who may feel lonely or not totally know the resources on campus. It is a casual initiative, with a purpose to build conversation and a community on campus. Unitea is more of a preventative mental health model, rather than helping people through bigger issues.

can book Tea Times with hosts for an hour. We (hosts) have monthly meetings and participate in promotional work. We have all been trained through the Community Helpers program, which is a program for active listening support.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am in my fourth year of undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Science, majoring in Psychology. Additionally, I am in the honours program, and am currently doing research.

How does Unitea operate?

What led you to Unitea?

Unitea works through an online booking system. Students can book an appointment on the webpage, which can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/community-social-work/unitea. Times run between 9am-4pm from Monday to Friday. It is an hour, whenever you are free, and we will bring you a free travel mug, plus a free tea or coffee from the Daily Grind, who we have a partnership with.

I cannot remember exactly how I found out about it; I think I read about it in the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Digest. I had been looking for some volunteer opportunities on campus. Unitea struck me because I am someone who enjoys one-on-one conversation and connecting with people that way, as opposed to a group. I really agree with what they are doing, and it is quite new, so I thought it would be cool to help build this organization.

What position do you hold in Unitea?

If a student required support, how could they contact, or receive help from, Unitea?

I am one of the hosts, which is essentially a volunteer. You

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Unitea offers Tea Time bookings online with our hosts. We are an organization through the Community Social Work Team on campus, and can connect them to that team for further support or other mental health services on campus. Unitea is a pure support system, but more casual than the Peer Support Centre.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering at Unitea?

Definitely having these one-on-one tea times, but our monthly meetings are also great because itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a community within the volunteers. Also, we get constant support from the Social Work teams, so if we have any questions or concerns, it is a very comfortable environment to reach out and talk to people. That community aspect of being a volunteer has been great as well.

How can an interested student become a Unitea host?

We are not in the volunteer recruitment stage yet, but you can contact the link on our site if you want to be a volunteer.

Otherwise, reaching out to the Community Social Work Team on campus is your other best bet. Recruitment is usually in the Spring, interviews are in early April, and the Community Helpers training is in late August.

External Relations

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What have you learned from your time at Unitea?

The one-on-one conversations have helped me become a better listener, and providing support in a way that is not giving advice all the time. There is so much more to providing support; I think Unitea has really helped me hone those skills in that respect. Additionally, we do promotional work, which has helped me become better, socially, at reaching out to people on campus and talking to strangers.

Has Unitea inspired you to pursue a profession similar to the position you currently hold?

Well, I had been interested in therapy before I joined, which is what drew me to psychology. I am a not a therapist, by any means in this role, but it has solidified that path for me in a way because it is something I am really passionate about.

Unitea has helped with active listening skills and how to carry out conversations one-on-one with people. Unitea has inspired me to keep going on this journey.

Written by Wyatt Lynds Photo Provided Designed by Joanna Faddoul

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™

Clubs Corner

CLUBS CORNER: 5 DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS Lazy Faire had the opportunity to meet with Wentana Dirrar, the current Chair of 5 Days for the Homeless, to gain some insight about the background of the club, a rundown of their upcoming campaign, and learn about what the club has been doing in the meantime whilst in preparation for their annual campaign.

Originally founded at the University of Alberta’s School of Business in 2005, 5 Days was established with its main goal being to raise awareness about homelessness throughout campus by “educating people on the realities of homelessness and debunking some of the misconceptions”. By 2011, 22 schools across Canada had joined in. What had started as a campaign that managed to raise $2,000 in 2005 soon turned into over $200,000 nationwide in 2011. Its campaign seeks to collect donations for YESS, the Youth Empowerment and Support Services (formerly known as the Youth Emergency Shelter Society), a local charity, to support at-risk youth in the city with the necessary resources and services to promote community re-integration and prevent them from falling through the gaps in our system.

The University of Alberta’s 5 Days Club, in particular, focuses on youth homelessness, which isn’t usually at the forefront

Written by Valerie Leow Designed by Joanna Faddoul

of people’s minds when the topic of homelessness is brought up; instead, the ‘typical’ image of homelessness might be an adult that “maybe made a mistake or messed up somewhere”. While there are support programs in place for children under 15 and adults over 22, a gap exists in our system for those that fall in between these ages.

