How can ‘everyday peace’ be strengthened at UM?

Bags of puzzle pieces sat scattered across nine tables as students, staff, and faculty leaned in, determined to solve what seemed like a straightforward task.

Groups began independently, but it didn't take long to realize something was missing — each group had only one part of the puzzle and some odd objects on each table - pickleball paddle, textbook, spatula, and so on. Without any additional instruction, Better Together participants figured out how to assemble the 300-piece puzzle.

“I loved that everyone was standing as a community around the table and supporting each other,” said event facilitator Meaghan Ewharekuko, a Faculty Specialist in Experiential Learning at The Centre for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning.

"Does anyone know why we chose this activity?" she asked.

The responses came quickly.

“Diversity seeds innovation.”

“Looking beyond our immediate circle to see what others are doing.”

“Taking a look at the bigger picture.”

“It's okay to ask for help.”

“Seeing how your work contributes to everyone else’s.”

“Because we are Better Together!”

The annual Better Together event is an engaging and hands-on Masterclass, thoughtfully designed for faculty, staff and students to collaborate and use entrepreneurial thinking in many contexts and sharpen your practical problem-solving
skills.

Throughout the day during the event, facilitators Ewharekuko and Janine Carmichael, Faculty Specialist in Entrepreneurship at The Centre, challenged participants to think more holistically about what it means to be entrepreneurial.

Today’s entrepreneurial thinkers apply their mindset to a wide range of challenges, often in spaces far removed from start-ups. She also highlighted the role of ‘intrapreneurs’ — individuals who bring an entrepreneurial mindset into existing organizations, working proactively to spark innovation from within.

With a broader understanding of entrepreneurial thinking in mind, participants were challenged to experience entrepreneurial thinking firsthand.

The energy in the room shifted from hands-on collaboration to lived experience, as three panelists shared how those same lessons shaped their own entrepreneurial journeys. The panelists, Nitesh Sanghai, a PhD graduate from the College of Pharmacy, Jesse Reyes, PhD student in Peace and Conflict Studies, and Jessica Laus, a UM student and staff in the College of Nursing, shared their experiences.

A common thread emerged: entrepreneurial thinkers are motivated by needs that they see. They stay curious, remain open, and are willing to start conversations with people who don't look like them, act like them, who think differently, or who may seem intimidating at first.

Carmichael added, “It’s essential to see relatable examples of entrepreneurial thinkers. I'm grateful that Nitesh, Jesse and Jessica — all members of UM's community as students or staff — could bring that for participants.”

Challenge: How to strengthen ‘everyday peace’ at UM

Each year, Better Together partners with a different unit on campus to sponsor the challenge.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Peace and Conflict Studies at UM, the theme of this year's design challenge was how ‘everyday peace’ could be strengthened at UM. Teams were asked to design an experience, space, or interaction that fosters everyday peace-building connections and wellness across the university community.

With the challenge in focus, teams got to work applying entrepreneurial thinking to their ideas.

Conversations grew as groups sketched, debated, and reimagined what everyday peace could look like on our campus. Carmichael and Ewharekuko moved from table to table, listening, asking questions, and encouraging bold thinking.
 

By the end of the Design Thinking Sprint, teams had transformed their ideas into short video pitches. Participants gathered for a watch party to celebrate and cheer each other on as each idea appeared on screen.

For many, the experience offered something entirely new. 

One participant reflected: “I have never done ideation before, especially not in a group. In my program, we focus a lot on theory, but there's also a practical side that we don't often get to explore. Being able to ideate, build a prototype, and present it — all on a very tight timeline — was really helpful.”

Beyond the hands-on learning, the connections made throughout the day proved just as meaningful. The same student also shared that Better Together has already opened doors by connecting with different members of his group.

“In my group, there was a power engineer, which is an awesome mentorship opportunity for me as an engineering student. It's a great networking opportunity and I feel like so many doors have opened up for me from this one day alone.” 

Dr. Adam Muller, Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies programs at UM, came to watch the final videos and offered this reflection to participants. 

“Peace requires more than just the absence of conflict in order to flourish,” he said.

“Truly sustainable or ‘positive’ peace involves creating an environment where people feel safe, respected, included and able to thrive. For us to live in peace, in large and small ways the practice of peace must become fully incorporated into our everyday lives.”

He added, “It was fascinating to see that despite being so digitally connected, many of the ideas centered on building more human connections at UM to support everyday peace.”

Better Together continues to demonstrate that entrepreneurial thinking is more about strengthening our ability to see opportunities and create change. Through collaboration, creativity, and connection, participants left not only with new ideas but with new skills, relationships, and confidence to make an impact across the UM community.