Adrienne Fanjoy, Law’19, will be presented a Queen’s University award for her community leadership at a reception on March 11. “Adrienne’s contribution to the Kingston community continuously goes beyond what is expected of someone in her role,” says her nominator. “Whether it’s creating culturally-sensitive workshops aimed at empowering young girls, or creating programming for children facing various challenges, Adrienne utilizes her privilege and passion to ensure she makes an impact wherever she can.”
Adrienne Fanjoy, Law’19, will be presented a Queen’s University award for her community leadership at a reception on March 11. “Adrienne’s contribution to the Kingston community continuously goes beyond what is expected of someone in her role,” says her nominator. “Whether it’s creating culturally-sensitive workshops aimed at empowering young girls, or creating programming for children facing various challenges, Adrienne utilizes her privilege and passion to ensure she makes an impact wherever she can.” (Photo by Maggie Doherty)

On March 11, one of the law school’s very own will be recognized for going above and beyond in helping improve the lives of some of Kingston’s most vulnerable youth.

Adrienne Fanjoy, Law’19, has been selected by Queen’s Student Affairs to receive a 2019 Brian Yealland Community Leadership Award. She is being celebrated for her extensive work empowering young girls, teaching literacy and numeracy skills to children living in shelters, and advocating for various feminist, anti-violence and anti-oppression causes.

Fanjoy believes that everyone has the skills necessary to make a meaningful difference for those in need. “It’s important to become active in your community, as much as you can,” she emphasizes. “My involvement in various local projects has undoubtedly shaped both my academic and professional career for the better. This type of work comes in many forms. Everyone has something unique to offer others.”

Though honoured to accept this award, Fanjoy remains humbled by her many friends, colleagues and leaders who continue to inspire her. 

“A lot of my work has resulted from surrounding myself with passionate people committed to improving their communities,” says Fanjoy. “Countless Queen’s students put in challenging but essential work beyond their traditional student responsibilities. Their activism against racism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, classism, colonialism and other oppressive structures has not only strengthened my work, but improved the Queen’s experience as a whole.”

Fanjoy’s devotion to this community runs deep. For a grassroots community group, she created a workshop for girls aged 8-11 that focused on fostering a passion for advocacy. While volunteering with Queen’s Students for Literacy, she expanded the Literacy Outreach program by transforming it into one of the university’s few volunteer initiatives that continues providing uninterrupted service throughout the summer. With Resettlement Kingston she collaborated with fellow students and city locals to sponsor a refugee, and through Pro Bono Students Canada – Queen’s she developed legal workshops for local leaders and social workers to support newcomers to Canada facing workplace discrimination.

She has also played pivotal leadership roles in the Queen’s Law Litigation Society and the 5 Days for Homelessness Campaign for the Queen’s Project on International Development, and has been an active tutor in the Equity Tutoring program for her Queen’s Law peers. As a caseworker for the Queen’s Family Law Clinic in 2017-18 she was able to assist women staying at the same shelters where she had previously volunteered.  

When asked why she nominated Fanjoy for this honour, Ban Ibrahim, Law’19, speaks in glowing terms about her classmate’s advocacy of marginalized groups.

“Adrienne’s contribution to the Kingston community continuously goes beyond what is expected of someone in her role,” explains Ibrahim. “Whether it’s creating culturally-sensitive workshops aimed at empowering young girls, or creating programming for children facing various challenges, Adrienne utilizes her privilege and passion to ensure she makes an impact wherever she can.”

Queen’s Law students can cheer on Adrienne Fanjoy as she receives her award at the Student Recognition Reception on Monday, March 11, 4:30-6:00 pm, in the Agnes Etherington Atrium.

By Justin Murphy