OPIRG McMaster Board Election
2023-2024 Board Nominees
As someone who has previously served as a Board Director for OPIRG McMaster, I am excited to re-apply for the position of Resource Centre Coordinator. I have re-started the archives project and helped with the redesign of the archives space. I have greatly enjoyed my time working with opirg and I hope to continue. My passion for social and environmental justice aligns with OPIRG McMaster’s mission. I believe that my commitment to these causes will motivate me to fulfill the responsibilities of this role.
I have focused much of my community involvement on advocating for mental health awareness and accessibility. As a Pakistani immigrant, I have experienced firsthand the impact of cultural attitudes on the well-being of minority communities. I created a safe space for exploration and education on this issue as the president of my high school Jack.org Chapter, where I recruited and trained 21 eager student leaders and, alongside their efforts, coordinated campaigns addressing the mental health of BIPOC communities. In this role, I have learned the value of diverse perspectives in addressing stigma, fostering open and honest conversations, and creating a culture of acceptance. I have also gained experience in administration through planning and leading team meetings, updating meeting notes, and facilitating communication between students, staff and community members.
During the pandemic, I advocated for improved access to essential services through a project with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, investigating the accessibility policies of local businesses and working with them to accommodate the blind and partially sighted community. This role has allowed me to better understand and empathize with the experiences of diverse communities and strengthened my commitment to social justice.
To continue my involvement in research, education, and action-based initiatives, I became involved as a board member for OPIRG during the 2022-2023 school year. I have collaborated with a team of 12 board members to support individuals with initiatives including fundraising for earthquake relief, promoting sustainable period products, and empowering students on campus. Furthermore, as the secretary, I have helped oversee the transparency and organization of weekly board meetings and minutes. I aim to bring these skills and values to continue supporting OPIRG’s mission as a board member for the 2023-2024 school year by fulfilling the secretary portfolio.
Hello! I’m Bohmee, and I am finishing my second year in the Arts & Science Program. I am nominating myself as a board member for OPIRG to fill the role of the Outreach Coordinator portfolio. Growing up, I always loved exploring fair-trade stores like Ten Thousand Villages to learn about stories of the diverse groups of people from around the world. I am a big fan of stories as they are a great way to learn more about others’ experiences in the shared world. Listening to these stories is especially important for understanding social justice and environmental issues. I recently co-started an OPIRG-funded Social Justice and Environmentalism book club that focuses on Asian immigrant and refugee voices to continue sharing my passion for listening to and advocating for unheard stories. I have also been working with the Aletheia Arts & Science Academic Journal and Incite as a graphic designer to share students’ stories and help them connect with the larger McMaster community. Through these experiences, I have gained active and empathetic listening skills which I think will be valuable when working with other students to take action on diverse social justice and environmental issues. Additionally, my experiences have helped me find creative ways to support an organization’s mission and its communities, a skill I think will be valuable as the Outreach Coordinator when planning outreach initiatives to promote OPIRG McMaster.
I am also currently working with the OPIRG Community Garden as the Junior Coordinator to grow an AMAZING!! garden and advocate for food justice and sustainable eating on-campus/in Hamilton. My experience has been a great opportunity to gain valuable outreach, organizational, and leadership skills that I think will be useful as a member of the OPIRG board.
In the past few years, I have had the invaluable opportunity to work on provincial campaigns for some of the issues that I care about most. As a community organizer for Fridays for Future Toronto, I rallied for climate justice and mobilized young people to engage in community activism and democracy. This was not only a chance to work on the issues that mattered to me, like fossil fuel divestment and anti-oppression initiatives, but a chance to understand the importance of community work and advocacy. I learned that sometimes, the only way to fix a system’s problems is to change the minds of the people in it. After volunteering for my community’s sexual assault crisis center for a couple of years, I also began working on a campaign to make contraceptives free for all Ontarians. This marked a watershed moment, when I realized that I could help fix some of the problems that I was witnessing in my community.
Last year, I was able to join the board and learn about the ins and outs of OPIRG McMaster. OPIRG is a beautiful example of how grassroots movements can work to enact change. Some of the public interest projects that they have supported, like Mac Divest, show the steps that students can take to help solve the massive problems in front of us. Working in similar organizing positions, I know that being able to bolster the passions of others can be an incredibly effective way to support causes that are important to you. Thus, I would be deeply interested in working on the Public Interests Project portfolio as a member of the Board, where I can encourage my peers to pursue their own passion projects. I truly believe that my passion for social issues and my experience working to solve them would make me an excellent candidate for the OPIRG Board of Directors.
