PACS Biweekly Newsletter February 24th, 2021

Hello PACS students! Welcome back from reading week! I hope you had a restful time off, and are ready to jump back into your studies with both feet!

Below, we've highlighted some of the important events, opportunities, and resources that are available.

C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest

The C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest was first established by the Director of the C. Henry Smith Fund in 1974, in the name of the late C. Henry Smith. This contest invites North American Mennonite & Brethren in Christ College students to discuss peace-building and social justice issues in an 8-10 minute speech format. It is administered by Peace and Justice Ministries of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

The speeches will take place around March 17th, so students are encouraged to begin to prepare their speeches early.

The theme for these speeches is the application of the Christian peace position to contemporary concerns. These may include feminism, racial equity, justice, and inclusion, police brutality, non-violence direct action, peace as everybody's business etc.

There is a $1,050 cash award that will be administered to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd winners. The winner will get $500, and the second and third place will get $350 and $200 respectively.

If you have any questions, please contact Ndagire Brendah or Ed Janzen.

Click here to learn more.

PACS Department Events

PACS Friday Morning Coffee Hangouts

After a successful first attempt at a Friday morning coffee hangout, we will be going ahead with making this a bi-weekly event! These hangouts are drop-in and are intended to be pressure-free. Join us on February 26th at 10 AM for our next hangout!

PACS Department Survey

Right now, the PACS department wants to hear from YOU! If you're involved in any PACS academic plan, we invite you to fill out our survey so we can know how to best surve you moving forward. Tell us what you think about classes, teaching methods, and much more!

Convocation Information

If you completed your studies in Fall 2020, or are planning to complete your studies in Winter 2021, Spring 2021 or Fall 2021, then this information is for you!

Make sure you have submitted your application to graduate form. As well, you will need to fill out Grebel's convocation form to be included in our Covid-friendly convocation. This convocation form does not replace the UWaterloo application to graduate. Please fill in the convocation form, regardless of whether you plan to participate in the convocation event. Grebel will follow up with more details about the event if you choose to participate.

Virtual Events

Bechtel Lecture: Blackness, Whiteness and the Anabaptist 'Imagined Community' in Print and Mission

How did Anabaptists enter into the discourse of race in North America during the 19th and early 20th centuries? How did they negotiate, challenge and reproduce ideas of race in the forms of print, social interaction and mission activity? This lecture will focus on the racialization of Anabaptists, as reflected in denominational periodicals and newspapers, and on the ways in which preconceptions of blackness and whiteness informed Mennonite mission activity in the United States and Canada.

Dr. Timothy D. Epp from Redeemer University will give the virtual 2021 Bechtel Lecture in Anabaptist-Mennonite Studies. Featuring a special musical performance by accomplished vintage and classic blues & jazz performer Diana Braithwaite.

This lecture will premiere via YouTube on March 11 at 7:00 PM and is viewable without registration. A virtual Q&A will follow, and requires registration to participate. Please register here to participate in the Q&A.

Indigenous Speakers Series

The Faculty of Arts and the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre are happy to announce that the Indigenous Speakers Series returns this term with the first of our online events featuring Dr. Evan Adams, who will address impacts of COVID-19 on Indigenous communities in Canada.

WHEN: Thursday, March 4, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM WHERE: Online livestream event via Teams
HOW TO JOIN: Join the event via the livestream link. No sign-in or registration required. Please note, if you join on a mobile device or tablet, you’ll need the Teams app. Computer users can join with no Teams app.
MORE INFO: Evan Adams event page

Following his talk, Dr. Adams will be joined by Lori Campbell, Director of Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre, and Stephanie Marr, a Waterloo graduate who is now in medical school, for further conversation.

Women of Color Advancing Peace and Security

In this installation of the Pearson Lunch & Learn event at the University of Chicago, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins will discuss her work as the founder and executive director of Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS). This event is cosponsored by Harris Public Policy's MAIDP program.

When: Feb 24, 2021 06:00 PM

Rooted in History: A Celebration of Black History as Canadian History

This UWaterloo event will be led by Feridun Hamdullahpur and will feature Black voices from across the UWaterloo campus. Join us as we take in a performance, a keynote address and a panel of some of our most formidable thinkers in celebration of Black History in Canada and those trailblazers making history right here at UWaterloo.

Friday, Feb 26, 2021 at 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EST

Opportunities

Interim Chaplain Position at Conrad Grebel University College

The interim chaplain will be a person with a strong and vibrant faith, anchored in the Anabaptist-Christian tradition and spiritual expression. The primary task of the chaplain is to nurture students in Christian faith, life, and values from a Mennonite perspective and within the context of a university community. This leadership is exercised with openness to other Christian and religious traditions and sensitivity to those who have no religious tradition or affiliation. The chaplain will strive to create an environment that invites students to explore their received faith tradition and to develop appreciation and respect for other faith perspectives and religious traditions.

A weekly chapel service, to which all members of the College community are invited, is a focal point of the chaplain’s routine. The chapel service provides an opportunity for the College community to worship together and for interested students to develop worship leadership skills.

