Project Citizenship
Opening reception of Project Citizenship Exhibit at SNAP Gallery 2012
People with disabilities are frequently discriminated against and undervalued as full participating citizens. Often treated as second class citizens, people with disabilities are not given the same rights and opportunities as others.
Story sharing has the power to inspire, shift attitudes, build empathy and move people to action. Project Citizenship uses a unique approach to bring people with disabilities, University of Alberta students and staff from Skills Society together to explore the notion of citizenship and ways to remove barriers that limit citizenship and full participation for individuals with disabilities.
Through story-telling, individuals with disabilities are empowered to gain control by shifting the power balance from the caregiver to the individual, resulting in individuals making decisions that best meet their personal needs.
What started as an innovative two-year partnership project with the University of Alberta Community Service-Learning has become an internationally recognized, enduring social change initiative for Skills Society and our community.
Achievements
Project Citizenship started as a 3 year initiative that went for 5 years thanks to sponsors.
Over 60 stories were documented and shared through our website, Face Book, Twitter, YouTube, University of Alberta students and Make Something Edmonton
Featured in the Stanford Social Innovation Review magazine as an exemplary social innovation.
In July 2014, Project Citizenship was also awarded the 2014 Digital Alberta Award for Digital Philanthropy Innovation!
Public events in Edmonton at the SNAP gallery, and City Hall that featured the work of the project and citizens with disabilities
Project Objective
Learn how best to support the full participation of citizens with disabilities
Research conducted on the impact of Project Citizenship by University of Alberta researchers
Share learnings with others who work with people with disabilities
People with disabilities enjoy active participation as citizens in our community
Document and share stories in film and photographs about how people with disabilities are valuable citizens in our communities
10 new stories documented annually in video, photos, narrative, and mixed media
10,000 people access the stories through the website, social media, public relations and public recognition of the project
1 large public event celebrating the engaged Citizenship of people with disabilities and Project Citizenship each year
25 University of Alberta students participate annualy, enabling them to take what they learn into their careers
Impact
Through the process of documenting their stories, individuals with disabilities move from the margins of society to active participation in the community
Those working with people with disabilities learn how best to support citizenship, implementing new and innovative ways to meet individual needs and ensure a participatory, meaningful quality of life
Overturn negative stereotypes in the community about people with disabilities
See the stories here -
Thank you to our past sponsors
University of Alberta Community Service-Learning
Society of Northern Alberta Print Artists
Edmonton Arts Council
Field Law
