Catalyzing Change: Mason Weakley's Inspiring Journey Toward Social Change and Inclusivity with connectFirst Social Entrepreneurs
Meet Mason Weakley, a driven and passionate fourth-year psychology major at Mount Royal University, poised to elevate their academic journey by diving into honours studies next year. Their path toward social innovation sparked when they stumbled upon the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship through student emails. Eager to explore their potential to grow their non-profit See Change Collective, Weakley took the initiative and reached out to the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, setting the stage for a transformative journey.
The reason is that connectFirst Social Entrepreneurs is a program dedicated to hands-on social change, co-run with Institute for Community Prosperity. Through seven in-person sessions, participants dive into social enterprise and social impact models with experienced mentors, gaining skills to tackle societal issues using economic tools. Completing the full seven-session journey allows participants to access a $500 stipend, empowering them to apply their learning to create tangible, real-world solutions.
Expressing gratitude toward Diana Grant-Richmond, the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Associate Director, Weakley acknowledged Grant-Richmond's invaluable support and mentorship during their time in connectors, “She was just really great at being a supporter and a mentor.” Weakley shared that their primary motivation for joining connectFirst Social Entrepreneurs stems from a desire to enhance their understanding of non-profits and explore alternative operational models, including the potential for a for-profit aspect.
Catalyzing Change
As the president and creator of 'See Change Collective,' Weakley advocates financial relief for post-secondary students identifying in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Their mission aims to provide accessible funding for legal name changes and gender-affirming support, ensuring that every student has the right to see their name on their degree. See Change Collective provides bursaries, legal guidance, resources for gender-affirming clothing, and a supportive community.
Weakley's inspiration for founding See Change Collective traces back to a couple of years ago when their professor informed them that their legal name would appear on their degree unless changed beforehand—a process they found to be a “very difficult, convoluted process. And expensive.”
Despite thorough research across government sources, bursaries, and university aid, Weakley found limited support. They expressed the challenging gap, where individuals often have to rely on winning bursaries and scholarships to afford the expensive legal name changes. Weakley stated the critical nature of this issue by sharing that a legal name change could be "life-saving for some people.”
Their vision extends beyond bursaries, aiming to petition provincial governments to cover legal name changes, paralleling coverage for gender-affirming surgeries.
Perspectives and Learnings
Reflecting on their experience in connectFirst, Weakley highlighted unexpected learnings in networking, socio-economic structures, and finance, vital skills not typically offered in their academic path. They emphasized that connectFirst played a big role in broadening their perspective and how they intend to apply this learning further to See Change Collective's mission.
Currently, Weakley is involved with Qritical Hub's Student Steering Committee. Qritical Hub is a research, teaching, and community engagement hub for 2SLGBTQIA+ faculty, students, and the community at Mount Royal University. Weakley values the connections made through connectFirst and Qritical Hub, recognizing the enriching experiences they gained from their diverse communities. Weakley hopes to continue creating change with Qritical Hub while expanding See Change Collective.
Mason Weakley advises students wondering if connectFirst Social Entrepreneurs is for them, “I would say it absolutely is…I think if you're not certain about what you wanna do or how you wanna do it… you don't have to go in with a whole plan…[the institute] help[s] you build a plan. It's gonna benefit you no matter what.”
Thank You
The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship extends warm thanks to connectFirst Credit Union for their support, which fuels our mission to nurture student-driven social change. Your partnership propels our efforts, empowering students to innovate and create impactful solutions. Together, we're shaping a future where innovation meets purpose. Thank you for believing in our vision and the potential of our students.
Join Us!
connectFirst Social Entrepreneurs offers more than learning—it's your platform for creating change. Discover how your ideas can make a real difference in your community. Check out our website to learn more information on how you can get involved!