Community Leadership National College for School Leadership April 21, 2005 by Paul Born

Tamarack is a charitable organization dedicated to helping citizens build caring, prosperous and healthy communities. Through its Learning Centre, Tamarack works with its partners to build on their experience and develop practical tools, resources and learning techniques that can strengthen local efforts to address community issues. For more information on Tamarack, see the organization’s website at

Our time together Opening and Welcoming About Community Leadership The Scenario – 3 Stories C – V.I. – P –Collaboration –Vision –Innovation –Place

Community Leadership Learning from action – Learning for action Stories from the field … on becoming a leader A journey to understand … fighting a fire with a fire truck that has no brakes. Building an organization Building a community Building a movement Acting like an Organization – Thinking like a Movement

The Challenge If I were… A positional leader (e.g. school principal, leader of a community centre) facing these issues…. Children coming/going to school hungry Bullying after school – informal gangs Creating a livable community ……what would you do?

Collaborate Role: Bring people together to … Key Tasks: better understand the issue & find common ground agree on what you… know you do not know …and agree to learn together. invite only those who can “help” address the issue to work together. Community Leadership Competencies: Convening and Facilitating

What is a Collaboration? A mutually beneficial and well defined relationship entered into by people and organizations to achieve common goals. The relationship includes a commitment to: a definition of mutual relationships and goals; a jointly developed structure for shared responsibility; mutual authority and accountability for success; and sharing of resources and rewards. The Amherst Wilder Foundation Cooperation Coordination Collaboration ?

Why Collaborate? The Current State Fractured Problems (e.g. Crime, Poverty, Homelessness, etc.) Fractured Resources Fractured Responses Fractured Solutions

Vision Role: Help the collaboration to focus… Key Tasks: Start with talking about values –What do we care about and why –What would we like to “see” and why? Agree on a working vision –From current state to future state –3 years from now we will… When vision and values merge we have Purpose Community Leadership Competencies: self knowledge & consensus building

Innovate Role: Helping the collaboration to act… differently A.L.L.-C… Action – Leadership – Learning and Change Key Tasks: Brainstorm simple and complex solutions Choose which ones you want to address, when & how Develop an action learning plan… Community Leadership Competencies: Strategic planning & organization building

Complex Complicated COMPLICATEDCOMPLICATED Simple Near Far Learning to work in the complex by Brenda Zimmerman - York University. As explained by Frances Westley - McGill University Having a lot of people – who don’t always agree – dealing with dynamic, often fuzzy, inter-related root causes. AGREEMENT CLARITYCLARITY The Stacey Matrix Some solutions: Understand the system Get close to the issues Collaborate (engage the system) Innovate

Building Under- standing Building Community will Creating Conditions for Success Action Leadership Learning and change A.L.L. Renewal and or wind down Learning about the work to be done. Generating an idea and energy. Engaging people in the idea. -talking -values -vision Agree that together we can do more Formalize partners Community plan Leadership structure Raising funds Doing the work, outcomes Building ownership and commitment Cultural shifts Permanent changes in the way a community acts Capacity growing Continue or wind down Purpose Grows Engagement Grows Building a movement for change People – plan – partner – projects – perform Vision & value definition, growing commitment Credibility, capacity and capital building Acting like an organization – Thinking like a Movement Stages The Work

Building understanding Building Community will Create Conditions for Success Action – Leadership Learning and Change Renewal or wind down Purpose Building - Engagement - Momentum Acting like an organization – Thinking like a Movement

Place… Role: Providing a “space” where the collaboration can meet Key Tasks: –Open your school or community centre as a community space –Organize meetings and events –Celebrate your neighbourhood –Broaden the community’s understanding about learning –Involve your staff – team them up with volunteers Place…where we hope the change will occur Community Leadership Competencies: A welcoming and generous spirit

The Challenge If I were… A positional Leader (school principal, leader of a community centre) facing these issues…. Children coming/going to school hungry Bullying after school – informal gangs Creating a livable community ……this is what I what do Collaborate – Vision – Innovate – Place

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