WKK Spotlight
More than a third of the way into the program and the class three fellows are thriving!
Earlier this year, we gathered 80 leaders from across WKKF’s priority places — Michigan, New Mexico, New Orleans and Mississippi for four days of immersive leadership development, collaboration, and learning in Washington, D.C.
Across these four days, fellows learned about the importance of building trust with the communities they serve, as well as the importance of intentionality in community engagement practices. They also had the opportunity to check in with one another and offer practical support to their fellow fellows.
We are so proud of the progress the fellows have made so far, and are excited to share some of their reflections as we prepare for our third gathering in New Mexico this May!
Let’s Talk About Trust
So many of the communities we serve have had their trust broken by failing systems.
Hear fellows reflect upon the importance of fostering trust within their communities, what are barriers to that process, and how the fellowship is helping them gain tools and insights for promoting true healing and change.
Fellows Journey Reflections, Six Months In
Class three fellows enjoy a welcome dinner at the National Museum of the American Indian.
With all the progress fellows have made, it’s hard to believe it’s only been six months.
The WKKF Community Leadership Network with the Center for Creative Leadership fellowship offers hands-on development, personalized coaching, peer networking and practical experience.
We sat down with fellows to discuss their experiences thus far and the practical tools and approaches that have already begun to make an impact in their leadership practices.
Living History
The past is never far behind us.
As part of the four-day experience, fellows had the opportunity to visit several museums in the D.C. area, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
These visits helped put the fellows’ journeys into historical and cultural context. Inspired by the work of their predecessors, we asked fellows to share their first impressions, and how these stories influence their understanding of themselves and their responsibility to generations yet to come.
Cooperative Planning, Intelligent Study and Group Action
Effective community engagement is an intentional process. Within the WKKF framework, we represent this process as a reinforcing continuum of intelligent study, cooperative planning and group action.
During our class three gathering in Washington, D.C, several fellows engaged in a roundtable discussion on how the WKKF community engagement model has impacted their approaches to leadership and the importance of trust and healing when working with the communities they serve.
This journey is not an easy one. We ask leaders to come to each gathering expecting to do deep inner work, and we are continually impressed by the vulnerability and accountability of all the fellows. We thank you for cheering the fellows on, and are excited to share more reflections as the program proceeds.