Each year, the University strives to build connections between the local Edmonton community and those on campus. Building those connections matters — especially when they connect us to those groups who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education. In our opinion, no one that we’ve been lucky enough to work with has been able to create relationships between the university and marginalized communities as meaningfully as those built by Lisa Prins.
As the Humanities 101 Coordinator for the past eight years, Lisa has demonstrated commitment and passion for creating a community of learners that is unlike any other. While the U of A is a public university, being open and accessible to the public is easier said than done. The Humanities 101 program started at the Boyle Street Community Centre in downtown Edmonton and over the past two years, Lisa transitioned the program onto the U of A campus. Essential to Lisa’s philosophy is the importance of space for learners to share their work with one another and the wider community. Learners take ownership of the class and, in doing so, create meaningful projects that are offered back to the broader Edmonton community.
For instance, Lisa has coordinated projects that range from magazines to podcasts to geocaches; all of which showcase the incredible work of learners over the semester. This work not only validates the effort of learners but also becomes a forum for a wider community to learn through Humanities 101.
Lisa has developed relationships across campus that provide new opportunities for learning. Recognizing that access to these important learning opportunities are restrictive due to different literacy levels, access to internet, quiet spaces, and welcoming learning environments, Lisa created a space where people could learn together in a supportive environment.
Lisa brings a skillful, trauma-informed approach to adult education. She has inspired many graduate students, faculty, and community partners with her dedication to making the university more accessible to all, and for her deeply personal care for learners. Lisa’s leadership of Humanities 101 not only builds relationships, confidence, and understanding but also inspires many graduate students to think differently about the role of education, their privilege, and the work they can do in the community.
We, alongside the hundreds of people who Lisa has positively impacted during her time a the U of A, wholeheartedly congratulate her for her deserved recognition as a Community Leader.
Lisa Prins is the 2019 recipient of the U of A’s Community Leader Award. You can help celebrate her achievements at this year’s Community Connection Awards on Monday, May 13. RSVP for the special noon hour event.Community Connection Awards on Monday, May 13. RSVP for the special noon hour event.
Jay Friesen and Kelsi Barkway
Jay Friesen is a lecturer in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies and a graduate student in Comparative Literature. His studies have explored multiculturalism in the context of Canadian comedy.
Kelsi Barkway works with the Community Service Learning team in the Faculty of Arts. She’s also a graduate student in the Sociology department, where she focuses on the intersections of inequality, payment technologies, and surveillance. Other academic interests include pedagogy, accessible and on-going education, and critical criminology.