Kwantlen to host 'speed dating' for non-profits

Every time a bell rings ... a non-profit organization in Richmond has a chance to get help.

"If speed-dating had an application in the charity world, this would be it," said Kwantlen Polytechnic University's Larissa Petrillo, referring to the creative matchmaking service she launched this fall for faculty and local non-profits.

An anthropology professor and interim director of KPU's Centre for Interdisciplinary Research: Community Learning Engagement (CIR:CLE), Petrillo wanted to find a way to facilitate the university's community service learning projects while helping the local nonprofits, charities and service groups.

She came up with CIR:CLE Cycle, which invites equal numbers of faculty and representatives of non-profit organizations to come together for an initial meet and greet, followed by more private, one-on-one, threeminute conversations.

During those three minutes, faculty and non-profits share key points about what each does, with the goal of finding some common ground in which they may be able to meet each other's needs.

Once three minutes is up, a bell rings, and both parties move on to their next "speed date."

Petrillo says she decided to use the speeddating model because it's the most efficient use of time, and most non-profit organizations are so busy, they have little time to waste.

At the end of the session, groups and faculty who made a connection exchange contact information for further exploration. Petrillo says matches have been made between non-profit groups and faculty who can provide them with research, marketing and technical assistance, as well as project development. One student even designed a database for the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society.

Insight gathered from the sessions is also used to drive course content.

"Not many universities are doing this yet, so we're really excited to be able to offer this to our community - the opportunities to learn and to help are endless," says Petrillo.

She adds that KPU students will integrate theory with practice, applying their learning through experiential opportunities available in all KPU programs.

This applied learning is key to bridging knowledge into practice and reinforces the role of a polytechnic university in building an inclusive, responsible and future-focused social contract.

Non-profit organizations that would like to take part in the next CIR:CLE Cycle, can

email circle@kpu.ca or phone 604-599-2312. Find out more information about CIR:CLE Cycle, including a short video of last month's session, at www.kpu.ca/circle.