"Advocating for Sustainability 2SS3 allowed me to promote humanitarian aid and I was able to make a change I always wished to see. Unlike any other course, working hands on with community partners."

"I didn't know what to expect when I registered but as I made my way through the course, I found the content to be enjoyable and applicable to problems I face every day and would face in my career."

The SUSTAIN 2SS3 course teaches you transferrable skills on how you can become a better advocate from a holistic approach.

What stood out in this course compared to other courses you have taken at McMaster?
What stood out about the course is the ability to work alongside a community partner. This gave you the opportunity to organize, research, or implement a community initiative or project.

What was your favourite topic taught in class; what lessons will you take with you?
A lesson that I took away from this course was the importance of evaluation, especially when it comes to event planning. It’s often we focus on the end result, but it’s equally as important to think of an evaluation plan, during the planning and implementation process, to be as successful as possible.

If you could give any advice to a student interested in taking or enrolled in preparation for SUSTAIN 3SS3, what would you say?
I would recommend enrolling in this class if you’re looking to better or improve your current advocacy skills. Although the class is within the Sustainability program, the skills and lessons that you learn are transferrable to any type of field of advocacy work that you are looking to pursue.

The offerings of this course are truly unique and allow you to build your foundation as an advocate and leader.

The SUSTAIN 2SS3 course has been a true highlight of my degree so far and has allowed me to succeed in my current co-op position.

What stood out in this course compared to other courses you have taken at McMaster?
What stood out to me most about SUSTAIN 2SS3 was the community feeling that the course provided. From the very first lecture, the instructor created a safe space for us to collaborate and share our knowledge and lived experiences with one another. This allowed us to form personal connections with our classmates and provided a sense of community. initiative or project.

What was your most valuable takeaway from the project(s) you undertook during the course?
The end result isn’t everything — how you get there matters too. Advocacy is not a linear process, and it is important to consider the small victories along the way when doing advocacy work. It is equally as important to reflect on failures or setbacks that you encounter, as these can often provide valuable lessons.

What was your favourite topic taught in class; what lessons will you take with you?
My favourite topic taught in class was the principle of Anti-Oppressive Advocacy, and how it applies to sustainability. When discussing the concept of achieving sustainability, we often think that we simply have to make changes to our current systems — whether they be social, environmental, or policy changes. However, in order to create true sustainable change, we need to be willing to disrupt the system and address the various levels of oppression that exist in our society by asking ourselves, “who is not being heard?”.

If you could give any advice to a student interested in taking or enrolled in preparation for SUSTAIN 3SS3, what would you say?
SUSTAIN 2SS3 is so much more than a sustainability course. No matter your educational background or level of knowledge, this course allows you to explore sustainability through an advocacy lens and gain a holistic understanding of how to advocate for sustainable change at any level. The offerings of this course are truly unique and allow you to build your foundation as an advocate and leader.

"SUSTAIN 2SS3 gave me the opportunity to gain experience working in a community setting with the City of Hamilton and Cycle Hamilton and advocate for an issue that I strongly resonate with!"

"SUSTAIN 2SS3 was such a cool class that was so different from any class I’ve taken before. It gave me a chance to actually make an impact through the community project. I would definitely recommend!"