Community Worker Program (C101)

If you are passionate about human rights and social justice, the two-year Community Worker (C101) diploma program is for you. Students gain the knowledge and skills required to work with diverse and historically marginalized individuals and communities on a range of concerns.

Whether you’re a mature student or high school graduate, a newcomer or looking for a career change, our diverse and committed student body is a core strength of our program.

The Role of a Community Worker

Emerging from a proud history of community-based organizing, advocacy, and activism, community workers work with individuals and communities at all levels (local, national, natural, and global) toward positive social change.

Community workers are committed to the full and equal inclusion of all peoples within societies that value equality, diversity, and human dignity. The pursuit of social justice is about rights and not charity; working in solidarity with communities, not for them.

Key Skills Taught in the Community Worker Program

Throughout the program, students will have the opportunity to develop a variety of important and high-demand skills, including:

• anti-oppressive and intercultural practices in working with diverse populations
• critical analysis, research, and writing
• group facilitation, counselling, and leadership development
• community organizing, activism, and advocacy
• community development, project design, and proposal writing
• policy analysis and rights-based advocacy

Community Worker Program Structure

The program combines classroom instruction and supervised field placements. In preparation for field placement, students will be required to work in multiple small and large groups within classes and community settings.

Theory, analysis, and practice are presented through a variety of innovative instructional tools developed from popular education and learner-centred approaches to teaching and learning.

Highly engaged classes of dialogue, debate, interactive lectures, guest panels, and group activities provide students with a current, exciting, and critically engaging program of study.

Program Courses Are Organized into Four Core Areas:

• community work theory and practice
• social and political analysis
• group skills and counselling
• field placement and seminar

Community Worker Faculty

Faculty are experienced educators who bring their passion for education and change to create a highly engaging and dynamic learning environment. The faculty have local, national, and global activism backgrounds, and they remain active on social issues and maintain close ties to communities, activists, and organizations.

Career Options