Bringing community solutions to the world stage

Reflections of Morocco

By Sara Cumming, Executive Director, Home Suite Hope

This July, I had the privilege of representing not only Sheridan College but also the values we uphold at Home Suite Hope (HSH) on the international stage.

I travelled to Rabat, Morocco to present at the International Sociology Association (ISA) Forum, where I led a session titled ‘Clinical Sociology and the Anthropocene: Community Engaged Approaches to Solving Real-World Issues’ and spoke on a panel of Certified Clinical Sociologists exploring how research can be used outside of academia to drive real social change. In my session, I presented on three major applied research projects I’ve been leading at Sheridan that align closely with our mission at HSH:

• The Life Skills Project – A collaborative effort that brought together multiple faculties and partners to support vulnerable populations across the GTHA in building transferable life skills essential for economic self-sufficiency.

• Africa at Work – A CiCanfunded initiative connecting Sheridan and Niagara College with 26

institutions in Kenya. This project focused on mentoring educators and administrators—especially women—as they work toward gender equity in education and leadership.

• Pathways to Potential – Our newest Community Ideas Factory initiative, which builds innovative,

community-driven solutions to reduce barriers and foster socio-economic

inclusion.

All three projects are grounded in Community Engaged Research, a powerful approach that listens to and works with communities—not for them— to create sustainable, locally informed change. The parallels to our work at Home Suite Hope are strong: we know that meaningful solutions are built with the people they’re meant to support.

Beyond the conference, I had the chance to explore 11 incredible regions across Morocco. The scenery was breathtaking, the food unforgettable, and the people endlessly generous and

kind.

One of the most powerful takeaways was witnessing the juxtaposition between rural life and the presence of modern technology. In small villages, you’ll see donkeys and motorbikes sharing the roads, while smartphones are used for education, small business, and staying connected to the world. It was a strong reminder that innovation takes many forms, and that solutions must be grounded in local context—a principle that guides both our research and our work at Home Suite Hope every day.