Metha Brown | SCARP | UBC School of Community and Regional Planning

Metha

Brown

With a professional background that spans online media, social services program development/management, and an BFA in Acting, Metha is equipped with a dynamic interdisciplinary background that informs her study of planning. She ventured from New York City to Vancouver to pursue the unique combination of coursework at SCARP in communications in participatory planning. She is particularly interested in how communications, especially social media, and facilitated dialogue can help to diversify and democratize planning practices to create more innovative, difference-resilient, pragmatic, equitable, and sustainable plans and policies.

Publications

Graduate Research: (Trans) - formations: Building a Safe, Strong, & Inclusive Vancouver

Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships: Amacon Beasley Travel Scholarship- 2010, , Go Global Travel Scholarship- 2010, , CARE Travel Award- 2010, , SCARP Nominee: Elsie & Audrey Jang Award for Cultural Diversity & Harmony (unawarded), , Graduate Entrance Scholarship- 2009-2010, , International Partial Tuition Scholarship- 2009- 2011, , Presidential Scholarship- 1998-2002, , Volunteer Travel Award- Haiti- 2001, , Acting Merit Scholarship- 1998, , Civic Leadership Scholarship- 1998, , Awards: Undergraduate: Graduated Magna Cum Laude; Acting Medal Honoree

Courses Taken

Directed Studies: Partner: The City of Vancouver's City Council LGBTQ Advisory Committee: Making a Safe & Inclusive Vancouver (partner supervisor: Dana Walker); Social Media & Multi-Ethnic Neighborhood Community Development (supervisor: A. Hermida, UBC Journalism), Field Studio: Monitoring & Evaluation in Municipal Planning, Plaridel, Philippines (N. Angeles), Course Work: Influencing the Policy Process (T. Hutton), Urban Design (M. Senbel; Partner: Britannia Community Centre Board), Cross-Cultural Planning (N. McLaren & N. Edelson), Environmental & Aboriginal Law (W. Braul), Intercultural Dispute Resolution (M. LeBaron, Allard School of Law, UBC), The Legal Context of Planning (R. Young), Community & Economic Development (W. Trousdale), Participatory Planning Theory & Practice (N. Angeles; Partner: MLA Mable Elmore), Facilitation in Planning Practice I & II (A. Erfan), Digital Video Planning (J. Frantz; Community Partner: Britannia Community Centre), Qualitative Research Methods (P. Gurstein and S. Vilches; Partner: UBC Office of Access & Diversity), Planning History & Theory (L. Sandercock), Advanced Quantitative Methods: Impact Analysis (S. Chang)

Related Work Experience

Selected Professional Experience:

The Center for Employment Opportunities: Program Developer & Manager, 2005-2008; Best Practices Consultant, 2009
Developed a pilot outreach & support program for recently released parolees to support their re-entry in the workforce through a year long supportive relationship focused on self-developed long term vocational & educational plans after job placement.

Heavy Inc.- Director of Operations & Human Resources
Recruited and supported a cutting-edge creative and production team for a Webby award winning online
media channel and branding & production boutique.

Research: Centre for Human Settlements, University of British Columbia:
A Global Balancing Act: Climate Change, Urbanization and Collaborative Governance - documentary;
Research & Production Assistant, February- April 2010
The Politics of Rice- Land Conversion in the Philippines- documentary; Research & Production Lead, July-October 2010
Digital Archives Project- Finding Our Way- IT Researcher & Consultant, May 2010

Internships Ear to the Ground Planning: Integrated Media & Social Media Strategy