LEAD California is pleased to announce that we are continuing our Community of Practice (started in 2020) with our new Community of Practice for Directors. This group will meet throughout the 2022-2023 academic year to connect and support each other in the role of leading their community engagement centers. We have several openings available for this 8-month experience (October – April).
COP FOR DIRECTORS OVERVIEW
The Community of Practice for Directors is an 8-month initiative specifically tailored to support directors at LEAD California member campuses who are implementing service, service-learning, and community engagement. Co-facilitated by Dr. David Donahue and Dr. Elaine Ikeda, this virtual CoP is designed to create an intentional space for up to 12 directors from service-learning or community engagement centers to come together once a month for 90 minutes to share the challenges they face and discuss possible actions to consider in addressing these challenges.
The first meeting for the 2022-23 year will begin in October. Please feel free to reach out to Elaine if you wish to know more.
WHAT COP OFFERS
We are a resilient community! We recognize that the past couple of years have presented new and different challenges. We have witnessed your commitment, creativity, courage and resiliency as we have dealt with the ever-changing landscape of our work.
This virtual 8-month community of practice is designed to create an intentional space for up to 12 directors from service-learning or community engagement centers to come together on a regular basis to:
- Create and deeply engage in an inclusive learning community in which all experiences are honored and their challenging questions are explored.
- Reflect on the gifts, passions, and identity they bring to this work.
- Expand their leadership capacity to sustain and grow service-learning and civic and community engagement in their institutions and in the field.
- Learn tools and strategies to strengthen their ability to foster and deepen their campus’s engagement with communities.
- Explore the tensions and challenges inherent in the work.
- Envision and strategize how they can help shape the future of the field in California.
- Develop an individual action plan to support personal and professional development.
- Rejuvenate and reflect via various contemplative and self-care practices.
“I got to enter a community of practice, where I was paired with other directors of centers similar to mine at a diversity of institutions around California… it’s just so refreshing to have people across the state that LEAD California brought together. I’m really excited – I think it is one of the most important things with LEAD California – bringing professionals like myself and others together so that we are doing right by this work, and we are finding ways to really engage in meaningful ways.
Patrick Furlong, Director of the Center for Service and Action, Loyola Marymount University
UNIQUE FEATURES OF THIS COP
Unique features of this Community of Practice include:
- Networking and learning in a small group setting.
- Co-creation of a supportive and powerful learning community.
- A team of facilitators to support, guide, and challenge the group.
- A commitment to inclusion and equity woven throughout the program.
- Participant input to identify compelling topics.
- A focus on strategies for various campus and community contexts.
- Opportunities for reflection.
CALL FOR COP APPLICATIONS
Now accepting applications for the 2022-2023 Community of Practice for Directors.
Application Deadline: Friday August 12th, 2022 at 4pm