UCalgary puts design justice into action amid United Way Workplace Campaign

Every year, the United Way Workplace Campaign reminds us that community change comes through connection. At the University of Calgary, that spirit shows in work that strengthens inclusion, builds relationships, supports well-being and expands opportunity.

The campaign centres on four shared values: socioeconomic well-being, social inclusion, mental health and healthy relationships. These values appear in the work of researchers studying inequities and asking how systems can better serve the people they’re built to support.

One of those researchers is Dr. Marie (Cecile) Kotyk, DDes’24, an assistant professor in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL), whose work looks closely at housing, justice and how design can respond to the realities people live every day.

Understanding the gaps

Housing precarity in Calgary and Canada is immediate and complex, with both affordable options and social supports in short supply. Kotyk emphasizes that addressing homelessness requires more than housing units; it needs comprehensive, community-driven supports.

“Affordable housing is one thing, but, to address the homelessness crisis we’re experiencing, we need social housing with wraparound supports and services,” says Kotyk, Design Justice Research Chair with SAPL.

Planning and policy often overlook how inequities tied to race, culture, immigration status, and access to education and jobs create barriers. These gaps affect people’s well-being, social inclusion and access to opportunity, values that are also at the heart of United Way of Calgary and Area’s work.

Without clear data, decision makers struggle to understand community needs, letting inequities persist. One of Kotyk’s projects, Through Our Eyes, uses immersive virtual reality to document how housing, health and public spaces interact for Black Calgarians experiencing housing precarity and homelessness.

“It often comes down to that lack of understanding of what communities actually need and how we prioritize some over the most vulnerable groups,” she says.

Kotyk emphasizes that housing challenges connect to broader systems. Employment, education, immigration, health care and justice intersect, and inequities grow when these systems fail to work together and address barriers.

“It saddens me that, when we see people experiencing homelessness, we often fail to recognize it as a systemic issue — a failure of society to care for its most vulnerable citizens,” she says.

Building solutions

The UDesign Justice Initiative (UDJI) is Kotyk’s response to these interconnected challenges.

“(It is) a transdisciplinary, community-led hub to reimagine Calgary’s built environment,” she says. 

“It goes beyond consultation or performative engagement. We’re building relationships, creating tools and identifying projects to address the needs of communities.”

Immediate priorities for UDJI include education and housing. The team is looking to revise the curriculum for design programs to integrate justice and equity. 

On Dec. 11, National Housing Day will bring city officials, non-profits and people with lived experience together to develop solutions and a housing working group. 

That evening at 5 p.m., UDJI will host Housing Justice in Action: Building Partnerships for Change at the Central Library in partnership with the Calgary Public Library, City of Calgary, Calgary: Quality in the Built Environment, and the Bridge to Oasis Foundation.

With several other long-term goals and projects in mind, Kotyk frames collaboration as essential to this work and the hub’s broader mission.

“Because we’re tied to UCalgary, we can leverage that platform to advance community goals,” she says. 

“We’re not just centring communities, but also working cross-sectorally, creating partnerships with all levels of government, community groups, non-profits, the private sector and other sectors that touch the built environment. 

"Because this started from the ground up, it’s built a sense of ownership among participants and accountability to our commitments.”

Kotyk’s work translates research into practical design, making challenges visible and creating paths for tangible change.

“We all want the same things: to have our needs met, to live in peace and harmony, to belong," she adds.

"Design should be a tool for justice, not exclusion. Together, we can make meaningful change, providing better living standards for everyone."

Learn more about the UDesign Justice Initiative and see how you can support research that's creating tangible change in Calgary.

Make a difference through United Way

The United Way Workplace Campaign is your chance to support Calgarians and strengthen communities. There are many ways to get involved, whether through time, skills or donations:

• One-time or recurring donations: Every contribution, big or small, helps provide essential services for those in need.
• Sparks of Gratitude Campaign: Staff can donate $10 to receive five "sparks" to share with colleagues, sending messages of thanks and encouragement while supporting the United Way. Pick up your sparks from a local United Way representative.
• 50/50 Raffle: Join the 50/50 Raffle for a chance to win big while supporting the community. Half of the proceeds go to one lucky winner, while the other half helps the United Way. Last year’s winner walked away with more than $5,000!
• Volunteer opportunities: Offer your time and skills to programs and initiatives that make a real impact on Calgary communities.