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PSLP alumni from across cohorts gather at the five-year celebration of PSLP and a graduation ceremony for Cohort 5. Photo by David Lipnowski.

Manitoba’s premier post-secondary leadership program invites applicants for Cohort 7 of interdisciplinary, pan-provincial learning opportunity

January 23, 2025 — 

Applications are now open for the seventh cohort (2025/26) of the President’s Student Leadership Program (PSLP), Manitoba’s premier post-secondary leadership development opportunity, funded through a fellowship for successful applicants and housed at the Asper School of Business.

PSLP is an annual, cohort-based program that selects students across disciplines and backgrounds from UM as well as the other major Manitoba postsecondary institutions: University College of the North, the University of Winnipeg, Red River College Polytech, Université de Saint-Boniface, and Brandon University.

The program currently seeks the latest cohort of changemakers and innovators across disciplines and at any level of post-secondary study. Students with existing leadership impact and experience, formal or informal, are invited to apply by March 9, 2025.

Successful applicants join a cohort of peers to participate in a core week of workshops, site visits, and leader talks in June 2025. Participants then plan and complete a summer service leadership project in diverse teams, continue the program in the fall with two dedicated days of workshops, and participate in a field trip to northern Manitoba in winter 2026.

The program is supported by a network of senior leaders from different sectors who participate as one-on-one mentors to PSLP fellows for the year. Concluding each year with a graduation celebration, PSLP has seen many graduates go on to lead in their careers and communities in any field.

Applications for the seventh cohort of the President’s Student Leadership Program are now open. Learn more about this immersive and inclusive leadership opportunity today, and read more about the most recent community projects below.

Leadership shaped by community

This summer and fall, the sixth and current cohort of PSLP fellows worked with community organizations to advance initiatives including access to official ID for newcomers, engagement with Indigenous teachings for international students, a fundraising strategy for non-profits, and a food security information program for the elderly.

“The summer projects help build our PSLP fellows’ connection to their communities and leadership commitment, regardless of what profession or field they will go into,” said Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, Director of the Burns Leadership Institute and Associate Dean of Research at the Asper School of Business.

The sixth cohort of the program completed the following community projects:

Paint Your Teachings

Mackenzie Ferguson, Jory Thomas-Blanchard, Olamide Collins-Longe, and Alejandra Diabb Sanchez devised “Paint Your Teachings,” a paint night dedicated to the seven sacred Indigenous teachings. Hosted by the UM International Centre, the team conceived of and facilitated the event in partnership with Nancy Hamilton, a Knowledge Keeper.

Participants gathered to learn about Indigenous culture and beliefs while expressing their talents through art. After Hamilton guided them through the seven sacred teachings, participants were prompted to paint these teachings on rocks. As the workshop continued, they were encouraged to continue sharing their learning and the values that resonated most with them, bringing teachings to their communities.

Collins-Longe reflects on the impact of the project. “Our community project taught me the importance and power of communication and community, knowing when to step in and when to step back,” she said. Expanding on the impact of PSLP as a whole, Collins-Longe shares that the program “shifted my perspective on life and leadership.”

Identifying Boundaries

Oluwafemi Awopegba, Logan Basarowich, Madison Bonnefoy, and Kiera Butterfield’s project “Identifying Boundaries,” worked to lessen the barriers of obtaining identification for newcomers.

Working with community organizations NEEDS Inc, SEED Winnipeg, and the Me-Dian Credit Union, the group focused on the MPI Identification Card and the Social Insurance Number card. They determined that the most impact could be made by reducing financial and language barriers to accessing these important IDs.

In their project summary, the team writes, “by listening to the communities, we were able to reduce the gaps of access and help newcomers in Winnipeg with their pursuit of a happy life.”

Together, they created a step-by-step guide of how to obtain these forms of ID and translated these guides from English into Tigrinya, Arabic, and Ukrainian with support from the Ethiopian Society of Winnipeg, Islamic Social Services Association Inc, and Ukrainian community members.

KidSport Storybank

Laura Effinger, Craig Hillier, and Faye Vaquilar completed a project with KidSport Manitoba to help increase fundraising and marketing efforts. They created a Manitoba KidSport storybank to collect impactful stories and testimonials to inspire and engage the community in fundraising and marketing matierals.

The team developed a blueprint for listening generously and capturing KidSport family stories. To help build this competency and resource, they emphasized strengthening connections with KidSport members and staff through engaging events and staying flexible with both phone and in-person interviews with stakeholders and community members.

Rising Together through Story

Halem Hrizai, Noor Imran, Tobi Olanipekun, and Kezia Wong worked on a community project called “Rising Together through Story.” This storytelling workshop, in partnership with Newcomer Employment and Educational Development Services (NEEDS), aimed to help NEEDS students feel empowered to share their backgrounds, connect with their peers, and deepen their sense of belonging.

The workshop comprised two interactive, art-based activities that asked students to share the story of their name and reflect on what makes them feel at home. To ensure this workshop could be offered by others in the future, the group prepared a manual for NEEDS that outlines activity instructions and further recommendations for facilitators.

Mission Possible

Kelly Laybolt, Briana Oliver, Erin Sinclair, and Tooba Razi devised a community project that aims to address food insecurity among older adults (55+) in Manitoba. They partnered with Norwest Co-op Community Health and created a comprehensive, accessible resource pamphlet that lists local food programs and services.

Laybolt explains that despite the simplicity of the solution, the impact and learning were significant for this project. “It is important to listen to the needs of your target group. Had we approached our stakeholder with a completed plan and remained married to that idea, our leadership project would have been ineffective,” he says.

Through meaningful conversation and reflection, the team executed on a clear, targeted project to help centralize information about food resources to community members in need.

Fantastic Four Community Cookbook

Jenel James, Sahil Lekhi, Ayushi Pattharwala, and Ariel Wilcox worked together to create a cookbook that showcases a diverse collection of healthy, affordable, and simple recipes, all contributed by members of Manitoba’s immigrant communities. In addition to recipes, the cookbook provides practical resources for newcomers, including tips on navigating local food marketing, understanding nutritional labels, and making sustainable food choices.

The group is excited to continue this culinary work with a cooking class in collaboration with the Immigrant Centre that features contributors from the book.

Housed at the Asper School of Business, the James W. Burns Leadership Institute at UM has been shaping the next generation of leaders through this flagship program since 2019. Learn more about PSLP, Manitoba’s premier postsecondary leadership program, today.

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