Reflections on my summer Practicum Placement with CDLI
By Evert Dzemua
It is hard to believe that I have come to the end of my four month long MSW placement with CDLI. Where did the time go? I can still sense the fear that gripped me when COVID-19 hit and the University made the decision that all placements were going virtual. For days I could not form an image of a virtual placement in my mind, let alone think of a workplace that would be able to accommodate such a request. Then the news came through the University that carya was able to host a student placement. Although relieved to know that there was an organization that was willing to get into this unchartered territory while navigating the waves of the pandemic, it was hard to imagine how I would make this work while residing in Yellowknife – hundreds of miles away from Calgary. Fast forward four months and I am still not sure how this happened but I leave the placement with lessons that have forever changed my life as a person and as a social work professional.
Like an idea whose time has come, my placement took place in the middle of the pandemic and amidst the rising of the anti-Black racism movement all over the world. And the CDLI trusted me – a student - with its equity and decolonization work. We were not quite sure where this would lead to but I started by doing an environmental scan of Calgary and Alberta as whole to see what or who was already working in this area. This then led to the identification of partners for this project and then to the recruitment of new team members. It is with so much pride that I look back and see how much we have been able to accomplish in just a few weeks. The work was renamed Anti-Racism and Decolonization and from it evolved the storytelling and the stages of change initiatives – the results of which will gradually be made public in the coming days.
Through this placement:
I have come to understand the importance of leadership in accomplishment. Amanda’s (program lead) leadership style was definitely the key to what we were able to accomplish. Not only was she able to identify the strengths of each team member, she trusted in our ability to do the work and provided support and/or coaching when the need arose. I learnt a lot from her about leadership
Team work took a different meaning. I have been opportune to work in various teams but this team gave a different meaning/feel to the concept of teamwork and/or team cohesion. It felt like we all belonged and had always been. It felt okay to be vulnerable and to expect nothing but support and understanding. It felt like “community”.
I was able to finally embark on the journey of discovering and defining my identity. As a Canadian of African descent and one who has and continues to experience firsthand the impact of racism and colonization, the Anti-Racism and Decolonization work became very personal to me and has certainly given me a new perspective on life.
I leave this placement with a completely different mindset from what I went in with. I feel much more sure of who and what I am. And this all thanks to the wonderful team of people that supported me through this placement. Thank you, Joe, Amanda, Noor and Lionel for your contributions to this new me. A big thank you to all CDLI partners who were part of my journey.