Based on my experience building the the Mavericks of Social Change collective, I was contracted during my 3rd year at Dalhousie University to spearhead the creation of a new community leadership development program within the student union.
The vision of the student union program was born out of a desire for the DSU to play a more active role in cultivating and connect student leadership networks, and enabling them to pursue bold system changing ideas on campus and in the community. The aim was to create a safe space for new leaders to step forward, find their allies, test out new ideas, and build consensus for campus priorities.
With the support of one of the most inspired teams' I've ever worked with and widespread buy-in from across campus, we put forward a series of regularly hosted events, micro-grants, created a physical hub space (called "the Sandbox"), and provided 'ongoing network navigation' support.
The program continually evolved over the course of four years, Incubating dozens of independent student-led spinoffs and laying the foundation for many institutional-led initiatives to respond to priorities emerging from community. The program eventually grew to be supported by five student staff and dozens of committed volunteers.
On a personal level it also led to some of the most profound learning and relationships of my university career, for which I feel very grateful.
Highlights:
- Engaged over 300 students per year in early stage project ideation, networking and incubation leading to the creation of dozens of new projects
- Built community of practice via bi-weekly idea-sharing circles
- Established physical hub space ("the Sandbox") as a home for campus community builders
- Increased overall leadership development support funding by$60,000+ through consensus building amongst DSU Executives and Council, and by leveraging relationships with Faculty Deans and Senior Administration and private partners
- Established $5000 "Social Innovation Challenge" to incentivize innovation and continuity
- Drastically revised Society Policy to reduce red tape to society start-up process