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2013 Webinar: Systematic Civic Stewardship: An Organizing Model for Leading Change in the Social Sector | Monday, June 3, 2013

Presenter: William M. Snyder, Ph.D. of the Social Capital Group

Topic: Systematic Civic Stewardship: An Organizing Model for Leading Change in the Social Sector

Date: Monday, June 3, 2013 | 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT

 

Cities are becoming the most prominent context for social change in the world today, and they offer exciting opportunities for participative governance. A model of “systematic civic stewardship” frames the city as community-based, action-learning system. Leaders play key roles in neighborhood teams focused on local challenges (graduation rates, health outcomes, etc.), while learning and working with peers via city-wide communities of practice. We have much to learn about learning systems in any context—understanding how they work in communities and cities draws on organization experience and provokes new insights.

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Healthy Self-Reflection and Healing at Creating Space X

I was excited to attend my first Creating Space at the Annie E. Casey Foundation in Baltimore Maryland earlier this month. I was especially looking forward to meeting folks that make up our learning community and to take my understanding about leadership to the next level. The theme of this year’s Creating Space was breaking new ground as leadership development practitioners, evaluators, researchers and community organizers gathered to discuss what this means for social innovation.

 

But how do we strengthen ourselves in order to create change and break new ground? At Creating Space we learned the leadership development field is at a point of transition; that old leadership development frameworks are shattering, and that we are beginning to recognize and implement new community-led leadership models.

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Transition into the Managing Director Role

This is my first month as the Managing Director at LLC, after the board approved the decision to promote me a few weeks ago.  As some of you may know by following our articles on the LLC transition, this has been an interesting process for me and for the entire organization;  exploring LLC’s goals for the future and the team that we need in order to get there. I received a great welcome to this new role from the board and the community during Creating Space and I would like to thank everyone for their support!   I would also like to share some of my ideas for the vision of LLC and what I hope to bring to the community to compliment the leadership team.

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Unleashing Innovation with Design Thinking

A while ago, I wrote an article introducing the design thinking methodology and its core elements.  I have continued to explore this methodology since then and have found it to be extremely relevant to our work in leadership development.  For instance, at our latest Creating Space meeting, one of our Design Team participants – Kenny Bailey, who is an expert on design thinking for social innovation  – had an idea about the design for the 3rd day of the convening.  He suggested that we move the group to an action oriented exercise and invite them to collaborate with teams to design solutions for a particular leadership problem, such as getting those who have not traditionally been at the table to participate in discussions about leadership.  The group came up with some pretty innovative ideas and the room felt energized and ready to take action.   As I continue to explore design thinking I would like to share some of my learnings with the community.

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Follow up on First Relationships, Then Results Webinar: Guest Blog Post by Stefan Lanfer

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Author: Stefan Lanfer, Knowledge Officer, Barr Foundation

Note: This is a follow up article for the recent webinar First Relationships, Then Results: A New Paradigm for Leadership Development, featuring Kimberly Haskins and Stefan Lanfer of the Barr Foundation

 

A New Paradigm for Leadership Development

What if, instead of barreling ahead, relentlessly focused on keeping their organizations afloat (until they burn out trying), effective nonprofit leaders started delegating more and more responsibility to staff – at once paving the way for a next generation of leaders, and freeing themselves to think about their own leadership in more expansive ways?  What would it take to affect such a shift? And what would emerge if, at the same time, a critical mass of these great leaders become a great network? read more »

LLC Member Spotlight: Stacy Kono, Rockwood Leadership Institute

LLC Member Spotlight: Stacy Kono, Rockwood Leadership Institute


We are excited this month to be highlighting our partnership work with Rockwood Leadership and in particular with Stacy Kono who is Rockwood's Fellowship Director. We have had a long standing relationship with Rockwood and more recently converged more through our work.  Through our partnership with Social Policy Research Associates, LLC had the opportunity to help evaluate the impact of the leadership development component of the Community Leadership Project.  Rockwood, one of the leadership providers for CLP ran leadership programs for people of color.  I was moved to sit in a circle with Stacy and a couple of Rockwood participants as they talked about the power of the experience.  One woman who talked about doing work in a community where tritip, football and Jesus are the background went on to say, “To have a space in beautiful place to talk about feelings was beautiful.  I am hurt and need to heal and want to heal others.  It was a gift.”  We are huge fans of Rockwood and all of the folks over there and are happy to have the opportunity to appreciate Stacy.

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Breaking New Ground in Leadership Development: What’s Money Got To Do With It?

In keeping with the theme of Creating Space X it seemed only appropriate to be on the lookout for innovations in approaches to supporting and developing leadership.  Linetta Gilbert of The Declaration Institute, called a session on how to reach people who are being left behind.  I was intrigued and moved to attend.  I believe that everyone has leadership potential but I am not sure that we have begun to wrap our minds around what it would mean to reach everyone who wants to lead (or maybe in their words, “make a difference in their community” and provide them with the support and resources they need to succeed.  I am very carefully avoiding the terminology of “leadership development” which for good reason always sparks some good controversy, but which is a topic for another blog. 

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Leadership Restructuring: Lessons from Month Six

Promoting Leadership Within Our Organizations is a Big Win!  Why aren’t more people doing it?


Yay!  The board whole heartedly endorsed Natalia to be the new Managing Director for the Leadership Learning Community on May 8th.  Because getting board buy in is important, I think it’s worth explaining why this was a seamless “no brainer”.  Board members have been able to experience firsthand the improvements that Natalia has brought to LLC in her role as Marketing/Communications Director.  For example, Natalia has consistently (and persistently) professionalized LLC’s communications internally and externally.  You can thank her for our excellent monthly webinar series and robust monthly newsletter.  Having good ideas and resources won’t amount to much unless you can get them in front of people and Natalia definitely has; we have gone from a community of 800 people to 3,500 under Natalia’s leadership.  She also took the lead in an operations audit that introduced many new project management tools to LLC; time tracking tools, capacity projection tools, budget development tools, timeline tools and….she likes this stuff!

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Creating Space: What’s Next?

We want to thank everyone who attended the tenth Creating Space earlier this month in Baltimore, MD – all 130 of you.  We hope that it was a space for everyone to reflect, have dynamic discussions, and make relevant connections.  Once again, we want to thank our wonderful Design Team for helping to plan the event and be responsive to the evolving needs of the group.   read more »