"Only in community can we discover the best course of action, claim our power, and act in unity."
-Margo Adair and Sharon Howell
This project is designed to develop new leaders for the disability rights movement. It incorporates evidence-based training from the literature and recommendations from collaborators in the disabilities community. Further, the project addresses gaps in current leadership approaches by emphasizing the interdependence between leaders and their communities and addresses a critical need for disability leadership in Michigan.
People with disabilities between the ages of 20 and 35 are paired with existing leaders in their community and these teams engage in multiple developmental and action learning experiences including: 1) attending leadership development trainings; 2) attending peer-to-peer learning environments; and 3) implementing a leadership project in their community.
To foster opportunities for practice, leadership teams will pursue a mini-grant project within their community. Mini-grants provide an action-learning activity that connects future leaders, their mentors, and communities to social change.
Throughout the program, extensive research will be conducted. The research team will assess the development of participatory competencies, the working alliance between partners, and impact on community readiness to change. MSU faculty will follow-up with protégés to learn of their current connections and sustainability successes.