Program Overview

Started in 2016, the Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Program is a social justice cohort-based program that aims to cultivate the skills and leadership capacities of CDI mentees. The program centers equity-assets based approaches to skill development and application and seeks to provide alternatives to toxic leadership models. Cohort members will be supported in identifying their leadership styles and goals and can expect to engage in team meetings, develop service-learning projects, and gain tangible skills and knowledge about salient equity and justice topics.

Program Goals

• Goal #1: Develop leadership skills, capacity and philosophy for a more just and humane world.

  • 1.1 Develop a personal leadership philosophy rooted in equity and justice.

  • 1.2 Cultivate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with effective and socially responsible leadership.

  • 1.3 Critically analyze one’s social identities through the exploration of power, privilege, and oppression to understand how these impacts one’s worldview.

• Goal #2: Engage in critical analysis utilizing an intersectional framework to be able to identify socio-cultural structures and their impact on individuals and communities.

  • 2.1 Understand how the Roger’s Park landscape, community dynamics and individual experiences are shaped by institutions, policies, movements and distribution of resources.

  • 2.2 Develop an understanding on salient equity, inclusion and justice topics.

  • 2.3 Explore issues of power, privilege and oppression and will highlight the importance of an intersectional approach to strive to develop social justice campaigns to counteract unjust systems and practices.

• Goal #3: Center community assets-based approaches as a practice to promote a culture of service that respects the dignity of every person.

  • 3.1 Utilize a community assets-based approach to identify and advocate for people-driven priorities and goals.

  • 3.2 Gain an understanding of the strategies of organizing and mobilizing campaigns to advance social justice efforts in solidarity with marginalized communities.

  • 3.3 Understand how to form sustainable and equitable partnerships with local community organizations.

• Goal #4: Deepen the legacy of Ignatius Loyola by committing to a social responsibility of advancing justice, to act what is learned in service to humanity and to be a person for others.

  • 4.1 Strengthen one’s ability to practice cultural humility.

  • 4.2 Engage students with the tools and theories needed to become successful change makers and leaders.

  • 4.3 Further a commitment to social justice through critical reflection and action.