As is so often the case, our students develop strong connections to York University during their tenure on campus. Whether their York experience was defined by an academic mentor, a favourite subject or their fellow students, it is important that these relationships are allowed to carry forward far beyond the convocation stage.
Thanks to the work of groups like the MES York Planning Alumni Committee and York’s growing Alumni Networks program, these connections are turning into long-lasting ways for grads to continue their relationship with the University community and make an impact on the next generation of students.
Commonly known as MYPAC, the Network was formed in 2004 by several York alumni, students, and faculty members with a mandate to bring alumni and friends of the Faculty of Environmental Studies’ MES Planning Program from across the GTA together in the spirit of reconnecting and building a stronger community that grads could rally around and benefit from.
According to MYPAC Chair Ruth Rendon, they are succeeding. “The MYPAC Network has been an incredible tool towards our aim of raising the profile of our program at York and across the professional planning community. With the dedication of our committee members and volunteers supporting our efforts throughout the years, we’ve been able to turn what was originally a modest undertaking into a passionate community connected by an utmost passion for furthering environmental and social justice.”
The cornerstone of MYPAC’s programming is the annual alumni planning social event, which attracts a variety of planning industry alumni, students and friends to network and share ideas. The event has been held in a new and unique Toronto venue each summer, including the Shangri-La Hotel, the Gardiner Museum and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is an important opportunity for alumni to connect with other alumni, students and faculty members.
And despite its name, the Network’s Vice Chair, Adam Zendel, shared that current and future students have become a vital component in MYPAC’s overall impact.
“Thanks to the generous donations of our sponsors, not only are we able to engage FES students in the professional community through the annual alumni event, but we have been active in funding student initiatives, events and scholarship programs, including our MYPAC mentorship program and speaker series. We sit in a prime position to support current students at York and to contribute to the next generation of planners, and that’s exactly the impact we hope to continue having for years to come.”
| ALUMNI NETWORKS
With a growing community of nearly 300,000 grads located around the world in more than 170 countries, we know how difficult it can be to stay connected to York after graduation. That’s where our alumni networks program comes in! No matter where you’re located, alumni networks are a great way of getting involved with York and tapping into our vast community – they can be organized by common interest, geographic region (both local and abroad) or faculty/academic program. Alumni networks provide many valuable experiences for grads – they offer you a chance to develop a career path, to build relationships with fellow alumni and to create opportunities for future involvement with York and the broader community. Networks and their leadership play an important role as ambassadors for the University – they are an essential part of successful awareness campaigns, advocacy programs and student recruitment. For more information about how to join an existing alumni network like MYPAC or start your own, visit alumniandfriends.yorku.ca/networks. |
This impact wouldn’t be possible without the Alumni Networks Program, organized through the University’s Alumni Relations department (see right for more information).
“With the support of the team at York, particularly in the areas of promotion, visibility and organizational best practices, we’re able to fulfill our mandate with ease and focus,” shares Rendon. “I encourage any alumni interested in bringing likeminded grads together with the hope of building communities like ours to make use of York’s Networks Program. Though MYPAC may have started out small, our impact is now being felt through the University community – and the same can be true for you!”
As for the future, Zendel says that MYPAC has their sights set on new ways of thinking to only amplify their impact. “Now that we know what’s possible, the Network is poised to continue growing. With more and more alumni joining our ranks each and every year, we hope to continue bringing on new members who bring new ideas and new energy to MYPAC and all that it does.”
If you’re interested in learning more about MYPAC, joining the Network or attending their upcoming alumni social event on June 23, visit mypac.blog.yorku.ca.