Meet our 2022/2023 Mount Royal Capstone Projects
As an early education centre whose mission has always been to elevate, continuously innovate and challenge the standards of high-quality childcare for the modern family, our team felt that in order to live into our mission, we must continue to challenge ourselves, our ways of thinking, foster innovation and expand our support beyond our facility walls.
This fall, we’ve partnered with Mount Royal University’s (MRU) Department of Child Studies program to be apart of their undergraduate capstone project. Greeted by 15 MRU students, our capstone group and Wee Wild Ones team collaboratively wrote our intentions for the next eight months, starting with discovering our collective ‘why,’ ‘how’ and ‘what.’ These pillars are our foundation in guiding our projects to co-create change within ourselves and our community.
Our Capstone’s Why: To use our personal experiences and knowledge to support the inclusion and wellness of children and all folks in our community. We choose to nurture happy and healthy environments and create a brighter future for all.
Our Capstone’s How: We will build strong relationships by listening with kindness and empathy. We will strive to establish safe and caring environments in the lives of children, youth and adults.
Our Capstone’s What: We will create educational opportunities that inspire change in ourselves, peers, young citizens and the greater community.
Once these building blocks were made, our team separated the 15 capstone students into three groups and provided a brief explanation of each project outline while leaving room for their creative and innovative thinking to foster.
Capstone Group A: Team Experiences
The team experiences group project focuses on addressing how equity, diversity and inclusion affect employees’ mental health in the workplace. Through research and ongoing group discussions, the students of group A intend to aid employees in how to approach various concerns they may be facing in the workplace through training videos and tangible resources. Addressing these issues can result in a positive impact on employees’ mental health rather than concealing problems or stigmas. With this project, we hope to create a safe and supportive environment where everyone feels included and can thrive!
Capstone Group B: Licensing & Curriculum
The licensing and curriculum group project focuses on Early Learning and Child Care Regulation through the lens of equity, diversity and inclusion. Working closely with Alberta Childcare Licensing, the students will connect their research with program plans to see how Early Learning programs implement best practices and ensure quality care is carried out through all educators. Through this development, they will facilitate Community of Practice sessions for educators throughout the Calgary community working in licensed childcare facilities. With this project, we hope to create a space and opportunity for educators to learn from others, reflect on their own practice and implement new teaching strategies that focus on creating inclusive and equitable classroom environments.
Capstone Group C: alliedFutures Project
Lastly, the alliedFutures group project began to explore a way to create an education toolkit focussed on connecting mental health, equity, diversity and inclusion within workplace settings for local Calgary businesses and beyond. In collaboration with the Women’s Centre of Calgary, Group C has researched various topics within mental health, EDI and how they intersect in the workplace and the impact they both have on mental health. Drawing in a parent and child focussed lens, the students will bring local leading businesses and community members together to listen, learn and make change within themselves and their workplace. Their research and learnings will develop into an online, interactive educational toolkit in conjunction with a five-part event series led by leading mental health and EDI professionals within YYC. More details on the alliedFutures Project to come!
As we look back on our time with our 15 MRU students, we are blown away by their pursuit to learn, commitment to this cause, and ongoing ability to put themselves in challenging conversations to actively work towards creating a more equitable future for all. With a few more more months left before their capstones come to a close, we look forward to the execution of their research and work and are excited to continue these projects in 2023 and beyond!