As someone who is passionate about social justice and community advocacy, I believe that my experiences align well with the responsibilities of being an OPIRG McMaster Board Director. My previous involvement in various clubs and groups, including the Somali club at McMaster and the Find Your Path program, has allowed me to develop valuable skills such as leadership, communication, and community engagement. These experiences have allowed me to develop a deep understanding of the concerns and needs of equity-deserving groups, which would be beneficial in developing programs and initiatives that prioritize marginalized communities. Additionally, my involvement with Brain Waves McMaster has allowed me to develop my communication and outreach skills, which could be useful in promoting OPIRG’s initiatives and engaging with the broader community.
My previous experiences in advocacy and campaign work have given me a strong understanding of how to build coalitions, engage with community stakeholders, and mobilize people around shared goals. For example, as a volunteer with a local community organization, I helped to organize a successful campaign to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities in our area. Through this campaign, we were able to engage a broad cross-section of the community and generate significant media attention for our cause.
Overall, I believe that my experiences and affiliations align well with OPIRG McMaster’s values and mission, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the organization as a Board Director.
I am incredibly passionate about empowering students and community members to advocate for social and environmental issues that matter to them through providing education, tools, and resources to the McMaster community.
I am very committed to supporting and inspiring others, exemplified through my position as an Environmental Education Intern at Green Venture, where I mentored high school students completing stewardship projects, and through several SUSTAIN TA positions, where I helped students foster their passion for sustainable action and leadership. In 2021, I helped organize and facilitate the McMaster Climate Strike, encouraging McMaster to divest from fossil fuels. After the strike, I helped develop and coordinate the Student Sustainability Ambassador Program to support collaboration between sustainability-related clubs on campus and increase students’ awareness of sustainability at McMaster. Finally, I participated in the WACE Global Challenge and developed global leadership skills by working with an interdisciplinary team of students across the globe to assist a client in increasing sustainable impact and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The board portfolio I would like to nominate myself for is the Outreach Portfolio, which has been my role at OPIRG for the past year. My experience on the board has strengthened my communication, promotional, problem-solving, and leadership skills. Throughout the past year, I helped support internal work that refined board processes and operations to better reflect our mission and values and deliver the best programming and resources to the community. This year, I hope to conduct outreach through more events and class talks to inform more students about the ways that OPIRG can help them and welcome them into a community passionate about social justice and the environment. Ultimately, my experiences have helped me develop skills, passion, and knowledge regarding sustainability and community-led action, which has helped prepare me perfectly for this role.
I am a hardworking individual with a strong belief in collectively working towards positive change. I would love for the opportunity to be on OPIRG’s board of directors because I believe an organization that works to aid their community, the environment, as well as many forms of social justice is essential, and I would like to help the cause in any way that I can. I have experience working with OPIRG, having been a member of the board all this year. OPIRG’s mission and what I hope to achieve working in this role go hand in hand. If I am elected, I promise to help this community in any way that I can, specifically by working to keep the resource center the most welcoming and functional place that it can be.
My name is Inaam Chattha, and I am in my third year of Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization. I am interested in running for the OPIRG Board of Directors as I bring a comprehensive set of skills and experiences that I believe will be valuable to the organization. I have been on the board for the last 2 years which has provided me with a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the organization’s operations, goals, and challenges. This knowledge and experience make me a stronger candidate for re-election for several reasons. As a previous board member, I have gained experience and knowledge that is valuable to the organization. This includes understanding the organization’s mission, strategy, financials, and internal processes. This experience will help me make informed decisions, offer valuable insights, and provide leadership to the board and the organization as a whole. Over time, I also have built relationships with other board members, staff, and public interest projects. These relationships will help me collaborate effectively and build consensus around important decisions. I have also developed a reputation for being reliable and committed to the tasks assigned.
I am extremely passionate about community issues, specifically environment-related matters. I am a part of two public interest projects at McMaster that attempt to raise awareness about the significance of sustainability and lowering one’s carbon footprint. I am also a part of the Ocean Bridge program organized by Ocean Wise Canada and the Community Water Leader program designed by the Bay Area Restoration Council. These experiences have allowed me to fathom the importance of taking action and the impact small changes can create. Being on the board of directors will enable me to encourage more students to advocate for grave issues that they feel ardently about. All these experiences have shaped me as an individual and empowered me to be involved in issues that I profoundly care about. I firmly believe that my passion and willingness to create a difference will propel OPIRG’s mission of creating a better world.
