Social Change Model

The Social Change Model of Leadership Development

At Kenyon, within the Office of Housing and Residential Life, the Social Change Model of Leadership Development is used to help shape the leaders of future generations. It is our goal to develop well-rounded students through education and experiences outside the classroom. We teach students what it means to be responsible community members, committed students, and trust-worthy peers. We promote relationships based upon inclusivity, mutual support, conflict resolution, self-awareness, and ultimately, aim to develop positive change agents who will impact the world in meaningful ways.

Over the past couple years our staff has implemented the seven principles of this leadership development model. The seven C's listed below are a foundation for the work we do on a daily basis. At the core of these principles lies the belief in people- that when given the opportunity to give back to their community, people will give in more significant ways than they ever imagined; that when meeting others from different walks of life, people will build relationships and make connections in ways they had not envisioned; and that when people work together, they work for the betterment of the group and not for personal gain.

Citizenship: Occurs when one becomes responsibly connected to the community/society in which one resides by actively working toward change to benefit others through care, service, social responsibility, and community involvement.

Common Purpose: Necessitates and contributes to a high level of group trust involving all participants in shared responsibility towards collective aims, values, and vision.

Collaboration: Multiplies a group's effort through collective contributions, capitalizing on the diversity and strengths of the relationships and interconnections of individuals involved in the change process. Collaboration assumes that a group is working towards a Common Purpose, with mutually beneficial goals, and serves to generate creative solutions as a result of group diversity, requiring participants to engage across difference and share authority, responsibility, and accountability for its success.

Controversy with Civility: Within a diverse group, it is inevitable that differing viewpoints will exist. In order for a group to work toward positive social change, open, critical, and civil discourse can lead to new, creative solutions and is an integral component of the leadership process. Multiple perspectives need to be understood, integrated, and bring value to a group.

Consciousness of Self: Requires an awareness of personal beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions. Self-awareness, conscious mindfulness, introspection, and continual personal reflection are foundational elements of the leadership process.

Congruence: Requires that one has identified personal values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions and acts consistently with those values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions. A congruent individual is genuine and honest and "walks the talk."

Commitment: Requires an intrinsic passion, energy, and purposeful investment toward action. Follow-through and willing involvement through commitment lead to positive social change.

Source: Leadership for a Better World (Komives, Wagner, et al, 2009).