This fall, Simon Fraser University is offering public space at no charge for community groups to gather and self-organize.
Earlier this summer, Simon Fraser University launched SFU Public Square, a signature initiative of "The Engaged University," designed to spark, restore, and nurture community connections.
In response to that initiative, the university is encouraging groups to make use of public space at all three campuses (Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey) during the inaugural SFU Public Square community summit, from Sept. 18 to 23.
"We wanted to capture the vitality of a public square by offering community groups the opportunity to utilize SFU's locations to plan their events," said Shauna Sylvester, executive director of SFU Public Square, in a recent release.
"The most interesting public squares are vibrant spaces that feature programmed events, like concerts, openair films, or long-table conversations. By offering this opportunity to community groups, we believe SFU can help foster these types of creative ideas," she added.
In addition to the physical location, participants in the program will also be entitled to a minimum $500 grant to assist in hosting their event.
SFU Public Square's community summit has chosen the theme of Alone Together: Connecting in the City, stemming from recent research conducted by the Vancouver Foundation that highlighted the issue of isolation and disconnection in the urban environment.
The weeklong summit is expected to attract over 10,000 participants, with a goal of strengthening engagement across community and cultural divides.
mreid@ burnabynow.com
