With a strong passion for social justice and experience in activism and community networks, Manjeet's doctoral research focuses on improving the status and inclusion of racialized and Indigenous women and girls in civil society organizations.
Research Description
I have had over ten years of experience working as a community organizer locally, nationally and internationally. Over my time in these organizations I have observed how racialized and Indigenous girls are often marginalized in community justice spaces, despite the high numbers of violence, isolation and adversities they face. Despite the intentions of these organizations racialized and Indigenous girls continue to fall through the cracks in mainstream organizations leading to higher rates of violence, death and suicide. This project becomes even more imperative as the world’s population majority falls in the global south with racialized and Indigenous girls. As we continue to fail these girls our future becomes more dismal. Ultimately through this project I seek to create real world implication with guidelines for better, more inclusive, sustainable programs for racialized and Indigenous girls locally and abroad.
What does being a Public Scholar mean to you?
Being a public scholar is an important opportunity to bridge community engagement with academic scholarship in meaningful ways to create social change.
In what ways do you think the PhD experience can be re-imagined with the Public Scholars Initiative?
Many scholars are already working with communities creating change. It is my hope that with program such as the Public Scholars Initiative, students who may not have considered the real world implications of their projects will reconsider the ways they can meaningfully contribute - ultimately creating a climate where all students will be working on projects that can directly translate to life outside the academy.
How do you envision connecting your PhD work with broader career possibilities?
This project will create opportunities for me to better understand the work that I did before beginning my program. The skills I have gained in this program will create new opportunities for me to work in communities.
How does your research engage with the larger community and social partners?
The basis of this research is working within non-profit organizations whose work support racialized and Indigenous girls and women.
Why did you decide to pursue a graduate degree?
I wanted to pursue a graduate degree because it would give me an opportunity to carefully consider the challenges of working in non-profit organizations, and to think through viable solutions of change.
I seek to create ... guidelines for better, more inclusive, sustainable programs for racialized and Indigenous girls locally and abroad.
