Foreword

Our Program Profile series is a space where students share their experiences in humanities courses and programs. Our first profile is presented by Rose Davies, a recent Brock graduate.

Rose combined her study of sociology with Hispanic and Latin American Studies, offered through the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Here she shares her experience in the summer courses SPAN3F80 and SPAN4F80 “Im/Migrant and Community Outreach and Internship.” You can learn more about these courses and the Hispanic and Latin American Studies program by contacting Program Advisers, Dr. Irene Blayer (iblayer@brocku.ca) or Dr. Cristina Santos (csantos@brocku.ca).

My name is Rose Davies, and I’m a recent graduate of a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Hispanic and Latin American Studies. I took both the SPAN 3F80 and 4F80 courses “Im/Migrant and Community Outreach.”

I started out at Brock University in the Sociology Program. After taking an introductory Spanish course offered in spring semester as an elective credit, I was impressed with the program and the options available to students.

Since changing to a combined major in Sociology and Hispanic and Latin American studies in my third year at Brock, I’ve had the opportunity to travel to two different countries as part of the program – Spain and Mexico.

I had already been involved with migrant justice activist groups in the Niagara Region, and I was happy to be a part of the first SPAN 3F80 course that was offered by the department, with the tireless work of Professors Blayer, Santos and Crowe-Morey. The course entails a 60 hour internship component with local organizations that provide services to immigrants, migrant workers, and newcomers to Canada in a variety of capacities.

Some of the organizations I had the opportunity to work with in the Niagara Region include the Niagara North Legal Clinic, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW), and many others.

Students are encouraged to design their field of study and the focus of their internship to reflect their interests. Whether the student wants to work in the political, medical, linguistic, or social work side of (im)migrant support organizations, there are options available to them.

The experience I gained in the 3F80 program led me to the opportunity for full time work with one of the organizations, and I continued to work as a volunteer for a few of the organizations after the course ended.

Building upon the work and the final project in 3F80, I continued the same path through 4F80, which involved a final thesis-type research project. I was able to focus on a specific aspect of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program and the racialization of immigration policies in Canada.

I had the opportunity to complete some of my internship in Mexico with an organization that works in education and microfinance in Indigenous communities. This work inspired and uplifted the community work and organization I have been doing, and led to my decision to accept a position with a non-profit in Nicaragua after graduation.

The opportunities in these two courses are extensive, and each student has the freedom to specialize in what interests them. These courses provided great opportunity for skills development and helped me focus my passion for community organization.

I’m excited to see many other students achieving great things thanks to these amazing courses, and I am very appreciative of the bridges being built between the Brock and the broader community.