Tara Mahoney

I believe the climate emergency and the erosion of democracy are two of the defining issues of our time and joyful public engagement is essential to confronting them.

Creative Publics is my engagement consultancy which builds on my PhD research and my work as co-founder and creative director of Gen Why Media, a non-profit I co-founded with Fiona Rayher in 2012. I currently work as Research and Engagement Lead at SFU’s Community-Engaged Research Initiative.

As a practitioner, educator, researcher and consultant in emerging modes of public engagement, I have worked with educators, nonprofits, and ethical businesses on projects that inspire us to take action on equity and environmental issues. For me, the best engagement meets our deep human need for belonging, creativity, meaning and connection.

I live as an uninvited guest on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations otherwise known as Vancouver with my two daughters and partner.

See CV

In the Press.