This graduate seminar aims to prepare effective leaders to cultivate a civil society.
The course rests on two fundamental principles. First, everyone has the capacity to lead. A leader is a catalyst for change, takes personal and social responsibility to work with others for a common good, and is guided by core values and ethics. Second, civil society refers to the space for collective action around common purposes and shared values. It engages a diverse range of nonprofit, philanthropic, and community agencies or systems, including grassroots NGOs, foundations, professional associations, faith-based organizations, social movements, coalitions, and advocacy groups. Efforts to advance a civil society may include, but are not limited to, promoting social and economic justice; collective impact; civic health; social cohesion, capital, and networks; the use of storytelling, social media, and data to persuasively share ideas; bridging expert knowledge to shape public policy; community engagement; collaborative change; and sustainability.
In light of this view of leadership and civil society, this course enables students to strengthen their professional development and capacity in two ways: (1) by articulating and refining a guiding personal philosophy of leadership that is grounded in leadership theory and the student’s individual strengths, culture, and values; and (2) by enhancing their capacity to cultivate a civil society by focusing on an issue that aligns with their professional interests through applying a range of knowledge, skills, networks, and strategies.
This course meets the core class requirement for students pursuing the certificate in Nonprofit Studies with the RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service. The course is open to diverse graduate students who want to develop their leadership philosophy and skills to impact their communities. Given this focus, the pace and content of this course will be driven, in part, by the individual and collective interests of the students who take the course.