On December 17, 2019, students from Compass Community Collaborative School in Fort Collins, Colorado, presented artwork from the Being the Change through the Lens seminar in the Illumined Youth Art Exhibition.
The 6 elements of Transformative Leadership framework and the four capabilities that better interpersonal relationships were displayed for peers, family, and community during the Illumined Youth Art Exhibition.
Compass students and participants of Being the Change through the Lens seminar enjoy photo mobiles that express newly developed skills in basic photography and are inspired by the elements and capabilities of Transformative Leadership.
Students explored capabilities that help them nurture positive and authentic relationships with others, practiced skills and techniques with cameras and experimented with diverse lighting in preparation for the Illumined Youth Photo Exhibition. For several weeks we explored and practiced the Transformative Leadership capabilities that better interpersonal relationships, such as:
- Imbuing thoughts and actions with love,
- Giving encouragement,
- Effective consultation and,
- Promoting unity in diversity
In another seminar students formed creative working groups and learned how to photograph in manual mode, setting shutter speed and aperture as they used a variety of lights to create designs and words with light. The class was asked, “how do youth light the world?” and were invited to express themselves through painting with light. Each student created a unique piece of art that captured their vision of inspiration and creative expression.
Talen, age 12, who has been engaged in Transformative Leadership seminars for over a year stated, “Transformative Leadership has helped me become a better person by having better relationships with family and friends. A capability that I practice is promoting unity in diversity.” When reflecting on the capability of promoting unity in diversity, Talen said: “It has helped me when I have a disagreement with someone. I say to myself that it is okay if we have different opinions and beliefs. What we believe shouldn’t define us or restrain us from having unified relationships.”
During our recent photography session Illumined Youth, Talen integrated this capability into his photo. Talen reflected that “some people see rain as a sad, gloomy, depressing thing. But I think rain is beautiful & refreshing. Rain is like mother nature’s way of washing away the bad. I want my photo to inspire others to not be one-sided. I want to help others to see things in a different ‘light’.”
Ryden, a Compass student taking the Being the Change thru the Lens seminar for the first time shared that he was “attracted to taking photos that had light and make others happy.” It was exciting to see Ryden use his creative initiative in composing photos. “I want to make challenging photos that look interesting”, stated Ryden when we were reflecting on our learning through action. His creative vision was expressed when we worked with light painting.
He chose to draw a sword and shield of light to represent how youth arise to overcome today’s challenges. I have found when using the Transformative Leadership framework for personal and social transformation and teaching photography skills, it creates a foundation for young people to see the world with their own eyes, fosters powers of expression that are sometimes difficult to put into words which empowers them to inspire others through art and brings meaning and purpose to life.
Opal, another student of Transformative Leadership reflected on the capability of imbuing thoughts and actions with love. She said, “I learned that I am a very caring person. I think I have always known that but I feel like I have more tools to show that now.” She continued, “my photography has grown with love because I take photos of things I find beautiful.” Recently Opal had the opportunity to travel to Belize with her family which provided her with time for further reflection. She shared, “I would say that I have grown because of my trip to Belize. It was humbling because there I am seen as ‘wealthy’ but here I am seen in society as ‘poor’. So when I catch myself feeling ungrateful I think of how the people in Belize live. I consciously fill my thoughts and actions with love.”
In addition to Opal practicing filling her thoughts and actions with love during her travels, she created watercolor art cards of ‘love’ and ‘encouragement’ for her peers at school. Opal shared why Transformative Leadership is important to share, “because it helps us change the world for the better in whatever we are doing.”
As the facilitator of the seminar, I strive to inspire the youth by sharing skills and techniques with the camera while integrating elements and capabilities of Transformative Leadership which cultivates personal and social transformation. The youth have so much to contribute to their social spaces. I am learning to listen and hear the voice of the youth through their art and to appreciate each individual’s thoughts, experiences, perspectives, difficulties, and joys. Transformative Leadership enables them to take ownership of their learning by creating photographs filled with a vision of purpose. I have seen a student’s face light up with excitement and joy as they talk about their work. It is beautiful.
The power of the youth is filled with potential. They have the power to create beauty, influence peers for positive change and express their vision for the world they want to live in. I am witness to how impactful and transformative their work is to themselves personally, to peers, families and to their educators and community members. They inspire everyone to be the change. Youths are the light that illumines the world.