Participating in MOSAIC’s SCOPE program has been a meaningful and enriching experience that strengthened my civic knowledge and understanding as a newcomer in Canada. The program deepened my awareness of civic engagement, community systems, and the role individuals and organizations play in fostering inclusive and active communities. Through SCOPE, I developed and strengthened key skills such as civic literacy, community engagement, cross-cultural communication, and collaborative leadership. These learnings have directly supported my current role as Manager of Women’s Leadership and Development Programs at PIRS, where I design and oversee initiatives that empower newcomer women to build leadership skills, confidence, and active participation in community life. The program has enhanced my ability to integrate civic engagement principles into program development and delivery, ensuring that our initiatives are more inclusive, informed, and responsive to community needs. It has also strengthened my approach to fostering spaces where women can connect, lead, and engage meaningfully in civic and social opportunities. Overall, SCOPE has contributed to my professional growth by reinforcing my civic understanding and equipping me with practical insights that I actively apply in my leadership role to support women’s empowerment and community integration.

When I landed in Canada three-and-a-half years ago, my world revolved around lab benches and data tables. I never imagined myself guiding a nonprofit team or sitting on a board, yet SCOPE changed that trajectory completely. The program unpacked the essentials of board governance and community-centred leadership in ways that felt both practical and empowering. While serving as a Board Member with the Zimbabwe Cultural Society of BC (Dec 2023 – Dec 2024), I found SCOPE’s tools helpful in drafting policy, leading strategic discussions, and honouring cultural heritage in a diverse province. Today, as Site Manager/Operations Administrator at MOSAIC BC Highgate Location, I draw on those same skills every day. Coordinating staff, interpreting service data, and keeping a busy community hub running smoothly. SCOPE showed me how my scientific mindset could blend with people-focused leadership, giving me the confidence to step forward and serve. If you’re wondering whether SCOPE is worth your time, I’ll say this: it transformed a forensic scientist into a community leader. Let it open doors for you, too.

My name is Andrea Pabon. I’m originally from Colombia and currently work as a Project Administrative Assistant in Vancouver. When I arrived in Canada a little over a year ago, I didn’t really know how to get involved in the country’s social and community life. The SCOPE program taught me something essential that every newcomer should know: how to actively participate in your community, especially by serving on boards and committees of nonprofit organizations and understanding how these spaces work. What I valued most was being part of a community that empowers you, encourages you, and helps you find a space where your voice is heard and appreciated, where your professional experience and the knowledge you bring from your home country truly matter. The space I found was the Young Leaders Council at YMCA BC in Vancouver, where I collaborate with other young leaders to design professional development initiatives and support youth empowerment across the Y. I truly hope everyone who goes through SCOPE also finds that space where they can speak up, build confidence, and keep growing. Because SCOPE is just the beginning, but it’s the best kind of beginning.

I have been on two boards before participating in the SCOPE program, but I never really had a good grasp of the responsibilities of a board director. However, after engaging in the SCOPE program, I feel a lot more competent and confident in my ability to take up any board responsibilities. Currently, I am a board director for Nature Kids and newly appointed Chairperson for the 111 Pegasus Sponsoring Committee.

The SCOPE program provided me with excellent preparation on intercultural diversity and inclusion and board fundamentals to serve and participate as a board member. Through the kind guidance and support from SCOPE’s staff, I could become a Board Member of the Umbrella Multicultural Health Co-Op and help to deliver culturally-appropriate health care to newcomers and immigrants. I recommend the SCOPE program to anyone willing to add a diverse and inclusive perspective to a Board of Directors and enrich its purposes to serve multicultural communities.