We are pleased to recognize the following faculty members who have received the UBC 2026 Community-University Engagement Support (CUES) Fund. The fund supports faculty working in close collaboration with community organizations on research, teaching, and initiatives that address locally identified priorities.
This year’s 29 funded projects reflect diverse community engagement across British Columbia, supporting collaborations with Indigenous, rural and remote, and racialized communities, as well as older adults, on priorities such as health, community planning, safe drinking water, climate resilience, youth programming, and cultural revitalization.
Meet the Four 2026 Funded UBC Faculty of Education Projects
Dr. Kshamta Hunter
Community Connection and Care
Community Connection and Care will build intergenerational youth–senior dialogues on climate, health, affordability, and civic participation, resulting in five dialogue sessions, a community action plan, and open planning tools.
Community Partner: Andrea Krombein, Marpole Oakridge Family Place
UBC Partner: Dr. Kshamta Hunter, Sustainability Hub / Faculty of Education – Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy
Dr. Margaret Macintyre Latta
kʷu knxtwixʷ—kinSHIFT Schools
kʷu knxtwixʷ—kinSHIFT Schools brings together IndigenEYEZ, the UBCO School of Education, and Central Okanagan Public Schools to co-deliver Indigenous-led professional development that supports educators in decolonizing and indigenizing school environments across Syilx Okanagan territory.
Community Partner: Kelly Terbasket, IndigenEYEZ
UBC Partner: Dr. Margaret Macintyre Latta, Faculty of Education – Okanagan School of Education
Additional Project Partners: Central Okanagan Public School District 23 – Dr. Natalie Cohen, UBC Okanagan
Dr. Guofang Li
Reimagining and Sustaining the Racing Readers Program
Project partners will revitalize Racing Readers with multilingual, culturally responsive literacy supports and AI-assisted tools, strengthening literacy, volunteer capacity, and scalable, inclusive models.
Community Partners: Shanti Ang, READ Surrey/White Rock Society
UBC Partner: Dr. Guofang Li, Faculty of Education – Language & Literacy Education
Dr. Dustin Louie
Sexual Exploitation Prevention Curriculum for Indigenous Educators
Project partners will co‑create a culturally grounded curriculum for Indigenous teacher candidates to prevent sexual exploitation and sex trafficking along Highway 16, leading to integrated coursework, trained educators, and community workshops.
Community Partner: Jacqueline Peeace, Ally Global Foundation – Makwa Dodem
UBC Partner: Dr. Dustin Louie, Faculty of Education – Indigenous Teacher Education Program (NITEP)
These projects advance our 2026-2031 Strategic Plan: Transforming Learning for a Shared Future and support our Strategic Strand on enriching relationships and impact by expanding opportunities for faculty to engage in meaningful, community-informed scholarship that addresses the diverse and evolving needs of local communities.
View the full list of funded projects in the announcement here.
Learn more about our Strategic Plan
