How Apolline de Schaetzen’s Work Learn experience gave her a deeper appreciation for the Downtown Eastside and the folks who taught her how to play a guitar solo.
November 16, 2023
Name: Apolline de Schaetzen
Pronouns: She/her
Learning Exchange role: Student Learning and Animating Connections Assistant
Current location:
Faculty: Arts
Program: International Relations
Hometown: Port Moody
- How did you hear about or get involved with the UBC Learning Exchange (LE)?
I heard about it through my Art Studies class (ASTU 100) in my first year at UBC. Community engagement was a large part of the course, so students had the chance to participate in numerous workshops held at the LE. One of the projects was with its Making Research Accessible Initiative (MRAi), where students summarized academically dense research into accessible infographics. This gave me a taste of the LE’s work and I knew I wanted to learn more. So, when the LE’s Work Learn positions were posted, I applied to nearly all of them and was pleasantly surprised when I got an interview for the Student Learning and Animating Connections Assistant. - What did you do at the Learning Exchange?
Once I had gotten to know more community members in the LE’s Drop-In, I brought back weekly Guitar Circles! These were weekly jam sessions where folks in the Drop-In played songs, shared original compositions, and helped each other with skills like scales, chords and strumming. I learned a lot of new songs and guitar skills such as soloing thanks to them. I’m really proud of this because it felt very “Learning Exchange”—we all learned from each other.Otherwise, every day was unique. For example, the LE has materials that help students understand the Downtown Eastside from a strengths-based point of view. My first project was to create a discussion guide for each episode of the Communities Within a Community podcast series that a previous Work Learn student, Theresa Wong, created. I also updated Neighbourhood Walk guides that highlight asset-based organizations and strengths in the DTES. This required much trial and error and interacting with the community to ensure routes, locations and explanations were meaningful.
- What did you know about the Downtown Eastside and did your understanding change? If so, how?
Prior to coming to the LE, I did not hold the usual stereotypes on the Downtown Eastside and I understood the importance of working with the community from an asset-based approach thanks to my ASTU 100 class. What the LE exposed for me was how diverse the community is compared to the way it is usually portrayed in the news. Even more importantly, the LE allowed me to experience the innovative, lively and caring aspects of the community—things that the media typically fail to highlight. It was an honour, and the knowledge I have gained from some of its members will stay with me forever. - How did your experience at the Learning Exchange influence your academic and/or career path?
My experience at the LE only further reinforced my desire to pursue a career as a human rights lawyer. Working with this community when injustices like the Hastings Street sweeps happened confirmed for me the importance of representation for vulnerable people to avoid abuses of power. I saw how these sweeps put significant strain on community members and social services and it was heartbreaking. After getting to know some of the community’s innovative initiatives, culturally diverse centres, art organizations and social enterprises, it became obvious that the city needs to create more space for the community to flourish. Witnessing the community’s resilience in the face of neglect and systemic inequalities fuelled my desire to work towards a career that works with community to protect the city’s most marginalized people. - What do you think the Learning Exchange may have learned from you?
I think the LE may have learned from me that music can be used as a powerful form of community building. I truly believe in the power of learning, as we saw many patrons sit in on our jam sessions who were initially reluctant to pick up a guitar but then eventually gained the confidence to try. By building a safe space where any skill level was accepted, we were able to create a unique learning experience where everyone harnessed their own skill set to help each other out—all because of the unifying nature of music. I hope music will continue to be a part of the LE as it is the greatest gift to share.