CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP THROUGH SERVICE

How and why it works!

LEARNING OUTCOMES

1) Understanding the differences between admin-driven and student-led programs 2) Identifying the benefits of student-led initiatives 3) Getting a grasp on how to transition

Who’s running the show?

Administrator-driven programs ◦ Your idea ◦ You plan it ◦ You promote it ◦ You recruit (often beg) people to sign up ◦ You execute it ◦ You review it- 1-dimensional analysis ◦ You move on to the next program, demanding your attention Student-driven programs ◦ Students bring ideas forth ◦ You bring them in and delegate tasks ◦ Joint promotion ◦ People come to you ◦ Joint execution- you delegate tasks ◦ You review it together, for a 2-dimensional perspective ◦ Continuity is possible!

Challenges of each

Administrator-driven programs ◦ You are doing all the work! Your energy will wear thin.

◦ Promotion is hard ◦ We don’t always speak the same language (Twitter, etc.).

◦ Fewer ideas ◦ We get disconnected from the their experience as a young adult, at a certain point.

Student-driven programs ◦ Can be hard to begin- ideas are not always realistic and/or actionable ◦ More opinions can lead to disagreement ◦ Reliability of team members for follow-thru ◦ Self-doubt as students, working with peers

Strengths of each

Administrator-driven programs ◦ We have experience and insight; we know what is reasonable and what is not ◦ We have resources and connections ◦ We have institutional knowledge and history ◦ We have status on campus- a platform on which to stand Student-driven programs ◦ We have rapport with students as peers ◦ We think outside the box ◦ We have enthusiasm every time!

◦ We have cultural knowledge ◦ ◦ What ideas might be of interest How to communicate those ideas effectively

The ideal balance

◦ It is always best to have student input- it keeps our programs relevant ◦ It is beneficial to the administration to share responsibilities ◦ It is beneficial to students to have responsibilities and be accountable to the institution and partner agency for duration of program AND in the long run ◦ It is beneficial to student body to see peers modeling social responsibility- creates culture of service ◦ The best results come from collaborative relationship with student leaders- benefit to program!

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Getting there

Define responsibilities for students and admins Give individual attention to student leaders to develop their skills and game plan Once logistics of project are set, turn over control of group to student leaders, but stay close by for support Allow all students to take a piece of the pie- everyone contributes

Why service?

Leadership skills can be developed in a multitude of applications- academics, student activities, fine arts- it is just a matter of taking on responsibility. Service awakens that which makes us most human- compassion. When we reach students in the service of others, we are nurturing something that cannot be taught- rather, it is caught.

◦ Community service is relevant to every major and every profession ◦ Effective service comes from engaged volunteers ◦ Effective leaders engage in meaningful service

ANATOMY OF A STUDENT LEADER

What are we looking for?

◦ Ethical decision-making ◦ Reliability and accountability ◦ Availability ◦ Communication skills ◦ Internal motivation to succeed ◦ Interest in cause ◦ Passion for greater good ◦ Commitment to the college/university

How can we develop these qualities in students?

◦ By holding them to a higher standard- people “rise to the occasion” when you “raise the bar” ◦ By paying attention to their skills and learning style- maximize their individual strengths to get the highest return ◦ By design- do not allow people to be invisible!

◦ Utilize a variety of activities to reveal what each person has to contribute to the group ◦ Remember- some of these are inherent traits that aren’t easily taught or learned, but they can be

inspired

◦ Internal motivation to succeed ◦ ◦ Interest in cause Passion for greater good

ANATOMY OF A SUCCESSFUL STUDENT LED INITIATIVE Ongoing and Episodic

Critical components

◦ Team-building opportunities ◦ New experiences ◦ Background knowledge on partner agency ◦ Background knowledge on location, demographics, politics, and culture ◦ Challenges to overcome as a group ◦ Community exposure ◦ Sense of purpose and efficacy ◦ Fun!

Ongoing Programs Alternative Spring Break

◦ Ongoing immersion program- 1 week (during Spring Break) ◦ Partner with Habitat for Humanity in different locations ◦ Student group is selected through application process ◦ Weekly meetings from November- March ◦ Teambuilding activities, icebreakers, fundraisers ◦ Optional class

Episodic Programs Midnight Run

◦ Episodic, series program ◦ Partners with Midnight Run Organization ◦ Organized through Rotaract Club ◦ Club meets weekly, event takes place monthly ◦ Clothing drives supply program ◦ Students self-select into club and for each individual event

HOW ARE WE ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS FOR SUCCESS?

