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An Invitation to Join #ChangeTheNow

In 2018 Georgian College, Canada’s first Ashoka Changemaker College, wanted to know if they could mobilize students from kindergarten to Post Secondary into a movement, effectively building a region of Changemakers. It was from here that #ChangeTheNow began.

Do Good to Do Well

#ChangeTheNow was created on the beliefs that small acts can lead to big change and collaborations can turn into largescale movements. We believe together students’, educators’ and communities’ ideas can spark systems shifts that make will make our communities greener, healthier, safer, stronger and more inclusive!

Will you join us in creating the positive change and contribute to 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals?

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UN Sustainable Development Goals

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  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:36:12 -0700 complete_your_me_we_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    After completing CTN, what new awareness do you have for yourself (ME) and your community (WE) and what is one action you might take to continue to explore it?

    Himanshi's Answer

    After completing the CTN journey, I've gained a great understanding of the intricate relationships between my own development and the health of my community. I've come to understand how integrally connected my individual journey is to the community's overall development. My desire to find harmony between my goals and the needs of the community is motivated by this newfound insight. I intend to actively participate in community-based projects that fit my interests and skills in order to keep developing this awareness. By contributing to projects that have a beneficial impact on the community, I may create a stronger link between my individual growth and the advancement of others, living up to the ME=WE principle I ingrained throughout the CTN programme.

  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:33:33 -0700 complete_your_hcdt_stage_pitch_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    What did you learn about publicly sharing your ideas that you will carry with you in your future of work?

    Himanshi's Answer

    I have developed a profound awareness of the value of teamwork and vulnerability as a result of the experience of expressing my opinions in public. There was initial hesitation brought on by apprehension of judgement or rejection. But as I started speaking openly about my thoughts, I understood that authenticity and connection are fostered by vulnerability. Positive criticism from others helped me to extend my vision while also improving my concepts. This procedure emphasised the value of creating a secure environment for the exchange of ideas and aggressively seeking out other viewpoints. The collaborative spirit that resulted from honest communication considerably enhanced the value and significance of my ideas. My attitude to my future work has changed as a result of this experience, which emphasized the value of communal intelligence and the necessity of embracing vulnerability as a driver of development and creativity.

  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:31:48 -0700 complete_your_hcdt_stage_prototype_test_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might the prototype & test stage help you with overcoming a fear of failure or challenging your assumptions about what is ‘right’?

    Himanshi's Answer

    Participating in the prototype and test phases has been crucial in helping me challenge assumptions and change how I view failure. I used to harbour a fear of failure and a propensity to hold fast to the notion that there is only one 'correct' way to do things. But as a result of prototyping, I've learned to accept failure as a necessary step towards success. By turning concepts into physical prototypes, I've discovered that failure is not a dead end but rather a priceless source of knowledge. Real-world testing of these prototypes has frequently produced unanticipated results that call into question my presumptions. As a result, my fear of failing has changed into a readiness to take measured risks, and my rigid beliefs have been replaced by an openness to considering different options.

  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:29:25 -0700 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_ideate_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might ideation help you develop your active listening skills to brainstorm and reflect on ideas effectively with your team?

    Himanshi's Answer

    My capacity for active listening in group brainstorming sessions has been greatly improved by participating in the ideation process. I've learnt to pay close attention to what each member of my team has to say as I immerse myself in the variety of thoughts flowing around me. Each concept contains some insight, regardless of how practical it could be right away. The depth of our conversations has been enhanced by this habit of paying close attention to what is being said, and a climate of respect has also been developed. Additionally, considering all of these concepts at once has improved my capacity for rapid mental processing and substantive contribution to conversation. I have become a more attentive and effective listener as a result of ideation, which has essentially led to the creation of creative solutions as well as original solutions of my own.

  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:25:40 -0700 _complete_your_hcdt_stage_define_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    How might you explain the value of you having a systems-thinking mindset when attempting to define and understand a complex problem?

    Himanshi's Answer

    I've adopted a systems-thinking perspective and have learned how valuable it is for understanding complex issues. It's similar to figuring out a complex network of links. This strategy helps me to think about the larger context and dynamics at play rather than focusing exclusively on specific components. I've been able to identify the root causes and dynamics of problems using this viewpoint. This has led me to more comprehensive and efficient remedies that deal with the causes of the problems rather than merely their symptoms. In summary, developing a systems-thinking attitude has shown to be a very useful tool for understanding the full scope of complex problems.

  • Profile picture for Himanshi Himanshi
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-17 10:21:23 -0700 complete_your_hcdt_stage_empathize_reflection_169

    🤔 Reflection question

    After learning about how to empathize with the people affected by your SDG’s social issue, how you might apply empathy to working with the members on your CTN Innovation Team?

    Himanshi's Answer

    I recently discovered how to empathize by using an empathy map, which allowed me to learn more about the perspectives of those affected by the SDG goals I chose. I'm eager to use this empathy-driven strategy when working with my CTN Innovation Team now. To begin with, I'll actively listen to each member of my team, gain an awareness of their distinct viewpoints, and promote open dialogue. Just like I did when I used the empathy map to understand other experiences, through appreciating diversity within the team, I hope to encourage a variety of thoughts and opinions. In addition, I want to make sure that our team's dynamics and objectives match their requirements by incorporating their feedback into our collaborative decision-making procedures. As with addressing issues identified in the empathy map, I'm ready to use empathy in conflict resolution, respecting individual concerns and pursuing solutions that satisfy everyone. I firmly believe that we can encourage growth and creativity by establishing a welcoming environment that values the aspirations of every team member. I'm convinced that our CTN Innovation Team will thrive and produce outstanding results thanks to this continual process of empathic understanding.

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  • Profile picture for Bhavin Lalwani
    posted in "Sustainable Cities and Communities - SDG #11, Summer 2023" 2023-08-16 20:32:25 -0700 complete_your_me_we_reflection_163

    🤔 Reflection question

    After completing CTN, what new awareness do you have for yourself (ME) and your community (WE) and what is one action you might take to continue to explore it?

    Bhavin's Answer

    After completing the Change the Now (CTN) program with an emphasis on SDG 11, I have a greater understanding of how urban growth and sustainability are intricately intertwined, both for me and for our larger community. Personally, I've learned to appreciate the necessity of forming greener habits and the possibility for individual deeds to have an overall influence on our communities. In order to bring about long-lasting beneficial change in our urban surroundings, I have come to understand the need of promoting collaboration among diverse stakeholders, from local government to community organizations. I intend to keep learning about this understanding, participate in frequent talks and seminars that promote sustainable living, and attend neighborhood planning meetings to make sure that sustainable development is a top priority for the neighborhood.