Collaborative Community Builders Retreat – Anurika’s Reflection

In January 2026, thanks to financial support from Women and Gender Equality Canada, Righting Relations partnered with the John Humphrey Centre to bring 25 young people together at the Ciel et Bois retreat lodge for the Collaborative Community Builders Retreat; this is the first in a series of reflection from some of those participants. This reflection was shared by Anurika Onyenso.

The Collaborative Community Builders Retreat felt less like an event and more like stepping into a living, breathing community. From the moment I arrived in Ottawa and saw Ally holding a “Righting Relations” sign at the airport, I knew this weekend was going to be something special. Waiting there with Deep, Em, Gop and Iris, chatting, laughing and imagining what the weekend would hold, I could already sense that this was going to be a space where connection mattered as much as content. Arriving at the cabin, meeting the rest of the fellows, and sharing our first dinner together that night cemented that feeling. The meals, the conversations, the little moments of awkward introductions turning into laughter… all of it reminded me that relationship-building is the foundation of any movement, and that you can feel it in a room almost instantly.

The lightning talks were inspiring to say the least. We explored everything from storytelling, media advocacy and impact evaluation to housing justice, disability justice, climate grief, community gardens, zines and survivor-led healing. What stood out most was how deeply personal and accessible the learning felt. People shared not just strategies and frameworks, but uncertainty and care. Each presentation carried the speaker’s lived experience at its core, and it was incredible to see how knowledge drawn from real life resonates in ways credentials alone never could. Themes kept emerging: listening before acting, creating spaces that welcome contribution instead of just consumption and thinking collaboratively with communities instead of for them.

My own lightning talk was on digital storytelling for community engagement. I drew from my experience moving between cultures, originally from Nigeria, now rooted in Canada, and from my work in advocacy and nonprofit communications. I spoke about how digital storytelling isn’t just content creation or visibility, but a powerful tool for relationship-building. There are real barriers to engagement, including apathy, and stories that feel familiar and safe can lower these barriers. I shared examples of community-based knowledge revealing blind spots, like accessibility during emergencies, fire alarms and stairs, and thinking about wheelchair users. These are lessons we can only learn when we center voices often overlooked. I discussed imperfection, care and consent in storytelling, and the ways digital spaces can extend connection across distance while acknowledging the real risks they carry. Lastly, I encouraged everyone to think critically about these spaces and to advocate for better policies and safer platforms, so that digital community-building can happen responsibly and sustainably.

Beyond the formal sessions, some of the most meaningful moments unfolded organically: making zines together, lingering over incredible lunches and hot chocolate, and winding down with movies. One night the fireplace went a little wild and the house filled with smoke, but instead of panicking, we laughed and helped each other out. Late-night conversations stretched into quiet hours, creating a sense of intimacy and belonging. Even the logistics, like catching an early Uber to the airport, became part of the shared story of the retreat.

On the final day, as we wrapped up the remaining lightning talks and gathered around for s’mores, it was hard not to feel a little bittersweet. The weekend had been intense, warm, and full of learning, and the connections formed felt like they could carry long after we left. I left with renewed energy for collaboration, advocacy and care, and a reminder that while visibility may be temporary, real community, nurtured with intention, is what sustains movements. Righting Relations created a space where diverse approaches to social change could coexist, inform one another, and feel grounded in trust and curiosity. That weekend will stay with me, not just for the skills and knowledge shared, but for the laughter, the fireside chaos, the late-night conversations, and the undeniable sense that together we can create spaces where everyone
can show up fully.

Anurika (Rika) Onyenso is the operations lead at the Pembina Institute and a graduate of the University of Alberta with a degree in business management and sociology. Her career has been shaped by a passion for advocacy and creating positive collective impact, with experience spanning operations, finance, communications and project management. Rika is passionate about sustainability, health equity and civic engagement. Outside of work, she’s a lifelong learner and avid hobbyist, whether traveling, exploring creative pursuits or practicing aerial arts.