A common misconception is that youth homelessness, especially on university campuses, doesn’t really exist – because ‘how would they pay for tuition? – but the current demand for these services show that they are being utilized and are necessary for a number of youth who rely on it to support their education. Thus, Wentana believes that the campus is an excellent place to spark discussion and awareness of such a prevalent issue.

The campaign week will begin on Sunday, March 10th, at 5 pm, and last till Friday, March 15th, at 5 pm. All executive members of 5 Days, along with any volunteers that sign up, will be giving up their creature comforts and ease of access to basic necessities that most of us often take for granted in our everyday life throughout all five days. (Everyone is also free to join the team for just a single night in a ‘Sleepathon’.)

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Armed with just a pillow, sleeping bag, the clothes on their backs, and a coat, they are to ‘make camp’ right outside the Business Building. All food and drinks can only be received through direct donations to them, with all non-perishables being set aside to be donated to a homeless shelter.

Neither changing one’s first layer of clothes – for example, shirt, pants, socks, underwear, etc. – nor access to on-campus showers of gym facilities will be allowed, and washrooms can only be used when campus buildings are open. In addition to this, all participants are still expected to attend all classes and perform all extracurricular commitments as per usual. Cell phone and laptop use will not be permitted, and all schoolwork requiring use of a computer is to be completed in the library. (The exception to the cell phone rule will be granted to the VP Marketing, who will retain use of it for the sole reasons of promoting the campaign and safety purposes.)

“We will never understand what it’s like because, during that week, we’ll still have our privileges. If it gets too cold (under -30°C), a safety warning will be issued and we’ll get called back inside; if someone knows you need something, one of the many students who pass by will get something to you.

At the end of the day, we’re doing this because it’s a statement – it’s loud, it gets people talking – but five days is just five days, and we will never truly understand the realities, unfortunately. It doesn’t even represent a sliver of an actual experience of homelessness. I can’t even fathom – we can’t even begin to imagine – something like that, which is why we need to support these services.” – Wentana Dirrar While all of the other business clubs offer a plethora of professional development skills to be gained, Wentana states that they were too

Clubs Corner

focused on one’s self: about how to better one’s own skills, career or connections. Although these are important skills to learn, especially in university, Wentana explains that she joined 5 Days, specifically, as it allowed her to look past herself, feel like she was making a difference, and encouraged her to push herself out of her comfort zone. 5 Days differentiates itself by being more than just a resume booster – everyone’s who there actually wants to help make an impact on their community, regardless of how small it may be.

Wentana expressed her pride in her team’s dedication and enthusiasm in wanting to truly help combat this issue. Their eagerness and initiative to do more beyond just the 5 days of the actual campaign has led them to pursue additional volunteer opportunities, such as their Toque Tuesday event in collaboration with Homeward Trust and Raising the Roof just last month in February, where they managed to raise nearly $1,000 in a single day by selling toques and ballcaps. Half of this money will go towards supporting youth homelessness in Edmonton, while the other half will go towards national youth homelessness programs. In mid-February, the team also had the chance to tour the YESS site, and volunteer there as well.

Having raised $21,000 last year, the club has set this year’s fundraising goal at a modest $20,000.

According to Wentana, the total donation amounts have been on a steady decline recently, possible due to the economic downturn. Thus, to offset this, they also aim to spread awareness of the campaign beyond the Business Faculty, throughout all of the other faculties as well, since 5 Days has always been a predominantly ‘business’ associated club.

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Events this Month

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TEDxUAlberta This marks the fourth year for the TEDxUAlberta conference which aims to foster collaboration and inspire initiative in furthering Edmonton’s future, culture, and knowledge. Each year, talks are included from School of Business alumni, faculty, and students to spark innovative thinking, but TEDx is a multidisciplinary platform with value far beyond the reaches of business education. Notable past speakers include Rhodes Scholar Billy-Ray Belcourt, BioWare founder Ray Muzyka, and Canada’s Top 20 under 20 award recipient Swish Goswami.

The 2019 conference theme TEDxMachina focuses on Solving the Unsolvable. The conference hopes to explore seemingly unsolvable or unacknowledged problems, and investigate their possible solutions. It features local leaders to discuss innovation in Edmonton—whether this be in technology, entertainment, business, education, healthcare, arts, or global issues. In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TEDxUAlberta hopes to spark discussion and connection over shared passion for issues that face Edmonton.