I am excited to express my interest in being part of the OPIRG McMaster Board of Directors. Throughout my academic and professional experiences, I have developed a strong passion for advocating for marginalized communities and promoting social justice. I believe that these values align closely with the mission and goals of the OPIRG, and I am committed to contributing my skills and experiences to the success of the club.
My background in social work (volunteering with underserved children and at the local hospital) combined with my academic experience (being a wet lab researcher and science tutor) has prepared me to take on the responsibilities of a board member. Mentoring below-poverty line children showed me the importance of caring for minorities and underrepresented families. I have also been the Research and Advocacy coordinator for OPIRG for over a year and a half and have had the opportunity to help the homeless and tackle social issues in Hamilton
Through my experiences, I have also developed strong leadership and communication skills.. This is why I believe I will be a good fit, particularly for the outreach & promotions or public interest projects board portfolios.
As an executive, I am committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration within the club. I believe that by working together and leveraging the diverse perspectives of our members, we can make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.
I am currently splitting my time as the OPIRG Treasurer and as a Climate Risk Intern at Wells Fargo. I want to learn about the role financial markets are going to play in addressing climate change. I also want to learn about how I can make positive change through direct action. I believe my lived experiences and my desire to support direct action will allow me to continue my responsibilities as a board member!
Hi OPIRG! With my dedication to supporting others and my interest in research and advocacy, I am hoping to become a Public Interest Projects Coordinator. As the previous Secretary of the Board, during my break due to a busy semester, these are the things I miss about being part of the Board of Directors:
(1) Impact. Being part of OPIRG is the opportunity to be part of one of the largest forces for meaningful change at the university. During my term off, I have supported my peers in MacDivest to accomplish multiple rallies and a hunger strike. This has given me a better sense of what PIPs are capable of and the resources they need to have the biggest impact.
(2) Collaboration. Even though we all had our own portfolios, being on the Board means supporting each other whether it was working in smaller teams to go over applications for support (one of my favourite parts), or brainstorming ideas together. Every aspect of OPIRG I have been involved in has meant close collaboration, whether it be planning and running a book club on Asian authors with Bohmee, volunteering with others in the Community Garden, or introducing students to OPIRG in the Resource Centre.
(3) Opportunities to step out of my comfort zone and develop new skills. As one of the volunteer exec liaisons, it was a great chance for me to learn how to help manage and work with a much larger team (I also learned how to use Teams)! I am excited to take what we have learned this past year and use these lessons to form some exciting plans for the coming year!
Taking what I have learned from Divest, I would love for the Board to become even more hands-on with student activism. Here’s to community-driven change!
I have served as a board member for OPIRG McMaster since April 2021. I have helped lead the organization through many changes during this time. In my first year, I worked with the staff and Board of Directors to navigate the pandemic by adapting OPIRG’s programming. This year, I assisted in restructuring our volunteer program, redefining board and staff responsibilities, creating partnerships through the Experiential Learning Program, and beginning the process of renovating our resource centre.
I am proud of the progress that OPIRG has made in the previous two years. I am seeking a seat on the Board of Directors for 2023-2024 to build upon this progress. I want to help OPIRG realize its vision of becoming a hub for activism and grassroots action on campus.
This year, the Board significantly restructured its internal processes. I want to continue this work by undertaking strategic planning with the Board over the summer to identify our top priorities and create a year-long programming calendar. Much of OPIRG’s work this year was externally focused; initiatives like the Application for Support program and the Experiential Learning Program helped build important community partnerships. Next year, I hope to sustain these partnerships while focusing more of our attention inwards. Restructuring the Application for Support program will help OPIRG fund the most relevant and impactful initiatives. Committing more of our resources towards OPIRG-led programming and workshops—spearheaded by staff, volunteers, and through our annual Fair Trade Fest—will allow us to reach and support a new generation of activists on campus.
As an undergraduate student and community member, OPIRG has been an invaluable resource: a place to share ideas, learn from others, and find community. As a board member, I want to make OPIRG that amazing place for as many people as possible.
Election Information
Our elections will be taking April 12/23 at our OPIRG McMaster AGM, on April 12 at 6:00 pm at Burke Science Building Room 104.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at board@opirgmcmaster.org!
All full-time undergraduates at McMaster who have not opted out of OPIRG McMaster, and paid community memberships, are eligible to vote.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our Chief Returning Officer at cro@opirgmcmaster.org
Important Dates
- Nomination Period: March 22 to March 29, 2023
- Voting and Annual General Meeting: April 12, 2023