Hillman, Matthew

As child and youth care practitioner, Selkirk alumnus and new instructor in the Human Services program I find myself at a unique juncture in my praxis; a space where a wellspring of inspiration flows from multiple and diverse sources. I believe in an egalitarian pedagogy, one where learning occurs across all levels of status and positionality, where the voices of those who are rarely heard can be brought to the forefront through their lived experience and participant lead, anti-oppressive research. I strive to bring humility, humor, creativity and best practice theory and technique of current child and youth care practice into my teaching.

I have worked with children, youth and families in the West Kootenay region for nearly a decade in various domains of the field including; residential care, education, family support and advocacy work. As a muralist, I am especially interested in the intersection of youth work and public art - exploring the opportunity these complimentary practices create for empowerment, community building and social justice advancements.

Through my graduate studies I have conducted research and presented findings on: domestic violence prevention programming and narratives of challenge and resiliency with post-secondary students. My current thesis work is focused on supporting Selkirk in the creation of a sexual assault prevention and response strategy. Topics found in my published work includes identifying the potential for resistance to state regulation of public space and discipline of the body through the creative act of street skateboarding, as well as a critical examination of youth mentoring discourse as neoliberal subject formation.

My graduate studies at the University of Victoria have helped me to identify some of the more insidious elements marginalized communities face in our current epoch of globalization and advanced capitalism. They have taught me to be critical of even the seemingly supportive or innocuous elements in our community and country and to continuously ask, for whom do these values of successful youth development primarily benefit and what additional agendas are being fulfilled?