Refreshments and lunch are included at the event which runs from 11:00am 6:00pm on March 10, 2019.

Tickets will be on sale starting February 25 online.

Additional information, including the speaker lineup, ticket information, and previous years’ talks can be found at TEDxUAlberta. com.

Twitter - @TEDxUAlberta Facebook - facebook.com/ tedxualberta

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Guest Article

Centre for Family Literacy Interview with Donna Lemieux

Can you tell me more about your position for Centre for Family Literacy?

I am the director of development and community engagement. We have two directors: one focusing on the delivery of our services, and the development and community engagement director who finds the financial resources to get the organization in a sound financial position. Also, through community engagement, we work with different partners who support our mandate. We work to build awareness of the importance of literacy and the impact that low literacy levels have within the provincial community.

What’s your history with the organization?

I’ve been with the Centre since 2004. I loved the organization’s mission and what they tried to achieve.

I just felt that it fit with where I wanted to go; I had been in the arts, and I felt that this was a good move that really made a difference in people’s lives. I was in social work, but then I had my children and did a lot of volunteer work in that time. I learned new skills, and I was able to move back into the workforce, and ended up in fund development.

What do you consider when you create programs for the organization?

There are two focuses. One is intervention, which is when we see adults who have low literacy skills and are wanting to improve their reading, writing, or math. We’re working with the issue as it exists in their lives today. At the same time, we realize that the best way to address an issue like this is prevention.

We support parents with preschool children, so that when their kids get into the school system, they’re ready to learn. It’s a two-pronged approach to dealing with literacy issues.

Written by Denise Nguyen

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

How does activism speak to you as a member of the team?

For me personally, I see this as such an elephant in the room. It’s there, but nobody talks about it. We’re trying to make people aware that it exists and the huge impact it has on people’s lives, like on the employer’s sector because it affects employee productivity, or on families, particularly children, who end up going to school unable to have the same literacy development as another child who grew up in a literate environment. It’s a mission to get people to realize what a difference it can make not in the lives of people, but our society, if we could give everyone an equal opportunity to participate.

How do you the think the centre resonates with your clients?

The thing we hear the most is how welcoming and nonjudgmental it is, and how focused on making sure that it is what they want to do. We don’t say “you’re not doing this right”, we say, “I see you’re doing it this way, let’s build on it.” We try to build on what people have already achieved or what they’re doing. That’s what resonates - we’re open and willing to listen to what they’re saying, and adapting our program to meet their needs.

Photos Provided

How do you find those partners or resources to help you along the way?

We do several special events throughout the year.

We’re a United Way agency, so they fund two of our programs. Like every other not-for-profit charity, we approach individuals who have an interest in literacy and ask them to support our programs. We do research on businesses and foundations that indicate their community involvement in child or adult education, and then we write proposals to them to support a specific part of our program.

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LF Reviews

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LF Reviews:

The Hallway (Café + Restaurant)

Upon arriving at the location, the name “The Hallway” describes exactly what you encounter. You literally walk down a hallway to get into this very positive, opening atmosphere. If you are not familiar with The Hallway, it is a café and restaurant which has a particular focus on hiring vulnerable youth. Located in beautiful downtown, it is quite central to a lot of active places such as Edmonton City Center or Commerce place, making it fairly easy to get to, especially with the train station being so close.

Immediately when you walk in, you feel the positive vibe. Painted mostly white, it still boasts a few colorful walls and unique aesthetics in regard to its setup. Part of the roof has a wavy nature to it, some of the two-seater tables have arches that, from the back of one chair, go above you and around to the other chair. It even has plants on either side of the arch, adding to the natural feel of the place. The background music is ever so soothing.

Not too loud, yet not too soft.

Based on the ratings I found online, people really seem to enjoy this place and my experience was no different. The people are very friendly, and I was greeted almost immediately.

I proceeded to order a coffee and found a seat, to which I now proceed to write this paper in near-relaxation. Although I did not personally try any of the food this time around, their prices are extremely reasonable from the menu and they have a good selection of items to choose from. In any event, the coffee tasted just fine for me.

The overall feel of the establishment was inviting. It was kept very clean and the employees seemed to genuinely enjoy the work they were doing. Given that this is a place that hires a particular group of people, in this case vulnerable youth, it is really great to see that they are happy to be working here.

