Migrant Systems Change Leadership Certificate

By focusing on transforming the systems we are in, we will gain an understanding of how rules, norms, relationships, and ways of thinking can create long-term, meaningful change. We will explore concepts such as equity, power, racial justice, Indigenous rights, decolonization, solidarity, and collective liberation.

Application

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Who is this program for?

We welcome racialized refugees, newcomers and migrants of all backgrounds and experiences, regardless of status including (but not limited to): students, artists, activists, organizers, elders, disabled people, settlement workers, unemployed people, parents, and beyond. 

We invite you to apply if you:

  • Are a racialized refugee, newcomer, or migrant 
  • Are 19 years old or older
  • Are based in British Columbia 
  • Want to understand and address systemic issues like racism, power, inequity, credential recognition, language barriers, detention, or exclusion
  • Want to build strong, inclusive communities and grow a support network
  • Value working towards collective liberation and building solidarity in your communities
  • Are able to attend all in-person  and online sessions from September 2025 to January 2026
  • Can commit a minimum of two to four hours per month in addition to the sessions
  • Can communicate in conversational English (at this time, we can only offer this program in English)

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns, or are unsure if this is the right program for you, contact the Refugee Livelihood Lab team at mscl@sfu.ca.

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Applications have now closed

The program starts on Friday, September 12, 2025 until Saturday, January 17, 2026. 

We will not ask about your status or need any other formal documents from you. If you are undocumented or have concerns/challenges applying for any reason, please email us at mscl@sfu.ca

The Refugee Livelihood Lab team is in solidarity with the elderly, newcomers, refugees, undocumented people, Indigenous people, Black people, people of all religious faiths, racialized people, English language learners, drug users, sex workers, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, young people, people with no to low income, parents, caretakers, disabled people including people who live with mental and physical illnesses.

We encourage you to share the identities you carry with us, and we also understand that there will be other identities you may not feel open to share at this time, or ever.

We hope to create a space that welcomes and celebrates all identities, while also acknowledging we are all learning how to be in better relations with each other. We will make unintentional mistakes, or be uninformed about certain identities, and we will work together to address those gaps in our collective conditioning.

Dates, location, and time commitment

The program begins on Friday, September 12, 2025 until Saturday, January 17, 2026.

Participants are required to attend all in-person and online sessions. In-person sessions will take place in the Lower Mainland. Support for transportation may be available.

In-person:

Location in Lower Mainland to be confirmed.

  • First gathering: Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 9am to 5pm
  • Mid-point gathering: Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22, 2025 from 9am to 5pm
  • Final gathering: Friday, January 16 and Saturday, January 17, 2026 from 9am to 5pm

Online:

  • Every other Tuesday from 6:00 to 9:00pm: September 23, October 7, October 21, November 4, November 18, December 2, December 16
  • Every other Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm: September 26, October 10, October 24, November 7, December 5, December 19, January 9

Dates in order:

  • In-person: Friday, September 12, 2025 | 9am to 5pm
  • In-person: Saturday, September 13, 2025 | 9am to 5pm
  • Online: Tuesday, September 23 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, September 26 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Tuesday, October 7 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, October 10 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Tuesday, October 21 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, October 24 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Tuesday, November 4 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, November 7 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Tuesday, November 18 | 6 to 9pm
  • In-person: Friday, November 21 | 9am to 5pm
  • In-person: Saturday, November 22 | 9am to 5pm
  • Online: Tuesday, December 2 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, December 5 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Tuesday, December 16 | 6 to 9pm
  • Online: Friday, December 19 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Online: Friday, January 9 | 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • In-person: Friday, January 16 | 9am to 5pm
  • In-person: Saturday, January 17 | 9am to 5pm

Participants can expect to spend approximately two to three hours bi-weekly in addition to attending the sessions to complete optional tasks.

Past cohorts

RADIUS Refugee Livelihood Lab

Migrant Systems Change Leadership Certificate Program

RADIUS Refugee Livelihood Lab

Beyond Borders Program