LifeWorks facilitates is a six-semester civic leadership program, with each semester having particular desired outcomes related to a knowledge base, skill set, and core values commitment. The leadership program is for any student interested in strengthening leadership as he or she engages the campus, the local community, and the wider world. The program consists of weekly one-hour group meetings, accompanied by a commitment by each student to engage in at least 1 or 2 hours of service each week. Each semester, five weeks are devoted to the achieving the desired knowledge outcome, five weeks for the desired skills outcome, and five weeks for the disposition outcome. These outcomes are:

First semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks introduces the students to the art of appreciative inquiry (asking good questions) as a way to build a knowledge base for meaningful engagement.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on sharpening time management skills as the students’ engagements in the classroom, on campus, and in the wider community create competing demands for their time.

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of imagination—cultivating a disposition of discovery and attitude of amazement that will attack apathy and battle boredom as the students engage the campus and wider community.

Second semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks centers on the knowledge base of identity development and self-awareness as the students deepen an understanding of their role as engaged citizens.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on engaged, attentive, active listening as applied in the classroom, on campus, and in the wider community.

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of courage—cultivating a disposition of responsible risk-taking and facing down fears as the students engage the campus and wider community.

Third semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks centers on the knowledge base of interest group politics around the social issue the students choose.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on the skills of group facilitation and assets mapping.

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of respect—cultivating a disposition of appreciative understanding across various lines of difference.

Fourth semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks introduces students to the knowledge base of advocacy and why advocacy has been such a potent force for social change throughout history.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on sharpening skills of speech and civil discourse in the students’ engagements in the classroom, on campus, and in the wider community.

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of integrity—cultivating a disposition of honesty based on genuine connections—between words and deeds, actions and beliefs, building trust with allies, opponents, and people in power.

Fifth semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks focuses on exploring career options that connect with the social issue the students have chosen to engage.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on resource development—both fundraising (financial resource development) and volunteer recruitment and management (human resource development).

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of enthusiasm—cultivating a disposition of positive energy and initiative in the classroom, on campus, and in the wider community.

Sixth semester:

Knowledge Base: The focus during these five weeks asks the students to look back over the past five semesters of work in the program and synthesize the knowledge they have gained.

Skill Set: The focus during these five weeks centers on sharpening skills of evaluation as the students look back at their previous five semesters’ work and evaluate the learning and the service they have engaged in.

Disposition: The focus during these five weeks centers on the value of appreciation—cultivating a disposition of gratitude as the students look back over all their experiences of the previous five semesters and name the important influences on their lives.

For more information on the Civic Leadership program, contact Stan Dotson, Dean of LifeWorks, at 828-689-1161, sdotson@mhc.edu.