My name is Lucy Barretto, and in September I’ll begin my final year at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in International Development with minors in Indigenous Studies and Social Entrepreneurship. The International Development program at McGill has provided me with the opportunity to explore many fields of study through a diverse array of courses. Over the past three years, my personal interests have evolved, but I have remained passionate about addressing social injustices through creative, systems-based approaches. My focus is on tackling issues related to forced displacement, homelessness, women’s issues, and Indigenous issues. Therefore, when I received an email about Comm-Un's need for summer interns to contribute to their projects in Milton Parc, I was immediately intrigued.
When I began my internship, my learning objectives were to understand more about the ecosystem of homelessness in Montreal including the different actors, organizations, needs, and gaps. I was particularly curious about the multiple disadvantages faced by Indigenous unhoused people in Montreal, as well as Comm-Un’s investments in art as a path to healing. Comm-Un is a diverse collective of individuals who work or live in Milton Parc, including students, street workers, unhoused individuals, academics, activists, and more. Together, we envision an alternative solution to homelessness built on personal relationships, trust, and healing through sharing. Comm-Un does not offer shelter services but provides a safe space for unhoused people and all community members to create art, gather, and share their stories. Additionally, Comm-Un has a street team that addresses immediate intervention needs in Milton Parc Monday-Thursday.
As an intern at Comm-Un, my responsibilities included participating authentically in the art and sharing space, organizing events, creating promotion materials, conducting community outreach, participating in brainstorming meetings, and more. These tasks allowed me to immerse myself in the community and contribute meaningfully to Comm-Un's mission. One highlight of my experience at Comm-Un was organizing an art exhibition that took place over two weeks in June. The exhibition showcased the work that Comm-Un has done in Milton Parc over the past two years, including all the art that has been created and our story of cohabitation and chosen family. This event also marked the end of Comm-Un’s time at 3516 Parc Avenue. Due to a lack of resources and growing neighborhood pressure, Comm-Un relocated its primary activities to a secondary location: an art co-op space in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Rue Rachel. Here, artists can enjoy a safe and collaborative space to engage in various art forms, such as carving, beading, and drawing. In the final days of the exhibition, we hosted a community barbecue that brought together unhoused community members, neighbors, intervention workers, activists, and more. Additionally, a journalist from Montreal City News visited Comm-Un and filmed a segment about our impact and move to the art co-op, which aired on June 17th. Witnessing the true impact that Comm-Un has on the community through individual relationships built on a foundation of care and empathy has been incredibly rewarding.
I am receiving academic credit for my internship at Comm-Un, supervised by Professor Rohini Jalan. In my research paper, I plan to explore conceptualizations of homelessness and compare Comm-Un’s relationship-based approach to that of other social services offered in Montreal. Comm-Un has transformed my university experience by opening the door to numerous opportunities for hands-on experience in a field I am passionate about. Additionally, I have unexpectedly connected with multiple professors at McGill and local organizations through our mutual involvement with Comm-Un. I am incredibly grateful to have received the Goodman Family Internships Award, which has allowed me to support myself this summer by covering my monthly expenses such as rent, transport, and groceries. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation for making my experience this summer possible.