If you are looking for a relaxing place to come and write a paper, grab a cup of coffee, or perhaps try one of their refreshing menu items, this is a splendid spot to settle yourself into. With little to no distraction, comfortable seating and positive vibes, this café and restaurant combination was a great place to write a paper. Although, even if you don’t plan on writing a paper here, don’t hesitate to stop by just for the relaxing atmosphere that permeates throughout.

Written by Tyler Keffer

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

BSA Wellness Initiative

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BSA Wellness Initiative

NEW CONFERENCE The Alberta School of Business has many diverse clubs, organizations and conferences within that attempt to raise awareness and advocate for the health and support of students. One such conference is the Network of Empowered Women. The Network of Empowered Women (NEW) Conference is an engaging opportunity for students nationwide that provides thoughtful conversation on female empowerment, personal growth, and professional connections with remarkable leaders from diverse industries.

The conference takes place from March 21st-24th, 2019 at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff, where it will host 100 students and 100 professionals from across Canada. I was able to talk with the two co-chairs, Alycia Fritze and Pariyanka Chandan, on their vision for NEW and how it educates not only women, but men as well.

WHAT KIND OF VISIONS OR DIRECTIONS ARE YOU INTRODUCING TO NEW THIS YEAR? NEW is facing an interesting challenge this year as we prepare for our 7th conference. We are both still solidifying best practices and trying to innovate to provide continuous value to our long-time sponsors and attendees. One goal we have this year is to ensure the highest quality of speakers and events and generally improve the conference to the best of our abilities.

Our vision every year is to execute a conference that promotes female empowerment in all disciplines and schools across Canada, which both means empowering females in attendance and empowering individuals of other genders to empower females.

This year, we have delegates attending from 10 different schools in Canada.

HOW DID THE TEAM CHOOSE THE THEME OF “BE BOLD, PURSUE YOUR DREAMS”?

Each year we try to find a relevant and inspiring theme, unique from past years of NEW, yet one that also fits our vision of empowerment. Women are often discouraged from being bold, or stereotyped as not bold. We want our conference to encourage all delegates to be bold by taking risks on themselves and their passions. Additionally, in the powerful wake of #MeToo, it has become increasingly clear to us that the gender equality movement is not achievable without courageous women and other individuals who are bold as well. Their courage inspired us to choose this theme and to put our blood, sweat, and tears into this conference!

Written by Kimberly Chan Designed by Melania Antoszko

FROM TALKING TO DIFFERENT MEN, SOME ARE A LITTLE UNSURE OF NEW’S MISSION STATEMENT. COULD YOU GO INTO WHY THE CONFERENCE IS NOT JUST FOR WOMEN, BUT FOR MEN AS WELL? NEW’s mission is two-fold. Firstly, to facilitate knowledge and experience sharing around female empowerment, and to foster personal and professional development. Secondly, NEW connects students with successful community leaders to foster meaningful connections. We hope the educational component of NEW is very valuable for the male delegates. Gender equality requires everyone on board, so making NEW exclusive to females would be counter-productive. For male delegates, attending NEW with an open mind and the desire to listen will provide them with the perspective of the importance of female empowerment and how they can empower women in their lives. Also, NEW provides great networking opportunities with corporates and students from across Canada.

WHAT SETS NEW APART FROM DIFFERENT CONFERENCES? In my opinion, NEW is a unique conference because of our focus on female empowerment and the scope of our event. Our focus on female empowerment drives all of our decision-making, from picking the executive team to our social media accounts.

There are other female empowerment conferences available to undergraduate students but most of them are not 4 days. Our delegate application process additionally has a larger scope. We see over 200 applicants each year and evaluate them on passion and enthusiasm. Also, we are very proud to host NEW at the stunning Chateau Lake Louise, which is a huge attraction. Lastly, what makes NEW special is the atmosphere and vibe that the delegates bring. It is hard to articulate, but those who have attended can attest to the feeling of being a delegate. The weekend will leave you feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to take on the world!

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

What Actually Makes an Activist?

It’s likely you have noticed a lot of ongoing issues that continue to be prevalent today.

From “save the whales” to “teachers on strike.”

People genuinely are motivated to improve the lives of not only themselves, but of those that are affected around them. It is important then that we understand who an activist actually is.

Are they someone who just goes outside with a sign? Do they target a specific problem? What actually makes someone an activist?

