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! Getting there o Define responsibilities for students and admins o Give individual attention to student leaders to develop their skills and game plan o Once logistics of project are set, turn over control of group to student leaders, but stay close by for support o 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?