Skip to main content Skip to local navigation
Connected Minds
Home » Connected-EDI

Connected-EDI

“Justice… is not a static value but an ongoing methodology that can and should be incorporated into tech design. For this reason, too, it is vital that people engaged in tech development partner with those who do important sociocultural work honing narrative tools through the arts, humanities, and social justice organizing.”

​Ruha Benjamin, Race After Technology: Abolitionist Tools for the New Jim Code

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

EDIC MEMBER INITIATED FUND

Click here to apply

AWARD AMOUNT

Up to $5,000

APPLICATION DEADLINE

January 9, 2026

TRANSLATING RESEARCH FROM ENGLISH FOR IMPACT & CONNECTION FUND

Click here to apply

AWARD AMOUNT

Up to $1,500

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Rolling Deadlines

CONNECTED-EDI WORKSHOPS

DEDI and AI in Higher Education: Connected Minds, Connected Communities, Connected Practices

Monday December 8, 2025
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Career Pathways for Interdisciplinary Minds

Postponed for 2026 - stay tuned!

Connected-EDI is focused on sharing the most current resources and event calendar in one space! From research guides to finding exciting research/creation opportunities, the resources below will help with creating and maintaining inclusive spaces across the program.

If the resource you're looking for isn't found below, please contact EDI & Community Outreach Specialist, Andrew Castillo, for additional support.

Help Shape the Future of Engagement at Connected Minds!

We’re excited to launch the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Member Survey, an important opportunity for every member of Connected Minds to share their voice and help shape our collective future.

In partnership with CultureAlly, a leading EDI consulting firm, we’re gathering insights to better understand our community, such as who we are, what’s working well, and where we can continue to grow together. Your input will guide actionable recommendations that strengthen inclusion and belonging across Connected Minds.

Survey Launch: Monday, November 17

Deadline: Friday, December 12

The survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is completely anonymous. All responses will be collected and analyzed by CultureAlly through SurveyMonkey. Connected Minds will not see any individual responses and will only receive summarized, non-identifiable data.

After completing the survey, you can opt in to a prize draw as a thank-you for your time. CultureAlly will randomly select the winners and share only their email addresses with Connected Minds for prize distribution. This means your participation in the draw will never be connected to your survey responses.

Thank you for your continued support!

Frequently Asked Questions

At Connected Minds, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is integral to ensure our members continue to thrive. We are asking for your participation in this EDI survey to gain a deeper understanding of your experiences related to inclusion and equity. Your insights will help us identify areas for improvement and inform recommendations from CultureAlly to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all. Please be assured that your responses are anonymous.

Yes, your answers are completely anonymous. Survey results will be collected and analyzed by our EDI partner, CultureAlly, and shared with Connected Minds in aggregate and non-identifiable form.

Once the survey is complete, CultureAlly will analyze the results to understand the current state of EDI at Connected Minds. They will then highlight areas for improvement to enhance equity and inclusion within our community.

While we encourage all members to participate in the survey, participation is voluntary. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us shape a more inclusive workplace.

Absolutely not. Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary and will not affect your employment in any way. All responses are anonymous and cannot be linked to individual members.

At the end of the survey, you will have the option to schedule a 1:1 interview with a consultant from CultureAlly to share any additional insights. All conversations will remain confidential and anonymous and will be used to further inform key recommendations. We will also be conducting focus groups to gain additional insight throughout the data collection phase. 

RECOGNIZING LEADERS IN THE CONNECTED MINDS COMMUNITY

Connected-EDI wants to celebrate the incredible efforts and achievements of our membership through our Member Highlight program. Learning from others can help inspire your next project or ensure you’re staying up-to-date on the latest better practices in EDI. New members are highlighted every month, perhaps your leadership efforts will be on our site next!

Nomination Package

Rubric Criteria

See Last Month's Monthly Musings Highlight

Frederic Fu

Learn more about York and Queen’s strategic plans to integrate EDI across both institutions, as well as Tri-Council resources for integrating EDI.

Learn better practices from Tri-Council funders on how to integrate EDI across research design. Information about institutional spaces dedicated to inclusion, community, and well-being at York and Queen’s are also available.

