Curating Your Third Space
A third space can be a valuable community outside of work/school and home supporting personal growth, professional development, and self-actualization. Where do you go to find that third space?
Dear friends,
First and foremost, my thoughts are with everyone, their families and loved ones, who have been affected by the escalating violence in many parts of the world, including Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, and more.
It can often feel challenging to understand how best to contribute to mitigating the overwhelming sense of pain, loss and heartbreak. Even in the face of injustice and conflict, there are ways that you can do your part and take action. I invite you to check out the work of the Humanitarian Coalition, where they share how you can contribute your time and resources to address urgent humanitarian crises.
In these moments of difficulty, I think more and more about how I want to spend my time and with whom so I can better live a life of purpose and impact. In my life, beyond home, work, and school, I find great value in curating, as sociologist Ray Oldenburg has coined it, ‘third spaces’, that support personal growth, professional development, and self-actualization.
In the last few weeks, I’ve had several opportunities to engage in the different communities I am part of that I find to be valuable third spaces.
It can be physical spaces like Massey College, a community I started to engage with as a grad student at the University of Toronto. As an alum, I have had the opportunity to go to Massey College at least once every two months or so (and sometimes multiple times a month) to attend receptions and dinners, participate in workshops and panel discussions, and now, as a mentor in their Meeting of Minds program.
Third spaces can also be regular industry events or sector gatherings. For me, one of those third spaces is the Banff Forum. This year, it was my first Banff Forum in its namesake city and what an incredible and thought-provoking experience. As a community, we discussed key issues and opportunities facing Canada, from Indigenous reconciliation, cooperative federalism, economic prosperity, climate change, immigration, housing, national security, foreign policy and Canada’s place in the world, artificial intelligence and more.
Every time I attend, what I especially enjoy about this pan-Canadian space is the fact that there are folks from diverse walks of life and different sectors, geographies, and skill sets all coming together around the common cause of leveraging public policy for the public good to contribute to a better Canada for all. Big thank you to Executive Director Roxanne Duncan, Chair Julie Quenneville, and the broader Board of Directors and Advisory Board of the Banff Forum for making this third space possible.
Finally, third spaces can be more casual and intimate spaces in the form of monthly dinner clubs with a group of friends in your sector and those oh-so-important WhatsApp group chats of ‘boss ladies’ (you know who you are 😀) who provide hope, humour, and heart!
I’d be curious - how are you curating your third space? What elements make a third space effective? What is a third space that brings you value?
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On that note, if you work in the youth engagement and leadership space, an excellent event to ‘find your people’ and ‘curate your third space’ is Plan International Canada’s The Power Within Summit taking place in Toronto - November 7th, 2023— a few more tickets left and we have costs generously covered by funders so registration is free! Be sure to register soon!
Featuring:
✅Opening Remarks by Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, the Honourable Marci Ien
✅Keynote by Keka DasGupta
✅Performance by Ontario’s Poet Laureate, Randell Adjei
✅Workshops on Meaningful Youth Engagement and the Train-the-Trainer sessions on body confidence, self-esteem, and youth leadership programming
✅Networking for Youth-Serving Organizations, Educators, and Teachers
✅Catered breakfast, lunch, and evening reception
Get your ticket today to secure your spot! Fully accessible - no cost to participate; please book your registration soon if you want to attend:
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Finally, one of the most sobering moments of the year and also a definite career milestone was my time earlier this month at the United Nations in Geneva, representing the Humanitarian Response Network as the civil society delegate on Canada’s official delegation to the Executive Committee (ExCom) of UNHCR (the UN Refugee Agency).
The rights of refugees and displaced peoples are more important than ever before, given the forced displacement we are seeing around the world, such as in Gaza, Sudan, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Venezuela, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Syria, and more. Over 110 million people are experiencing forced displacement around the world - a staggering record-breaking number. According to UNICEF, over 43 million displaced people are children, many of them experiencing forced displacement for most of their childhoods. I will share more about my experiences at the UNHCR ExCom next month when I outline key advocacy campaigns led by refugee and displaced children and youth in the lead-up to the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva in December.
Till we speak again, I hope we will have a chance to connect in common ‘third spaces’, including at the upcoming The Power Within Summit on November 7, 2023.
Take good care,
Anjum
PS: If you want me to circulate jobs, professional development opportunities, and events in future newsletters, please get in touch with me at anjumsultana.mph@gmail.com.
