Clement

Coulston Twitter Meeting 07.09.12 at 8:30 PM Eastern Time #StuVoice

How will the student voice advance and have a greater effect on todays education? In other words, how will we take ACTION in order to advance the student voice?

Key Themes Word Cloud

Analysis & Proposals for Engaging Leadership

We will either find a way, or make one, once said Hannibal in his leadership role as a military commander. Leadership is not something people are born with, but rather are the skills, values, and behaviors one embodies in his or her everyday lives. However, being a leader requires courage to stand up for what one believes in and the ability to effectively communicate that to others. A group of youth leaders had a conversation about how they can take the engaging discussions, and turn them into action items for them to collaboratively work upon. This resource is designed to help young people whom are either starting or enhancing their leadership skills. The graphic below outlines the key components needed for engaging leadership.

Values

Action Inspiration

Values
Accountability Working in a group can be rewarding, but also challenging to balance with other obligations. Due to this, each person needs to share their plan moving forward with fellow team members. If one encounters an issue or needs help, s/he should reach out to the group to receive support. Empowerment Too often, youth can feel powerless due to their lack-of-experience, educational standing, and some adult partners. Empowering others in helping them identify their successes and strengths is a way to progress your partnership while empowering that person to continue to move forward! Engagement As a group of agents for change, we work both individually and collectively. Each of us contributes to the group through our initiatives, but we must co-align our action steps to ensure maximum impact. We must engage participants in any way possible, by embracing their natural talent. Everyone has the ability to contribute, but we must find the way for him or her to thrive and become active in the process. Inclusiveness This term can be tossed around, often viewed as an extraneous item. However, it is imperative we incorporate and embrace diversity in our work, ensuring there is perspectives from people of various ability, political affiliation, socioeconomic status, gender, age, and religious beliefs.

Respect Respect for fellow youth leaders is crucial. Rather than calling out others failures let us adopt the term, learning experiences which teach us in how to change for the better in future initiatives. Teacher & Learner Leadership is two-way learning and teaching arrow. An environment where each person feels valued, empowered, and included creates a positive atmosphere. Developing Common Social Norms, which are the expected behaviors for interacting with other participants is a way to co-create this environment for learning and sharing. Key items to consider and include is the belief in ability, value of contribution, and respect of differing opinions. Unity: In working on collaborative projects, being unified can be inspiring yet challenging. At times when disagreement occurs, both parties should look at the following: (1) what are our similarities on this topic (2) what are our differences on this topic (3) how can we assimilate our ideas to move forward as a group. If disagreement occurs where one participant leaves, this creates a confusing superhighway of people trying to make change, but without the support of others to further it. Everyone has many opinions, so the ability for one to share and others listen with an open mind is needed.

Action
We as a group must (1) co-identify mutual issues/challenges (2) co-develop an action plan (3) co-implement with other leaders (4) co-reflect for enhancement; each step requires leadership, teamwork, and effective communication from all participants to ensure the quality of the work is developed from people of diverse backgrounds.

In creation an action plan, we can co-develop expected outcomes to envision how we envision the product of our work. Some disagreed upon the means of creating this plan, but we do agree upon the following cycle: Discuss Collaborate Take Action However, how do we so is the question!

Inspiration
Key Ideals: Inspiration Commitment Activation Implementation For Adults to the Youth: Guide us. Support us. We can. We will. Sharing a united voice, a focus on key points and empowering each other is powerful! Give students some power, sit back, and watch the show. But empower and value their input; support them in the process if asked and believe in their ability! Being proactive versus reactive is a skill. Its an important competency that can be learned and honed Leadership can be challenging and uncomfortable - however is key for innovative change & expression of one's thoughts. Fear puts people into fight or flight. Neither takes us forward. Need to look at & handle challenges differently. When we feel disempowered, our initial response is fight or flight. Both add fuel to the fire of a losing situation Protests can spark adversary, while awareness campaigns create positive interactions for future collaboration

Letting power in the hands of youth requires courage, and value from adults. We never know what great ideas are out there until we ask and most important listen!

Co-embracing the two-way learning and teach arrow demands valuing and listening! 5

Transitioning from awareness campaigns to action campaigns: o First: need awareness to incorporate more leaders; Second: co-develop action plans and implement together Resources Needed to Take Action: Networking, co-determined expected outcomes, co- created action plan with roles for each member There is something powerful about sharing your personal success plan with others, creating partnership, and a shared vision!

NOTES Content in this resource is summarized, changed and/or adapted to meet the needs of leaders. The Twitter #StuVoice & #StuAction conversations are included in this resource therefore the ideas and proposals listed in this document are from many youth leaders. CONTACT INFORMATION Clement A. Coulston Special Olympics Project UNIFY National Youth Activation Committee Youth Leader E-Mail Clement.Coulston@gmail.com Skype Clementc26 Follow Me www.twitter.com/clementc26 LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/clementcoulston