CNC's Street Humanities Program Provides Hope for Marginalized
Diane Nakamura, Executive Director of Advocating for Women & Children (AWAC) led a group presentation to City Council about CNC’s Street Humanities program on Monday, May 11. The presentation provided a comprehensive overview of the program from the perspective of both the student and the instructor.
Street Humanities is a program that offers marginalized men and women access to post-secondary education. It is a free of charge program managed and funded by CNC in partnership with AWAC which is one of the recipients of the City’s Social Enhancement Program.
Nakamara expressed her gratitude to the City Council for continuing to fund AWAC’s contribution to this transformational program. Chad Thompson, CNC’s Interim VP Academic, presented some statistics and facts about the program.
Approximately, 44 students have completed the 30 week course in the past 3 years. That equates to an estimated 100 students in a 10 year period. In addition, the program relies on volunteer instructors from CNC, UNBC and the wider community – this year 17 people generously shared their stories, passion and knowledge and as Thompson alludes to in the presented video ‘… teaching in this program reminds you what teaching is all about.”
James Morton, a 2014 Street Humanities Grad, presented his experiences in the program. He attributes the positive shift in his life to the opportunities presented by the College’s Street Humanities program. “Street Humanities fills a void in BC, where so many people can come out of the shadows of addiction and/or personal conflicts of pain, anger and isolation. This program gives hope, friendship and trust.”