Community Engaged Learning Placements

NEW495 Available Placements 2025-2026:

**Please note – placements with a deadline that has passed, have been extended to July 21st**

Up4 The Challenge – a non-profit social enterprise that empowers youth in grades 7–12 to use STEM for social impact through hands-on, equity-centered design programs. Based in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area and Ottawa, we focus on engaging underrepresented youth through partnerships with schools and community organizations. The role includes supporting workshop facilitation, developing educational materials, and collaborating with community partners to address real-world social issues.

The Black Food Sovereignty Alliance (BFSA) is dedicated to strengthening Black communities’ understanding and leadership in Black Food Sovereignty through dialogue, policy advocacy, and community-driven solutions. Rooted in Toronto’s Black Food Sovereignty movement, BFSA works to ensure Black communities have access to healthy, culturally appropriate food produced sustainably, with a goal to ending chronic food insecurity and mobilize community partnerships. Student volunteers will have the opportunity to support BFSA’s efforts by helping coordinate community events, contributing to digital storytelling initiatives, and participating in data collection activities that highlight community needs and impact.

Chinese Canadian National Council (CCNCTO) – an organization of Chinese Canadians in the City of Toronto that promotes equity, social justice, inclusive civic participation, and respect for diversity. Current priorities are outreaching to the marginalized Chinese Canadian community, building up community capacity, creating intergenerational spaces, and continuing advocacy work on anti-racism. 

Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre (also known as the ‘Jane/Finch Centre’ or JFC) – a multi-service, community-based organization with a strong focus on poverty reduction through resident engagement, capacity building and anti-oppression. Students will work closely with the JFC’s Community Development and Action Coordinator and other team members, focusing on anti-poverty initiatives, advocacy, and grassroots organizing.

The Mayworks Festival of Working People and the Arts – initiates and supports the creation and production of art that engages diverse artists and workers at the intersection of art, social justice and labour. This opportunity is for a student interested in labour justice and the role of cultural programming in community building and social action. The ideal candidate will be interested in film and how it can be used to explore issues of labour justice and social action. As well as research skills, the student should have the capacity to critically view a film and to effectively communicate their response to it.

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance – a small ENGO working for a shift to a renewable electricity future. We do energy policy and analysis, lobby governments, and build public support for a renewable energy system that precludes fossil fuels and nuclear power.

The Ontario Health Coalition – A non-profit public interest coalition whose mission is to protect and improve our public health care system. The Ontario Health Coalition fights cuts and privatization, and advocates for improvements to public health care in the public interest. The Ontario Health Coalition is looking for someone to assist in their health care advocacy work to protect and improve public health care in Ontario.

Parkdale Project Read (2 Positions) – PPR is an inclusive and culturally diverse community literacy program that provides access to learning from a social justice perspective by offering free literacy services in a supportive environment. This is an opportunity for a student with an interest in adult literacy from a social justice perspective, community development, and fundraising. An academic background with anti-oppression and equity studies courses, and/or lived experience with these issues, is an asset.

Rise In STEM is seeking an energetic, youth-focused Volunteer Coach to support our second iteration of the STEM Athletics Program. This program is a weekly initiative combining physical activity, mentorship, and exposure to science, technology, engineering, and math for middle school students. The initiative also supports high school students with monthly workshops focused on career exploration and academic development. This placement is ideal for students interested in youth development, community engagement, and integrating sport with educational outcomes.

Science for Peace – a charitable organization dedicated to popular education and research on the intersections of demilitarization, decarbonization and social justice. Science for Peace synthesizes scientific knowledge to inform and change public policy. As a Policy Research & Communications Student, you will support Science for Peace’s mission by assisting in research, policy analysis, and communication efforts.

United for Literacy is seeking an enthusiastic and community-minded 4th-year university student to support local literacy programs. This hands-on role provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to literacy education while developing skills in communication, program delivery, and community engagement. You’ll assist in planning, facilitating, and evaluating literacy activities for children and youth, —many of whom face barriers to education. You’ll gain experience in inclusive, learner-centered approaches and see firsthand how community-based education can drive social change.

