Connection Collective | Welcome Warriors

Self Care Pop-Up

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 — 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM EST

Come unwind with Connection Collective before finals and build your own self-care kit at our Self Care Pop-Up. We will provide free snacks, stress balls, tea, fidget toys and more!

Find your community with Connection Collective!

Connection Collective is an opportunity for equity-deserving students to connect with other equity-deserving students.

Connection Collective is a group mentorship program, facilitated by the Student Success Office, to support historically underrepresented students, such as Black, Indigenous, Racialized students, students part of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, students impacted by their socio-economic status, students in larger bodies, disabled students, neurodivergent students and any intersection of any of these identifiers. In this program, there is emphasis on intersectionality, understanding that there are multiple pieces to one's identity. If you're wondering whether this program would be a fit for you, please reach out to us!

What can I expect in the fall term?

Over the fall term, groups of Connection Leads (what we call our Peer Mentors!) will send individual, personalized check-in messages weekly, to start conversations about how your time at UW is going. Through a Microsoft Teams channel, you will receive notifications about discussion groups and activity-based meet-up events hosted by Connection Leads. Join us to get connected, find supports on campus, build community and foster equitable spaces, all while having fun doing it!

Once registered, you will receive an email with detailed information regarding how the program works, as well as a notification that you've been added to our Teams Channel. Our Teams Channel is open until Spring 2024.

Video Spotlight: Movers and Shakers Panel

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Universities across Canada heard from Black, Indigenous, and racialized students, international students, and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds about the need to develop programming that speaks toward the specific challenges they face in finding community and accessing supports on campus.

For many of you, as much as this time is filled with excitement and anticipation for your first year on campus, we recognize that you may also be facing other significant barriers to participation.

Student Success Office (SSO)

Why should you register for Connection Collective?

To develop and/or increase a sense of belonging, build awareness of resources and support, and develop community among other incoming equity-deserving students and/or international students and your upper-year peers.
To access groups that act as a hub to connect students to join other clubs and activities on campus.
To get assistance in building your confidence and amplifying your voices in a group setting, so you will be more likely to continue to advocate for yourselves, engage on campus, and continue to want to show up for yourselves in other spaces.

To be inspired to pursue equity-based work throughout your post-secondary careers and beyond.

What does "equity-deserving" mean?

For the purpose of noting who may benefit from being a part of the Connection Collective program, we define ‘equity-deserving’ in these terms, but this definition is not limited to the following:

Black, Indigenous, and racialized folks, people of the global majority, individuals within 2SLGBTQIAA+ communities, women, disabled individuals, people who identify as members of a racialized community, individuals who exercise cultural and/or religious practices, individuals impacted by their socio-economic status, individuals in larger bodies and any intersection of these identities, experiences or practices.

Are international students invited to join the Connection Collective?

International students are highly encouraged to participate. Moving to a new country or adapting to a new culture is a demanding process. By participating in the Connection Collective, you'll be able to speak with current international students who have the knowledge to guide you through any specific challenges you may face.

Why was this the Connection Collective created?

The Student Success Office's Equity and COmmunity Team revamped the traditional "Peer Mentorship program" to shift from peer mentorship to peer communities.

The basis of this program is to provide tailored support for Black, Indigenous, Racialized, 2SLGBTQIAA+ and other historically underrepresented groups launching during our new student transition program, Waterloo Ready.