Grassroots Leadership – A Call to Action!

Grassroots Leadership – A Call to Action! Leadership in Recovery Retreat October 7-9, 2008

What makes a leader? • “To lead” means “to make go” or “to guide” • “A leader” - “a person who has commanding authority or influence” • What do YOU think? • Name five qualities Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Qualities of Leaders • Leaders: • Must change and adapt • Are “equal partners” • Share power • Work collaboratively • Accomplish community vision • Address the needs of followers Helen Keller Rosa Parks

What makes a leader? • Name some leaders who come to mind…..

The Challenge of Leadership • Feelings of uncertainty • Tough to make time for community issues • Other challenges? Nelson Mandela

The Challenge of Leadership • Ask yourself: • Am I paying enough attention to the values, culture and tone in the organization/community where I’m involved? • Am I doing all I can to bring out the best in others? • Am I modeling the values I believe in? • What other leadership actions should I be adding? Mother Theresa

The Challenge of Leadership • Do I share in leadership roles? • Am I developing my ability to work with others as a team leader and member? • Am I a lifelong learner? Mohandas Gandhi

Citizen Leadership/Community Leadership • Citizen leaders work at the grassroots: • Concerned about quality of life in their community • Take ownership of problems and opportunities • Help others to identify solutions • Realize that people must gain from AND contribute to the problem solving process Bob Kafka

Community/Grassroots Leadership • How to be empowering? • No one has ALL the answers • Most everyone wants to influence decisions • Need to access information • Enlarge the power base • Give and accept power and responsibility • Share knowledge and interests • Share vision and goals Dorthea Dix

Community/Grassroots Leadership • Seven steps to becoming a better citizen • Be a team player • Be courteous • Act constructively • Be a good sport • Be conscientious • Celebrate the success of others • Believe in fairness “… ask what you can do for your country.” - JFK

Community/Grassroots Leadership • The process of working with a group to achieve mutual goals • Leadership is the group’s property • Any individual may assume or acquire leadership • There is a leader within us all! Fannie Lou Hamer

Community/Grassroots Leadership • Build advocacy skills by DOING • Build advocacy currency • Community Support Program (CSP) Committees • Advisory Boards • Boards of Directors • Advocacy Actions • Political Activities • More!

Community/Grassroots LeadershipDeveloping a Plan – Step One To be successful we need: 1. Community Vision - A clear vision of what we want to accomplish! • Simply stated: • The issue to address • The ability to envision what could be better • The vision must be shared by members of the community

Community/Grassroots LeadershipDeveloping a Plan – Step Two 2. Community Communication • Your message • Communicating your Community Vision • How do you convince others that your vision is important?

Community/Grassroots LeadershipDeveloping a Plan – Step Three 3. Community Collaboration • A process of working with others • Creating community ownership by involving the community in identifying issues and defining solutions and strategies

Community/Grassroots LeadershipDeveloping a Plan – Step Four 4. Community Action • A clear, concise plan • How to make the Community Vision a reality • People working together with energy and excitement!

Community/Grassroots LeadershipDeveloping a Plan – Four Steps 1. Community Vision - A clear vision of what we want to accomplish! 2. Community Communication - Your message that Communicates the Community Vision 3. Community Collaboration - A process of working with others 4. Community Action - A clear, concise plan of how to make the Community Vision a reality

Grassroots Leadership – A Call to Action! • Time to roll up our sleeves and get to work

Grassroots Leadership – A Call to Action!