Teambuilding

Ongoing- ASB ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Weekly meetings with group Ice breakers at every meeting Journal buddies Fundraising Meal prep Reflections Group activities Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Weekly meetings for Rotaract ◦ Ice breakers (Happy Quarters) ◦ Fundraising ◦ Collecting supplies ◦ Meal prep ◦ Group activities

Opportunity for student leadership- put student leaders in charge of icebreakers and group activities; teambuilding brings everyone to the table!

New Experiences

Ongoing- ASB ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Visiting new places Changing up the sites Taking advantage of time spent away from campus Site-seeing Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ New participants every time ◦ Different stops every time ◦ Different consumers every time ◦ Focus on different supplies every time

Opportunity for student leadership- use student input when selecting service sites; when it is new for the admin, too, there is a greater sense of partnership versus leadership

Background knowledge of partner agency

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Information sessions for program ◦ HFH Campus Chapter ◦ ASB review program ◦ Print materials ◦ Group discussion Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Rotaract Club advocates ◦ Club fairs ◦ Consumer representatives to Midnight Run Organization are present on Runs

Opportunity for student leadership- have student leaders help design and present materials

Background knowledge of location, demographics, culture, politics

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Students responsible for group discussion during team meetings ◦ ◦ Conducting research prior to meetings Coursework (where applicable) ◦ Visiting sites of historical, cultural, or political significance ◦ Discussion with locals and consumers on trip Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Students responsible for group discussion during club meetings ◦ Discussion with consumers on Runs ◦ *local culture

Opportunity for student leadership- have students do independent research, and student leaders facilitate discussion

Challenges to overcome as a group

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Fundraising ◦ Travel ◦ Meal preparation ◦ Restricted technology ◦ $5 dinner ◦ Reflection activities ◦ Construction Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Fundraising ◦ Collecting supplies ◦ Meals preparation ◦ Student participation

Opportunity for student leadership- make students responsible for their own fundraising; divide up various preparatory tasks into teams; make students responsible for designing reflections!

Community exposure

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Interaction with HFH affiliate ◦ Interaction with homeowners ◦ Interaction with host church and congregation Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Interaction with homeless population on Run

Opportunity for student leadership- students are in direct service, so they must interact with others; discuss questions beforehand, so students are prepared to talk to different people

Sense of purpose and efficacy

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Discussion during group meetings ◦ Of community needs ◦ ◦ ◦ Of HFH mission Of Dominican mission Of their own power ◦ Reflection activities ◦ Direct service ◦ Opportunities for continuity Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Discussion during club meetings, pre and post Run ◦ Direct service ◦ Instant gratification ◦ Opportunities for continuity

Opportunity for student leadership- students are responsible for contributing to prep meetings, reflections, and actual service!

Fun!

Ongoing- ASB ◦ Teambuilding ◦ Seeing new things ◦ Meeting new people ◦ Learning new skills ◦ Restricting technology Episodic- Midnight Run ◦ Teambuilding ◦ Seeing new things ◦ Meeting new people

Opportunity for student leadership- they bring the fun! It is easy to have fun when you feel good about what you are doing and who you are with. Having fun with others builds self-esteem, which begins the process over!

WRAPPING UP

Final thoughts

◦ Young adults are often looking for a sense of belonging. Volunteering with a group builds a sense of community, which everyone belongs to.

◦ Doing good, fulfilling work makes people feel better about themselves and what they can contribute to our world. These are the people that we look up to!

◦ We are nurturing compassion which can be applied to any discipline for the improvement of society; we are just getting them warmed up!

◦ Quote from 2014 graduate: “…I knew from then on I had to always volunteer, because it was nourishment to my soul. Outreach means lending a hand to lift up. When we volunteer, we are a symbol of God’s love, and that should not be taken lightly…I believe I became a more compassionate person due to volunteering, and I have a strong sense of self due to being an RA…” ~ Vaughna Jarvis

QUESTIONS?