Before you fill out the LEAD Application, please read the text below carefully.
The LEAD Project: Building Communities of Color
Leading through Education, Activism, and Diversity
The Asian American Activities Center, Black Community Services Center, and El Centro Chicano are proud to announce The LEAD Project:
Building Communities of Color, a leadership development course open to undergraduate students interested in exploring issues of collaboration
across Stanford’s ethnic communities. The program consists of one Fall quarter weekend retreat with fellow Stanford students, continues with
weekly class meetings and project planning, and culminates with a student-designed and executed social change project in the Winter quarter.
Students may receive one unit of academic credit per quarter (Fall & Winter) for their participation in LEAD.
THE SOCIAL CHANGE MODEL
The professional staff of the ethnic community centers have offered LEAD, since 1999, as training for emerging leaders, based on the Social
Change Model of Leadership Development. We believe that the model’s framework of collaborative, non-hierarchical leadership is a useful tool
for students searching for effective methods of working across communities.
The Social Change model emphasizes value-based, collaborative and non-hierarchical leadership as a means for diverse groups and individuals to
create effective movements for social change. The Social Change Model of leadership was designed to “instill in young persons a strong sense
of civic responsibility and a desire for social change.” The seven core values (consciousness of self, congruence, commitment, collaboration,
common purpose, controversy with civility and citizenship) stressed by the model are reinforced by the action of social change. Through the
creation of this program, the center staff also included an eighth core value of community.
The retreat will orient students to the model through discussion and experiential exercises. Following the retreat, students will continue
to learn about social change and leadership through weekly class meetings. Participants will also plan and execute a social change activity or
program in a small group setting, thereby increasing their understanding of the Social Change model through its practical application.
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
Space is limited to 4-8 students per center. Students will be selected by the staff of the community centers, with consideration given to our
desire to have a diverse, representative sample of students from each of the centers. Prior involvement in the community centers or leadership
experience is not required.
LOGISTICS
Retreat transportation, overnight accommodations and meals will be provided. This program is funded by the Asian American Activities Center,
the Black Community Services Center, and El Centro Chicano; there will be no cost to program participants.
PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS
Since one of the main purposes of LEAD is to foster cross community collaboration that requires that all participants be present, the following
requirements are mandatory for all program participants:
- Attend the pre-retreat meeting (Thursday prior to the retreat)
- Be present for the entire LEAD offsite retreat. (Friday October 24th and Saturday October 25th)
- Attend weekly course meetings (Every Thursday 4:30-6:00pm)
- Complete a social change project determined by students in small groups as assigned at the retreat.
If you wish to be apply to the LEAD program, click on the link below.