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| At the last conference, participating students were asked to share one thought for the future of AV俱乐部. Here's Connor Pratt's thought. |
Ever had an idea on how to make AV俱乐部 the best it can be? Ever set that great idea aside because you just didn鈥檛 know how to start?
Good news. Brains for Change, run by the DSU Launchpoint team, is here to help by fostering--and perhaps even聽funding--your idea.
鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what the idea is about,鈥� explains DSU Leadership Director Jamie Arron. 鈥淔or us, it's a vehicle to engage students.鈥�
By bringing together students from all faculties, and adding mentors from both the university and community, Brains for Change hopes to act as a forum for participants to build momentum around their ideas.
Shy about making your voice heard? 鈥淭here鈥檚 roles for everybody,鈥� assures Mr. Arron, 鈥渓eading and supporting!鈥�
Even if you haven鈥檛 hit upon your big idea for changing the world (or Dal) yet, Brains for Change is still a great place to start. 鈥淲e鈥檙e targeting first and second year students. The whole process is designed to bring people in slowly, you鈥檙e not expected to have all the answers,鈥� says Mr. Arron.
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| Here's another idea, this one by Mike Curry. |
Jamie Arron is one of the many 鈥榖rains鈥� behind Brains for Change. He understands first hand that committing the time to creating change on campus and in the community can be tricky for students who are juggling a full academic load.
鈥淵ou have to be willing to say what your priorities are,鈥� admits Mr. Arron, who is a fourth-year student in聽International Development Studies. 鈥淔or me, hands on experience is just as valuable as classroom learning; they complement each other.鈥�
Now in its second year, Brains for Change has its next event of the season coming up on
Saturday, January 22--a day-long conference designed to stimulate ideas and help students network with like-minded people. Last year鈥檚 event attracted more than 150 students. This year, organizers have made space for 200 and are hoping to fill every spot.
At last year鈥檚 Brains for Change conference, discussions centred around three themes:
classes, careers, communities. Out of a discussion on school spirit came the idea to create a
AV俱乐部 flag. The contest to find the perfect design kicks off at this year鈥檚 conference on the
22nd.
Mr. Arron says his favourite part of last year鈥檚 event was 鈥渟eeing the momentum that
carried on afterwards.鈥� Also memorable was the keynote speaker, politician Danny Graham, who had a hilarious reaction to realizing the craft supplies he had used to decorate his name tag had gotten all over his face.
鈥淚t was a great moment,鈥� recalls Mr. Arron, 鈥渂ecause it showed students that even a public figure can be an accessible guy.鈥�
As for what exactly to expect at this year鈥檚 conference, Mr. Arron prefers to keep plans
under wrap. (Hint: balloons are involved.)
If you鈥檙e interested in adding your brainpower to the conversation, be sure to check out the for Change website. Students should register for the January 22 forum by Tuesday, January 18. E-mail launchpoint@dalleadership.ca.