Danielle Nadine Pierre

This presentation will describe my three-year journey towards the completion of the Major Research Project (MRP) in fulfillment of degree requirements for the Strategic Foresight & Innovation program. I will structure my presentation as a learning reflection using Walla’s five stages of the creative process to explain how I am preparing, incubating, illuminating, evaluating, and verifying ideas for my MRP. I hope to use this presentation as part of my evaluation and verification process as I approach the end of my studies.

In my first year of part-time study, I engaged in the standard coursework and collaborative learning as all SFI students. I used an independent study unit to determine my research paradigms and transition into my second year of coursework. In this second year, I chose a topic of study: social cohesion in Canada. I wrote and published a journal article describing my creative exploration of contemporary trends in Canadian Social Cohesion. This published horizon scan described the factors influencing how Canadians communicate, get along, and use social cohesion as a concept.
Now, these distinct trends are providing the basis for my co-exploration of the concept of social cohesion and co-creation of Canada's social fabric. In my third year of study, my MRP aims to answer "How is social cohesion negotiated and constructed in Canada?" My final research report will summarize not only my research findings, but also the processes I used to develop said findings. This design-research is about developing a comprehensive set of trends to guide conversations on a good life in Canada and co-creating a physical artifact to hold vision of the good life.

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Danielle Nadine Pierre (they & she) is a published author with 12 years’ experience as a public sector qualitative researcher, policy advisor, and learning designer. Danielle lives, works, and studies in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Tkaronto – Treaty 13 – Toronto Purchase) using grounded theory, systems thinking, critical analysis, and anticipation. Danielle’s work and academic publications drive shared understanding and broad-based consensus across diverse audiences and public policy issues. Danielle writes a bi-weekly self-titled publication that includes long-form learning reflections on field practice, methods, and analyses, demonstrating how to move from theory to practice. They share their learning reflections as a way of amplifying her knowledge and expertise and as a way of working through ideas in public.