The Migrant Farmworker Legal Clinic is coordinated by Justice for Migrant Workers and the University of Windsor Faculty of Law. It is the first known Clinic in Canada that works almost exclusively with migrant agricultural workers. The Clinic is working to develop its social media profiles, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok to engage migrant farmworkers. Students would have the opportunity to develop content for these channels to provide information, debunk myths about Canada’s migrant worker programs, and foster solidarity.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) – a labour union representing nearly 230,000 workers in every province and territory in Canada and in locations around the world. PSAC strives to enhance its members’ quality of life and has been at the front of a variety of significant and successful campaigns for workplace and human rights, including the struggle for equal pay, enhanced workplace health and safety and the rights of same sex spouses. PSAC is working to achieve a compassionate and inclusive society free of sexism, racism, homophobia, and all other forms of discrimination. The PSAC placement student will work with Union Organizers, Regional Representatives, and the Education Officer to support workers’ rights campaigns through organizing, education and enforcing union contracts.

Burma Scholar – We are a group of activists based in Toronto, Canada, passionate about the political and educational situation in Burma. Learn about Myanmar, specifically the human rights issues there, and the role of the education sector in providing opportunities for young people there. Work with a small Toronto-based team to create educational program experiences, organize community-based events, and communicate with government agencies like IDRC (International Development Research Centre).

The Caribbean Solidarity Network (CSN) – a Toronto based community organization that focuses on community based political education, committed to the principles of Caribbean Liberation and Unity across the region as well as throughout the Diaspora. We are currently looking for a community research and outreach assistant to help deliver our programming and broaden our reach. This placement offers candidates the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world experience in community-based research, community outreach and event logistics.

The Black Health Equity Lab (The BHEL) – a community-based social science research lab that brings together students, researchers, and community-based organizations committed to working with and for Black communities to conduct rigorous health research and develop advocacy tools, strategies, and programs to improve health outcomes, well-being, and success in Canadian systems. This placement offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of public health, racial justice, and community-led research. Students will gain real-world experience in knowledge mobilization, policy engagement, and equity-based advocacy. As a placement student at BHEL, you’ll support research, advocacy, and community initiatives aimed at addressing systemic health inequities affecting Black communities in Canada.

Groundswell Community Justice Trust Fund – a community trust formed in 2011, Groundswell Community Justice Trust Fund began as a way to talk about funding social movements, while building a capital base to benefit social justice organizing over the long term. Our hope is to create a practice of consistently and dependably funding social movements by getting people to look at their finances and contribute what they can on a monthly or yearly basis. We are seeking a motivated and passionate upper year university student for a placement to support our grant making, outreach and operations teams.

Injured Workers Action for Justice – A diverse group of injured workers who have been fighting for fair compensation and respect from the WSIB (Workplace & Safety Insurance Board) for all workers in Ontario since 2010. The student will work with the Community Organizer at IAVGO Community Legal Clinic and the IWA4J group members to develop and promote membership-driven initiatives that advance the rights of injured workers.

TTCriders – a grassroots, membership-based advocacy organization that works to build a more just, affordable, and sustainable public transit system in Toronto. TTCriders brings together transit users from across the city to advocate for better service, lower fares, and greater public investment in transit infrastructure. Our campaigns focus on holding decision-makers accountable, influencing transit policy, and mobilizing public support to win improvements to the TTC and regional transit systems. TTCriders is seeking a motivated and passionate co-op student to support our campaigns and communications work. This is an excellent opportunity for a student interested in community organizing, communications, policy, and sustainable cities.

FoodShare (Adult Senior Programming) – An opportunity for a student passionate about food justice – and its intersections with the right to food, racial and environmental justice, reconciliation, body liberation, and anti-poverty work – to gain skills and experience in community food programming with adults and seniors.

The Toronto Centre for Applied Buddhism (TCAB) – aims to provide educational programming that focuses on the application of the Buddhist teachings in contemporary societies through collaboration with educational institutions and Buddhist communities locally and internationally. As a Program & Outreach Assistant, you’ll gain hands-on experience in nonprofit program development, community engagement, and administrative operations. This placement will offer exposure to the incredible work of Buddhist chaplains and volunteers, based on best practices in spiritual care and trauma-informed programming.

The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) – a non-profit organization which advocates for better rights for tenants. At its heart, FMTA is rooted in tenant empowerment—helping renters come together, know their rights, organize collectively, and advocate for equitable, safe, and dignified housing. An ideal candidate for this placement is a student deeply committed to social justice, with a strong understanding of housing issues and tenants’ rights.

Previous Placements

Check out examples of NEW495 placement opportunities from previous years.

Please note: previous placements are currently inactive

NEW497 Available Placements

NEW497 will be offered at a later date – stay tuned for more details by visiting the Community Engaged Learning Program page.

Check out examples of NEW497 placement opportunities from previous years.

Please note: previous placements are currently inactive