Fellows in Equity, Anti-Oppression and Social Justice

Paula Rodrigues Affonso Alves (She/Her) is a PhD student in Engineering Education at the University of Manitoba. Paula is a dedicated social development activist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She uses participatory methodologies to foster community-driven social technology. Reflecting on her Fellowship in Equity, Anti-Oppression, and Social Justice, Paula shares, “Being a Fellow signifies being recognized as someone with the potential to learn and contribute to institutional change. The Fellowship expanded my understanding of the University of Manitoba’s EDI advocacy.”

This experience has enhanced Paula’s engagement with students and EDI professionals from diverse backgrounds, aiding her efforts to deconstruct colonial structures. She explains, “The Fellowship clarified my passion as an activist in participatory action research, exploring EDI opportunities, complexities, and intersections to grow more knowledgeable and flexible.”

Reem Elmahi (She/ Her) is a Psychology student in the Faculty of Science. She co-founded and served as president of the University of Manitoba’s Black Students’ Union. She has also been a student educator at the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management.

Reflecting on her fellowship experience, Reem states, "This fellowship means engaging in critical dialogue, learning from marginalized voices, and analyzing the policies and practices implemented by the UM in anti-oppression, equity, diversity, and accessibility. I have benefited from access to specialized training, workshops, and resources that deepen my understanding of equity issues, anti-oppressive practices, and social justice frameworks."

Reem's fellowship has equipped her with practical skills in anti-oppressive practices, advocacy, and community engagement, aligning with her aspiration to become a lawyer. She emphasizes the fellowship's importance, noting that it addresses systemic inequalities and fosters inclusive environments through community-building activities and individual projects. Reem encourages other students to participate in the fellowship to gain insights into the university's operations and the resources available to combat oppression, racism, and exclusion.

Tanvin Hossain (he/him) is an Agribusiness graduate from the Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, and he currently works as a sales and marketing coordinator. Outside work, he enjoys planting, biking, watching movies, and actively participating in community activities.

Reflecting on his experience with the Fellowship in Equity, Anti-Oppression, and Social Justice, Tanvin says, 'The Fellowship is a significant opportunity to engage deeply with critical issues affecting marginalized people. It means being part of a movement that strives for fairness, inclusivity, and respect for all individuals.'

Tanvin is involved in various activities within the Fellowship, including workshops and regular meetings to strategize on equity and social justice initiatives at the University of Manitoba. He helped organize the UM Students Leading Change (SLC) Conference and led the Post-SLC Forum on EDIA and Anti-Oppression, hosted by the Office of Equity Transformation.

Through the Fellowship, Tanvin has deepened his understanding of social justice issues, developed leadership skills, and networked with like-minded individuals. 'I aim to lead by example, raising awareness and engaging others in meaningful dialogue and action. By implementing the insights and strategies gained from the fellowship, I can help drive systemic change and create a more equitable environment at the University of Manitoba and beyond,' he says.

Trixie Maybituin (She/Her) is completing a Master’s of Human Rights in the Faculty of Law. As a community organizer, first-generation immigrant, and settler on Treaty 1, Trixie dedicates her energy to applying human rights to municipal governance. 

Trixie shares her positive experience with the Fellowship in Equity, Anti-Oppression and Social Justice program in the following words, "This Fellowship has allowed me to join a new community and learn continuously. Through developing workshops with Anny Chen at Community Engaged Learning, I am bridging student and community activism, encouraging more participation in local grassroots organizations." She continued: "The Fellowship has helped me acquire essential soft skills like respect for diversity, inclusion, and equity, which are valuable both academically and in community settings. It pushes me to expand my knowledge beyond the university. Working together, we realize the need for diverse skills and collaborative strategies to advance social justice goals. I highly recommend this Fellowship to other students, as achieving institutional change and social justice at UM requires active student engagement."

Anselmo Vilanculo is a PhD student in Peace and Conflict Studies, and a dedicated human rights advocate with a background in communication and information. He aims to build a career in peace-building, conflict resolution, and social justice. 

Anselmo shares, "I am honored to have been chosen for the first Equity, Anti-Oppression, and Social Justice Fellowship. This Fellowship, an advocacy platform and resource hub, combines theory and practice and addresses pressing global issues such as equity, oppression, racism, and ableism at the University of Manitoba."

During his Fellowship, Anselmo worked in collaboration with UM's Strategic Marketing Communications team (External Relations) to plan upcoming events to promote understanding and engagement with the UM Office of Equity Transformation. He notes, "These experiences harnessed my leadership skills and introduced me to collaborative problem-solving relevant to the University of Manitoba community." The Fellowship challenged him to grow personally and professionally, setting him up for success in social justice advocacy and institutional change.

Anselmo highlights the significance of the Fellowship, stating, "It represents UM's commitment to eradicating discrimination, ending exclusion, and reducing inequalities that undermine the potential of individuals and humanity."

• Cohort education
  • Bi-weekly education sessions
  • Attendance and participation at selected events sponsored by Office of Equity Transformation, or relevant to specific project
  • Self-reflection and growth portfolio
  • Additional optional opportunities for related to project or initiative
• Cohort and network
  • Monthly cohort meeting for information sharing, building support network, and collective problem solving
• Project participation 
  • Participation in specific institutional initiative that may include committee meetings, project management, research, workshop or other duties
  • Report on activities upon conclusion of fellowship period
• Student leadership
  • Open town-hall or other sessions to share with students the work being done and for feedback

• Anti-ableism and accessibility strategies
• Anti-racism - broad-based initiatives or potentially a focus on specific forms of racism
• 2SLGBTQIA+ community building and safety
• Reconciliation actions
• Educational initiatives advancing equity, anti-oppression and social justice
• Age-inclusivity at UM
• Ecological justice and sustainability
• EDIA in marketing and communications

• Ability to commit approximately 10 hours/week to the designated tasks, meetings and learning from September 2024 thru May 2025
• Commitment to work as part of a team for collective learning, solidarity and community-building
• Active involvement in an institutional project that involves a range of people within UM community and that contributes to equity, anti-oppression, and social justice work at UM
• On-going self-reflective participation in all aspects of the program is required
• The fellowship will be recorded on each student's Experience Record on their transcript

• Open to all UM students (must be registered for the term(s) during which the fellowship is offered, excluding Summer Term registration)
• Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible
• Full-time and part-time students are eligible
• Students must be in good-standing in their programs
• Criteria is not GPA-driven
• Students holding elected executive roles or paid positions in student unions at the faculty-level or higher are not eligible
• These awards do not support research, projects, or initiatives for courses or degree-program requirements
• Fellows may re-apply once, but a second term is not guaranteed

• Demonstrated commitment to community engagement, advocacy or activism, academic or non-academic learning or work in equity, anti-oppression and social justice initiatives
• Openness to advancing equity, anti-oppression and social justice by working collaboratively with diverse groups of individuals
• Interest in institutional or organizational change rooted in equity and anti-oppression frameworks
• Preference for individuals from systemically marginalized groups

The application form includes basic personal information, as well as questions to learn more about the applicant, their experiences, and their areas of interest in relation to equity, anti-oppression and social justice.

References: The application requests the names and contact information of two references, at least one must be academic.

Transcript: After completing the application form, all applicants are required to send a copy of their unofficial transcript to equity@umanitoba.ca

Next call for applications will be Spring 2025.