Although the definition may vary from person to person, the general idea is that it is someone who wants to bring about change. Whether that’s equal pay for equal work, animal rights, or any other prevalent issue in society, both past and present, each one has a goal. That goal is specifically to change the status quo.

Therefore, to be an activist, you have to be passionate about what it is you’re voicing your opinion on, or at least believe that what you’re being active about is the right thing.

There are many ways, especially in modern times, to voice your opinion. Many people today take to the streets in large crowds, but there are also other ways of spreading your message. You can blog about it, share videos, or even write letters directly to those who have the power to do something about it. The list goes on and this is nowhere near exhaustive.

Written by Tyler Keffer

Designed by Melania Antoszko

To be an activist does not mean you have to be front and center of the campaign. If you are protesting something like a zoo not treating its animals effectively, you are an activist. Voicing your opinion against something that you believe in defines you as someone who is being an activist. The idea that one person can make an impact is very important, because all it takes is one person to create change. Even more so, when we can work together to bring about those changes, whether major or minor, for the betterment of our society as a whole.

There are a lot of issues that plague us today and I’m sure there will continue to be issues that need to be addressed in the future. As long as we continue to have activists who promote their beliefs, they will help shape the way our future unfolds.

If there is a cause that you believe in, it is incredibly important to speak out about it.

For the improvement of our society, it is activists who help pave the way for a brighter future.

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Lazy Chat

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Voters Gonna Vote, Do-ers Gonna Do Stephen Raitz leads the non-partisan “Get Out The Vote” campaign, equipping the U of A student body with the tools needed to participate in provincial and federal elections. Stephen is also a fifth-year urban-planning student who loves to run and engages in multiple community groups to build a better city for all. I sat and chatted with Stephen about how his energy, academic background, and dreams of an interconnected and enabling city collide in the world of activism.

Diane: So what about working with people do you most enjoy?

Stephen: I’m fed by the energy of other people, I think. I feed off that energy of people bringing new ideas to the table or being able to just support others in what they’re doing. [...] You can find all these cool new ideas, you can work efficiently as a team and divvy up the work, [and] there’s the whole other aspect of building relationships with people and have that come in handy further down the line.

D: How does that [relationship-building] help you in your versions of activism and advocacy?

S: Well… Being involved with this engagement campaign, Get Out The Vote [...] [and] cycling advocacy in the city [has led me to] weasel my way into an advocacy group called “Paths for People”.

[Which shows how] relationship-building is the only way that you can really open the door to being an advocate. You really need to be connected to other people to connect you to the opportunities and to connect you to an understanding of the whole scenario, [...] and you can’t just get that from working individually.

Written by Diane Jeon

D: With “Get Out The Vote”, I find that this campaign is essentially getting people to care. Getting students to care about their own democracy and their right to vote. Why should students care?

S: *gasps* oh my god. Well, students have a whole hell of a lot more of a future here, so the government that is going to be elected in is going to be making decisions on how our future plays out; what sort of industries, economies, projects that governments invest in is going to affect the rest of our lives. So we’re voting for the rest of our f*cking lives right now -- *provides disclaimer about how he gets very heated about this, but proceeds unapologetically.* Voting is the most simple and direct way to impact what is going on in the government. [...]

D: You’ve mentioned urban planning, and how that coordinates with your interests, how you talk with people and just your vision for young folks and their future as a whole… So, what’s your dream vision of Edmonton as a city?

S: Oh shi*! *laughs, giddy with the million dollar urban-planning question*. [...]

It’s a city with options. It’s a city with real

Designed by Melania Antoszko

Photograph by Diane Jeon

options. *raves about an absolutely realistic vision of a city with bike lanes and density and cars and suburbs if that’s what people want, and ultimately providing people with the ability to pursue the lives and lifestyles that they want to pursue.* D: What’s your personal philosophy, on activism and in general?

S: I think it’s really rooted in not just maintaining connectedness but increasing your connectedness with the community.

That’s ultimately what best directs whatever kind of activism you’re doing - that you’re understanding the different perspectives in the community. So it’s constantly pushing yourself to be more interconnected with your community.

Pledge to vote and learn more at www.licensetocomplain.ca.

"The Get Out The Vote Campaign is here to make voting provincially and federally this year EASY AS PIE! The elections may be during midterms or exams, so we can take everything you'd need to know about voting and put it in one place for you to review. We're here to answer your questions and make you smile”.

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