Alumna: Latonya Ludford

You completed an undergraduate degree at UTM, what made you choose to stay at UTM and pursue the MUI program?

I realized that after graduating with an undergraduate degree in political science, I didn't really have enough experience in my field. I wanted to dive a little bit deeper into cities. So I said, "Hey, this is a perfect opportunity."

How have you seen yourself grow professionally during the program?

I would say I gained a lot more confidence. When I came into the program, I didn't think I knew a lot. So I was really shy about expressing my thoughts and opinions. But as I got to learn more, and learn from my peers, I think it really gave me the confidence to say: ‘Hey, you know, you can actually think critically and make comments and ask questions and make suggestions -- and question something you don't think is right. So I feel like that really pushed me, especially in my current career now, where I can feel confident enough to speak up and say what I'm thinking.

You completed both your internship and capstone project with the Maytree Foundation. What was your top accomplishments there?

In political science, we often talk about the importance of participation. But when I worked at Maytree, I realised how important it was to engage with communities who are affected, and what that actually means. Not only taking information from them, but ensuring that the feedback that you've received actually leads to something. You do something with it.

Can you tell us about your new full-time role and how learnings from the program have helped you in it?

I currently work for the Shift, which is run by Leilani Farha, the former U.N. Rapporteur on the Right to Housing. We work with cities across the world to help implement the right to housing. That means giving cities the resources and tools and skills that they need to make policies that help the most vulnerable people, to protect their rights.

There were many things in the program that helped prepare me for my career. One thing, in particular, was developing my critical thinking and political acuity. Understanding, and being critical of, the different impacts that policies can make in people’s lives is really key, especially in the work that I'm doing now. I think that was a great learning that I got from the program.

You have made a real difference in the community while in the program and beyond. How has this program aligned with your values?

Throughout the program, I made sure to ask questions like: What about the little guy? How are these policies affecting the most vulnerable? That was really important to me. And in the program, we discuss something called social sustainability. I've taken that into different jobs, so that as a practitioner, I can make sure that the things that I do are actually helping people that are in the most vulnerable position. Because that's what matters to create a city where everybody can thrive.

What is your favourite memory of being an MUI student?

My favourite memory is when we all got together at the end of the first year of the program. We all finally got to meet in person, because our program was completely online [in 2020]. We went for a bike ride, which was really fun. I've never biked in Toronto, so it was scary. But it was a great adventure; getting to meet everybody, getting to see some of the faculty, without being on a screen.