Please note: this is not a position suitable for recent graduates of an undergraduate program, but please pass along the position if you know someone who would be a good fit!

Please apply by submitting your cover letter and resume to Mimi Browne, HR Manager, at mimi.browne@uwaterloo.ca. Application deadline is February 28, 2021.

Now Accepting Applications for the 2022 Rotary Peace Fellowship

The fully funded Rotary Peace Fellowship, which covers tuition and living expenses, increases the capacity of existing leaders to prevent and resolve conflict by offering academic training, field experience, and professional networking.

Up to 130 fellows are selected every year in a globally competitive process based on personal, academic, and professional achievements. Fellows earn either a master’s degree or a certificate in peace and development studies at one of the seven Rotary Peace Centers, located at leading universities around the world.

Applications for the 2022-2023 academic term need to be submitted by 15 May 2021. Please write to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org with questions.

Walter Metzger Memorial Awards

Numerous awards are granted annually to full-time undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Year Two of their program of study who are in good academic standing and have demonstrated financial need. These awards are made possible by a generous gift from the late Walter Metzger.

Make sure to apply by March 1st to be eligible!

Prospective Grad Student Info Session for the Religion, Culture and Global Justice MA at Wilfred Laurier University

Thinking about grad school?

Interested in social and cultural issues pertaining to the world around you?

Would you like to pursue an internship possibility as part of your grad studies?

The MA in Religion, Culture and Global Justice at Laurier may be right for you and is still accepting applications!

This information session will cover the structure of the program, funding, fees, and future possibilities. It will also include a Q&A time so come with your questions ready!

Register for the info session via email to kpries@wlu.ca or simply log on to the Zoom link on Feb. 25th at 4pm (EST) to attend.

Feel free to send preliminary questions ahead of time to either rcgjadvisor@wlu.ca or kpries@wlu.ca

When: Thursday February 25, 2021 4:00pm (Eastern Time)

In Her Shoes

In Her Shoes (Youth) is an employment program for cis, trans and non-binary identifying women and femmes who are experiencing significant barriers to securing employment. In this program, participants receive technical training and work experience in our bricks & clicks social enterprise store, In Her Shoes, where we sell gently-loved accessories and shoes. Participants will earn minimum wage, equivalent to 30 hours/week.

As a participant, you will receive training in three primary areas to support you in securing employment upon completion from the program:- 1) Technical skills:-including digital literacy, computer operating systems and software, customer service and support, online business and e-commerce, retail work, point of sale systems and cash handling, marketing and photography. 2) Employability skills:- building a marketable resume, understanding the labour market, and job search strategies to secure employment. 3) Life skills:- to create a healthy lifestyle that will set you up for success to maintain employment.

Eligibility:

Cis, trans and non-binary identifying women and femmes between the ages of 15-30.
A Canadian citizen, or permanent resident or a protected person as defined by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act;
Legally entitled to work in Canada;
In accordance with funding requirements, priority in hiring will be given to youth facing barriers to finding and keeping employment.

Program Details:

Program Time: Monday to Friday 12 pm - 6 pm
Program Duration: Each session runs for 18 weeks at a time
Program Location: 84 Frederick Street, Kitchener
Bus Pass, work uniform, and a meal are included.

Resources for Online Learning

Emergency Bursary Fund

Conrad Grebel University College has an Emergency Bursary Fund that is currently accepting applications. If you have financial need due to COVID (e.g. lost income), you are encouraged to apply. Bursary applicants need to have applied for Government Financial Aid and documented applications to other scholarship and bursary awards at the University of Waterloo. Please contact Ndagire Brendah for more information.

UW Counselling Services

Counselling Services is a team of professionals that provides programming and services to help you lead a healthy and balanced life. Services are free for students and have transitioned to phone and video for Fall 2020. To book an appointment please call 519-888-4567 ext. 32655

Be sure to also look at the Uwaterloo Mental Health Resources page for more options and information.

PJ-Friendly Undergrad Writing Groups

Join a peer tutor and a group of your fellow undergraduates to:

meet other students
brainstorm ideas for your assignments
get some writing done
and celebrate your accomplishments!

Join us on Teams for our weekly writing group meetings, then check in with us throughout the week using Teams chat. Come to 3 writing group sessions this term and get a #WaterlooWrites mug! Come to 5 sessions, and we'll throw in some candy. Come to 8, and we'll fill your mug to overflowing with edible treats!

Mondays from 7 to 9 pm
Wednesdays from 10 am to 12 pm

Tutor Connect

If you're in need of a hand with one of your classes, be sure to check out Portal's Tutor Connect feature, which will connect you with someone who can give you a hand.

Warrior Recreation: Physical Activity at Home

During these uncertain times it is important we take care of our own mental and physical health. This means taking time in our day to be physically active to relieve stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying physically active while we continue to practice social distancing will allow our bodies and mind to stay healthy and happy.

The Department of Athletics and Recreation is pleased to continue offering Online Warrior Workouts throughout the Spring 2020 term as well as Virtual Personal Training, Nutritional Tips and more.