Community Participation
Student Partners
The core of CommUNITY Pitch is our student partners: 24 post-secondary students from across Ottawa. This initiative is designed to empower these young leaders to develop stronger social, emotional, and leadership skills, civic literacy, and community engagement capacity. Students receive skill-based civic training and direct mentorship, gaining practical experience with civic tools and open data, and learning to analyze local challenges and engage diverse stakeholders. The program intentionally recruits youth from racialized, newcomer, and underserved backgrounds, providing them with a platform to co-create practical solutions and contribute to local decision-making.
University/College Partners
We actively collaborate with universities and colleges to recruit participants and strengthen the program’s academic foundation. We recruit students from institutions such as Carleton University, the University of Ottawa, and Algonquin College. Carleton University’s Department of Sociology is a confirmed academic partner, providing vital support and involvement to enhance the program’s impact and legitimacy. We also aim to engage other institutions like Saint Paul University. Post-project, a Civic Pitch Toolkit will be distributed to campus partners to support the replication of this innovative program.
