SHE USED HER ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND TO BRING A NEW LENS TO OUR WORK
CHARMAINE SHEAHAN
SHE USED HER ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND TO BRING A NEW LENS TO OUR WORK
CHARMAINE SHEAHAN
BRINGING NEW ENERGY TO A NON-PROFIT
BRINGING NEW ENERGY
TO A NON-PROFIT
Passionate about fostering inclusivity, Hanna MacDonald left her mark on a Waterloo Region-based charitable organization this year.
As the inaugural Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator at House of Friendship, the third-year University of Waterloo environment and business student spent four months working on initiatives championing fairness, equity and a sense of security for all staff members.
Hanna’s position included developing anti-racism, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and putting together a framework for advocacy for House of Friendship’s employees. The organization provides food, housing, addiction treatment and neighbourhood support to individuals and families.
Part of Hanna’s research involved meeting staff in various workshops to learn about issues they encounter on the job.
“It’s nice to know that if House of Friendship staff want to advocate for equity, diversity and inclusivity I’ve helped create procedures so their voices can be heard,” she said.
Hanna’s position was one of six internships with Habitat for Humanity and House of Friendship to be sponsored by Libro Credit Union over the next three years.
Last year, Libro pledged a gift of $60,000 to support the Faculty of Environment’s Global Citizen Internships, which coordinates hands-on experiences at charitable organizations for its students.
Libro's commitment reflects its purpose-led approach to business by reinvesting profits into the communities it serves to support housing initiatives and help students gain employable skills.
“We’re especially excited to see how these students apply their ideas to help address some challenging community issues,” said Scott Macleod, Libro’s regional manager of community building.
Charmaine Sheahan, House of Friendship’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Director and Hanna’s supervisor, said the Waterloo student brought a fresh set of eyes and new energy to the organization.
“Hanna used her environmental business background to bring a new lens to our work toward creating a diverse and inclusive future at House of Friendship,” Charmaine said.
Starting at a young age, Hanna has contributed towards improving societal well-being in Canada and other parts of the world.
At 13, she and her grandmother travelled with their church group on a volunteer mission to Guatemala, where they assisted in building a school.
“The two of us would carry wheelbarrows full of cement across one little board on top of a dugout,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I don’t know how one of us didn’t get injured.”
Post-graduation, Hanna would like to work on her family’s Bailieboro, Ontario farm focused on regenerative farming. Also on her list of career possibilities is a job in the non-profit sector.
“My time at House of Friendship definitely influenced that career consideration,” she said.
