The REDI Award

The CHR's REDI Award recognizes students who are committed to building a respectful, equitable, diverse and inclusive (REDI) community and to advancing, promoting and upholding human rights at York. Check out our 2015 awardees!

The Award

The award recipient will receive a $250 gift certificate to the York University Book Store and a certificate at the CHR’s Inclusion Day Conference in January 2016. The recipient will be profiled on the CHR's website and on Yfile.

Criteria

The candidate must have within the past three years:

  • Demonstrated leadership in advancing, promoting and upholding human rights at York;
  • Supported initiatives that seek to build or enhance a respectful, equitable, diverse and inclusive community at York (such as committee work, student involvement or engagement in York-based community partnerships);  and/or
  • Conducted research that contributes to building or enhancing a respectful, equitable, diverse and inclusive community.

Nominations should demonstrate how the candidates align with the following:

  • Initiative: The nominee spearheads one or more initiatives (e.g. project, event, research, group, revival of a group, etc.) in the area of human rights and social justice at York University
  • Commitment: The nominee engages in one or more pan-university committee, student group, or initiative that focuses on a human rights/social justice cause (e.g. volunteering, student activities, student clubs, research, demonstrations, etc.).
  • Communications & Advocacy: The nominee demonstrates strong advocacy skills for a human rights/social justice cause (e.g. written articles, conducted speeches, written course papers, presented at conferences, social media participation, etc.).
  • Collaboration: The nominee builds an array of relationships and networks around a human rights/social justice matter (faculty, students, staff, external York relations, etc.).
  • Change: The results of this person’s activities have led to a change in policy or procedures, increased engagement or awareness of human rights related issues, or has otherwise benefited/improved the York community substantively in the area of human rights.

Eligibility

The candidate must be a current full or part time graduate or undergraduate student at York (incl. international students)

Nomination Guidelines

Candidates are nominated by someone they know who is responsible for assembling the nomination package that includes:

  1.  A completed nomination form.
  2.  A 500-word essay outlining how the candidate matches the criteria above; and
  3.  An additional 2 supporting letters from other parties outlining how the candidate meets the above criteria in 500 words or less.

Deadline for applications

The call for nominations will occur around August-September of each year with submissions due at the end of October each year.

Please note:

  • The nomination package should not include any confidential documents such as student performance ratings or evaluations.
  • Before the award is granted, the winner will be contacted for their permission to proceed.

York's Commitment

The Award contributes to York's deep and ongoing commitment to:

  • Social justice and equity and a profound desire to make post-secondary education accessible to the various individuals and communities it serves.
  • Cultivating an engaged learning and research environment.
  • Deepening the understanding of global issues that face our communities and the development of solutions to those issues through research and analysis.
  • Recognizing the work of students on campus and in community for the value they bring to these spaces and the special opportunities and responsibilities that arise from the University’s setting -- placed within a uniquely dynamic, metropolitan and multi-cultural milieu.
  • Fostering the capacity of community members  to contribute to a democratic society.
  • Interdisciplinarity and the pursuit of innovative initiatives and approaches
  • Sustaining both its academic programs and its practices as a community.

For more information, please email Regan.