Award-winning programs foster belonging and student connection

Jazz Fitzgerald (they/them) knows firsthand how transformative it can be to find a space where you feel seen, supported and accepted without needing to explain who you are. 

As Manager of Student Equity, Community and Leadership at the University of Waterloo, they are helping create those spaces for students through two award-winning initiatives: Connection Collective and the Community Leadership Certificate. 

“Being a queer and trans student, I found it difficult to find places where I could just show up and not feel like my identity had to come before me or that I needed to explain who I was,” Fitzgerald says. “I’m so thankful that we’re able to offer spaces where students can experience a sense of belonging, a place that feels like home and where they’re able to build long-lasting friendships.” 

That sense of connection is at the heart of the Connection Collective, a peer mentorship program designed to support Black, Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ and other historically underrepresented students at Waterloo. The initiative was launched with funding from the Ontario Post-Secondary Access and Inclusion Program (OPAIP), after Fitzgerald and their co-applicants secured a $340,000 grant focused on improving student retention, well-being and campus experience. 

"Us, mentoring together as a diverse group, we're showing first-years what they're going to see across campus - so many different folks. And seeing us work together as a team of leads? That's it right there, the culture we want to create." – Connection Collective participant

Officially launched in 2023 by Tara Kleinsteuber, former Student Equity Programs Specialist, the program aims to ease that transition by fostering relationships and building community early on, especially for those navigating spaces where they may not always see themselves reflected. Fitzgerald has been leading the initiative since 2025, building on its initial success.  

“We invite our facilitators to really lead with humility and vulnerability by sharing pieces of their own story, depending on how comfortable they feel,” Fitzgerald says. “It creates a really sacred space where students are able to learn together and also unlearn some of the things society has taught us.” 

Students are matched with trained peer mentors known as Connection Leads through an online platform that includes channels for resource sharing, mentorship, social meetups and events. The structure of the program is intentionally designed around three phases: connect, build and act, allowing students to first establishrelationships, then develop confidence and community, before applying what they’ve learned through workshops and initiatives focused on equity and social justice. 

While mentorship and connection are central to the program, Fitzgerald says the broader goal is empowerment. 

“We really wanted students to feel like they have people in their corner. University can feel isolating at times, but when students are able to find community and support systems, it changes how they experience campus life,” Fitzgerald says. 

Under the leadership of Sam Germann, Student Leadership Development Specialist, Fitzgerald helped develop the Community Leadership Certificate, a student-led leadership development program rooted in equity, anti-oppression and community care. Unlike traditional leadership programs that may focus solely on professional development, this certificate encourages students to critically reflect on leadership through lived experiences and social justice frameworks. 

The program invites students to participate in conversation-based workshops facilitated by fellow students who share their own stories and perspectives. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their experiences, challenge assumptions and explore how they can lead with empathy and accountability. 

“We wanted to make sure equity and anti-racism weren’t just add-ons to leadership conversations, but foundational to them,” Fitzgerald explains. “With this certificate, students have the opportunity to learn about anti-oppression with the hope that they carry that lens into their own leadership styles and communities.” 

The impact of both programs has extended beyond campus. In 2025 and 2026, the Connection Collective and the Community Leadership Certificate were each recognized with Innovation Awards from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services, an honour celebrating programs that are transforming student affairs and higher education across Canada. 

For Fitzgerald, the recognition is meaningful not only because of the awards themselves, but because it reflects the experiences of the students who helped shape the programs. 

“We’re so happy to be recognized for our programs and the impact we’re making. It’s amazing that we get to offer safer spaces for equity-denied students, and we’re really grateful,” Fitzgerald says. 

Looking ahead, they hope to continue expanding both initiatives to further support graduate students and deepen opportunities for connection, leadership and belonging across campus as part of the University’s broad efforts to foster a campus where everyone can grow, learn and thrive. “At the end of the day, we want students to know they don’t have to navigate university alone.”