Tri-Council Resources:

Institutional Resources:

Guidelines and readings are available to help strengthen understanding of inclusive and equitable research practices for working with individuals from underrepresented groups that move research forward, while ensuring safety throughout.

Whether you are starting to integrate EDI into your work, looking for new resources, and/or seeking affirmation of best practice, the following resources can help in creating a more inclusive research space.

For additional resources, please contact EDI & Community Outreach Specialist, Andrew Castillo.

  • October: Creating Inclusive Research & Creation Spaces
    (Recording | Slides)
  • March: EDI as a Project Catalyst
    (Recording | Slides 1, 2 | Additional Readings 1, 2)
  • September: How to Build and Maintain Community Partnerships Responsibly (Recording | Slides 1, 2, 3)
  • October: How to Build and Maintain International Partnerships Responsibly
    (Recording | Slides)

Connected Minds is made up of over 280+ members, and we're still growing!

Self-identification allows Connected Minds to better understand the demographics of the membership and ensure the program is equitable and inclusive. 

If you’re new to the program, looking to complete or update your self-identification information, and/or limit how your information is used, the Self-Identification Survey can be accessed online or by scanning the QR code on the screen. 

If you have any questions about self-identification or experience any technical difficulties, please contact the EDI & Community Outreach Specialist, Andrew Castillo.

Self-Identifying helps us best understand who makes up the Connected Minds membership, who applies to awards, and who is funded. By providing self-identification data Connected Minds can measure its progress in creating a diverse program.

By completing our Self-Identification Survey you will save time when you apply for future Connected Minds funding opportunities by letting us know that you've already self-identified.

5 minutes today can save significant time in the future!

Only the EDI & Community Outreach Specialist, Operations Manager, and Program Director ("CM Staff") have access to the self-identification information.

Self-Identification Information will only be shared as a percentage report to ensure personal information is kept anonymous and confidential.

If participating in FIRE-P, only CM Staff will have access to your personal self-identification information. This information will not be shared with the directorate.

Self-Identification Information is used for the following purposes:

  1. Measuring Program Demographics for Annual Reporting (as percentages)
  2. Measuring Program Demographics of Funding/Scholarship Applicants (as percentages)
  3. FIRE-P (personal information, only accessed by CM Staff)

Yes. We encourage you to complete the self-identification survey even if you are choosing not to self-identify. This helps ensure we don't follow up on your survey response if we have not heard back.

Self-identification information is kept on a password protected secured server provided by York University.

Understanding the demographics of Connected Minds, ensures our program maintains a fair and equitable funding process, and ensures resources are appropriate distributed to maintain inclusive spaces.

Yes. You will have the option to self "I prefer not to self-identify" with each question to provide you with autonomy in choosing which identities are shared.

The survey takes approximately 3 minutes to complete.

Please submit an updated survey response using the online Self-Identification Survey or by scanning the QR code. An updated response will be added to our files.

This information will be kept on a secure server until 2037.

Please Note: FIRE-UP used to be called the Affirmative Action Selection Process (AASP).

FIRE-UP ensures research excellence is the number one priority. All applications deemed "Exceptional" by the adjudication committee will retain their rank order. Only applications deemed fundable, but not "Exceptional" will participate in FIRE-UP.

  • The Program Director, Operations Manager, and EDI and Community Outreach Specialist (hereafter referred to as CM Staff) will take a list of fundable applicants from the adjudication committee and identify those who fall under one or more of the federally designated groups (Women; Racialized Individuals; Indigenous Peoples; People with disabilities/Disabled Persons) and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ institutional priority group, and/or African, Black, Caribbean CFREF priority groups.
  • The diversity composition of the applicant pool for each institution (York & Queen’s) will be assessed using self-identification data collected via Survey Monkey.
  • CM Staff will determine the funding priority of each candidate based on current program targets.
  • Candidates who do not identify as individuals from underrepresented groups or who have opted out of the FIRE-UP will have their funding priority exchanged with the next highest-ranking applicant that aligns with the program priority order.
  • The number of candidates recommended for funding will be based on the remaining funding available at each institution.
  • If an African, Black, Caribbean and/or Indigenous candidate has indicated on their application that they wish to be considered under the African, Black, Caribbean /Indigenous funding allocation and they did not rank high enough on the funding priority list to secure an available spot, they will be recommended for funding under this allocation (subject to availability).