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SPPG + Evergreen
A collaborative blog that chronicles the learning experiences of students enrolled in “Making an Impact from the Outside,” a course jointly developed by Evergreen and the University of Toronto’s School of Public Policy and Governance
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SPPG+Evergreen: Course Recap and Final Thoughts
SPPG+Evergreen: Course Recap and Final Thoughts
By Gabriel Eidelman and Jo Flatt
Gabriel Eidelman
Mar 5, 2018
Class as community
Class as community
I think something we are all loving about this class is that it’s experiential — we’re off campus, out in the field, and learning in…
Sasha Gronsdahl
Feb 4, 2018
About the Course: Guiding Thoughts
About the Course: Guiding Thoughts
By Gabriel Eidelman and Jo Flatt
Gabriel Eidelman
Jan 16, 2018
Latest Stories
Final Reflection: Moving the Dial
Final Reflection: Moving the Dial
I have reflected on the conversation that my group (Terhas & Alex) had with Gita Madan about creating change from the outside. In…
Blake Lee-Whiting
Feb 17, 2018
Talkin’ bout a revolution
Talkin’ bout a revolution
Last week’s penultimate class was a mix of everything I love about this course. Gabriel gave us our “daily dose of theory.” Jo went over…
Sasha Gronsdahl
Feb 14, 2018
An Outsider’s Reflections
An Outsider’s Reflections
As I mentioned last week, our team has been researching extensively on the current state of food insecurity in Toronto. Our team (huge…
Harpreet Sahota
Feb 14, 2018
Final Thoughts & Golden Rules
Final Thoughts & Golden Rules
Throughout the last few weeks, my group and I have been researching and trying to understand urban landscapes and flooding in the GTA. When…
Talha Sadiq
Feb 14, 2018
The Resilience of the Status Quo
The Resilience of the Status Quo
Over the course of a few weeks I have been given the opportunity to be in a class of change-makers, learning how exactly to make change. My…
Alex Izgerean
Feb 14, 2018
People, the Media and Shared Interest: Final Thoughts from the SPPG-Evergreen Course
People, the Media and Shared Interest: Final Thoughts from the SPPG-Evergreen Course
This past week was the last “in-the-field” class for the SPPG-Evergreen course. As such, greater reflection is required to sum up the key…
Ian T. D. Thomson
Feb 13, 2018
Caring about Urban Flooding
Caring about Urban Flooding
A month ago, I didn’t know what a weeping tile was. Now, all I want to do is talk about that and urban flooding.
Jasmine Lam
Feb 12, 2018
Multiple final thoughts (for the course blog, not in life).
Multiple final thoughts (for the course blog, not in life).
In our last formal class, we had the opportunity to hear from three change makers: Gita Madan, Samiya Abdi, and Jay Wall. All three…
Alex Venuto
Feb 9, 2018
Policy that impacts daily lives is policy that really matters
Policy that impacts daily lives is policy that really matters
Last week we had some experts visit class and share insights about community based policy and policy making from outside the government. It…
Talha Sadiq
Feb 6, 2018
Invisible Homes: Toronto Laneway Housing
Invisible Homes: Toronto Laneway Housing
It’s no secret amongst policymakers in Toronto that a burgeoning laneway housing economy exists beyond the scope of contemporary city…
Blake Lee-Whiting
Feb 6, 2018
Mapping Stakeholders from the Bottom-Up
Mapping Stakeholders from the Bottom-Up
This Wednesday, will be the second last class of the SPPG course, Making an Impact from the Outside. For the past three weeks, we have been…
Alex Venuto
Feb 5, 2018
Invisible Influence and Power
Invisible Influence and Power
This course has examined the role of non-profit organizations and policy outside government. However, it is important to note that this…
Ian T. D. Thomson
Feb 5, 2018
The Persistence Tactic
The Persistence Tactic
Last week, we gained some concrete tactics on how to influence policy change from outside the government, hearing experiences from seasoned…
Jasmine Lam
Feb 5, 2018
The Concept of Gentle Density for the Wider Community
The Concept of Gentle Density for the Wider Community
I have been walking around Toronto thinking, “is that a laneway suite?” since I learned what they are. It has certainly changed how I view…
Alex Izgerean
Feb 3, 2018
Small Solutions, Big Impact?
Small Solutions, Big Impact?
As we approach the final weeks of this course, my peers and I are working hard to develop community-driven solutions to tackle issues…
Harpreet Sahota
Feb 2, 2018
Virtual Reality, Actual Benefits for Older Adults
Virtual Reality, Actual Benefits for Older Adults
This week, the class took an out-of-reality trip to travel the world through virtual reality (vr) at the House of VR.
Ian T. D. Thomson
Jan 30, 2018
Practical, Impactful Policy
Practical, Impactful Policy
On our walk along the railway tracks behind the Evergreen Brickworks, we came across a fenced-off bridge spanning the Don Valley. The fence…
Blake Lee-Whiting
Jan 29, 2018
Understanding a Community in Virtual Reality
Understanding a Community in Virtual Reality
Last class, I had the opportunity to experience virtual reality (VR) for the first time. The goal was to determine the potential impact VR…
Alex Venuto
Jan 29, 2018
Virtual Reality (VR): A policy tool for impacting change?
Virtual Reality (VR): A policy tool for impacting change?
To describe last week’s class as interesting is an understatement. One of the highlights was visiting the House of VR to evoke empathy and…
Talha Sadiq
Jan 29, 2018
From an Observer to a Participant
From an Observer to a Participant
Last Wednesday, we checked out House of VR to explore how virtual reality (VR) can augment our capacity to empathize. There, we watched two…
Jasmine Lam
Jan 28, 2018
Virtual reality is no substitute for real-life interaction
Virtual reality is no substitute for real-life interaction
I have a group of old friends across the country that I like to think of as my internal compass and sounding board for issues of community…
Sasha Gronsdahl
Jan 28, 2018
Is there Real Value in Virtual Reality?
Is there Real Value in Virtual Reality?
We’re halfway through what is by far my favourite course and this week we explored the idea of using virtual reality (VR) to evoke empathy…
Harpreet Sahota
Jan 26, 2018
Can we build empathy through Virtual Reality?
Can we build empathy through Virtual Reality?
Let me start by saying that this post will be more personal than my others as I try to work through the wonderful experiences of the day…
Alex Izgerean
Jan 24, 2018
Understanding the Needs of a Community
Understanding the Needs of a Community
Last week our class focused on approaches to understanding a community. In the morning, the class participated in a human-centred design…
Alex Venuto
Jan 22, 2018
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