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Join Plan International Canada’s The Power Within Summit - Tuesday, November 7th, 2023
Hosted at the Toronto Reference Library, Plan International Canada is organizing a special summit on Tuesday, November 7th, 2023 all about youth leadership, body confidence, self-esteem, and gender equality! Participating in the event will get you access to hear from national thought leaders, participate in workshops to level up your skills in youth engagement, and network with leading youth-serving organizations, educators, and social influencers from coast to coast to coast.
If you work with young people as a teacher, educator, caregiver and more, this is the event for you! A few complimentary tickets are available; register via Eventbrite ASAP to secure your spot.
Upcoming Events + Consultations
Mastering the Conversation: Leadership Training Skills | B.A.M Collective | November 5th, 2023
The Power Within Summit | Plan International Canada | November 7th, 2023
In Defence of Democracy 2023: Lisa LaFlamme in conversation with Nahlah Ayed | Samara Centre for Democracy | November 9th, 2023 (If you are interested in attending and are an early career professional or youth, get in touch and let me know)
National Survey on Maternity Leave Experiences in Canada | Maturn Canada
Opportunities to grow + stretch
Fellowship | Results Canada | Deadline October 31, 2023
Global Child Health Fellowship | The Hospital for Sick Children | Deadline October 31, 2023
Woman of Distinction Award Nomination | YWCA Toronto | Deadline November 1, 2023
Women4Climate Toronto Mentorship Program | City of Toronto | Deadline November 20, 2023
40+ jobs in policy & public affairs & more
Senior Manager, Engagement, Stewardship & Philanthrophy | Plan International Canada | Deadline November 5th, 2023
Director of Government Affairs & Public Policy, Canada | Google
Director of Canadian Public Policy | Amazon
Director of Public Affairs | Rogers Canada
Advisor, Communications | Canada Infrastructure Bank
Strategic Communications Officer | Ontario Hospital Association
Manager, Government Relations | Insurance Bureau of Canada
Manager, Government Affairs & Communications | Canadian Pacific
Government Relations Specialist (Provincial Affairs) | The University of Calgary
Senior Communications Advisor, Government Affairs | BC Housing
Manager, Government Relations | Lenovo Canada
Intern, Government Affairs | Sandoz Canada
Manager of Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations | University of Waterloo
Education Specialist | Right to Play International | Deadline October 31st, 2023
Knowledge Mobilization Officer | Federation of Canadian Municipalities | Deadline October 31st, 2023
Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications | CARE Canada | Deadline October 31st, 2023
Director of Partnerships | Community Foundations of Canada | Deadline November 1, 2023
Policy Advisor | Canadian Chamber of Commerce | Deadline November 1, 2023
Executive Director | Banff Forum | Deadline November 3, 2023
Manager of Government Relations & Community Engagement | University of Guelph | Deadline November 6th, 2023
Director of Partnerships and Collaboration | Government of Alberta | Deadline November 6th, 2023
Executive Director | Chinese and Southeast Asian Clinic | Deadline November 6th, 2023
Manager of Partner Engagement | Canadian Partnership Against Cancer | Deadline November 6th, 2023
Interim Associate Director, Philanthropy | Doctors Without Borders Canada | Deadline November 8th, 2023
Manager of Education and Community Engagement | Canadian Stage | Deadline November 10th, 2023
Manager of Media and Public Relations | Trans Canada Trail | Deadline November 10th, 2023
Executive Director | Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade | Deadline November 10th, 2023
Manager, Public Engagement | WUSC | Deadline November 13, 2023
Manager of Community Engagement and Communications | Loran Scholars Foundation | Deadline November 13, 2023
Vice President of Philanthropy and Communications | LOFT Community Services | Deadline November 14th, 2023
Director of Communications and Advocacy | IFEX | Deadline November 17, 2023
Community Engagement Officer | YWCA Edmonton | Deadline November 17, 2023
Policy & Campaign Manager | Nature Canada | Deadline November 18, 2023
Chief Operating Officer | CARE Canada | Deadline November 22nd, 2023
Knowledge Mobilization Specialist | York University | Deadline November 27th, 2023
Executive Director | Foodshare Toronto | Deadline December 1st, 2023
Government & Community Relations Coordinator | York University | Deadline December 12th, 2023
Director of Development & Community Relations | Ronald McDonald House Charities - Southwestern Ontario | Deadline December 12th, 2023
Vice President of External | British Columbia Institute of Technology | Deadline December 25th, 2023
Chief Executive Officer | Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) | Deadline December 25th, 2023