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In what seemed like overnight, the world transformed before our eyes. As COVID-19 spread throughout nations, countries and communities, life as we knew it became a recent memory. Our new reality was no more school, going to work, or basic community activities. Schools, businesses, churches, community centers closed down everywhere and stay-at-home mandates were put in place to prevent a widespread outbreak and needless deaths. We are living in unprecedented times that are historic and have potential detrimental effects on people from all backgrounds and cultures.
As challenging as our “new normal” has been, there is one group of our human family that was especially challenged with our current conditions, but has arisen to face them with resilience, perseverance, loftiness of purpose, and the fortitude to bring hope and unity to their families and community.
Through the collective vision and partnership with Wilmette Institute, our team was able to launch a 6-week Transformative Leadership seminar for youth 11-17 years old with the goal of meeting the immediate needs of youth who were cut-off from school and friends due to quarantine policies. Over 60 youth completed the course on May 8th and are eagerly awaiting the course on Capabilities that Contribute to Personal and to Social Transformation, open only to graduates of the first course. Both that course and a course for new participants will begin on May 25. It is important that interested youth sign up now before the new course fills up.
Upon reflecting on our experience, we found that the youth were eager to learn and enjoyed building friendships with peers from different parts of the world. Our daily 1-hour zoom sessions included study, discussion, and reflection on the Transformative Leadership conceptual framework. Some of the topics included:
- Our context: humanity’s past and current stages of social evolution
- 3 key functions for a group to progress and succeed
- Questioning common mental models of human nature, society and leadership
- The 6 elements of the conceptual framework of Transformative Leadership
- Service-Oriented Leadership
- The Purpose of Leadership: Personal and Social Transformation
- The Fundamental Moral Responsibility: Investigation and Application of Truth
- A Conviction of the Essential Nobility of the Human Being
- Transcendence
- Development of Capabilities
- Learning and applying the 4 capabilities that better interpersonal relations
- Imbuing Thoughts & Actions with Love
- Giving Encouragement
- Effective Group Consultation
- Promoting Unity in Diversity
- Formulating a Change Agent statement and a Transformative Family Action plan
Youth expressed their learning through music, graphic art, photography, writing, and multimedia art. Special guests visited weekly and presented on topics, such as: COVID-19, how music can contribute to the betterment of society, and the importance of developing capabilities in science and engineering.
Below, we share comments and artwork from some of the youth.
SERVICE-ORIENTED LEADERSHIP
The Transformative Leadership conceptual framework defines the purpose of leadership as personal and social transformation. It is service-oriented leadership motivated by love or by commitment to an ideal. One project that helped participants identify and express a principle to which they were committed was to create a poster highlighting what was important to them. Below is one example with the youth’s comment.
“I loved learning about different ways of thinking and about leadership. …I have applied the learning to my life which has been very helpful, thinking about the higher nature and lower nature of humans. The inspiration was cool and I love all of the arts.”
“During this time I have really enjoyed learning about the different models of leadership that we see around us. It has helped me think of myself as a leader and I am looking forward to applying consultation skills and leadership when we get back to school. I have been able to think about the idea of service and gratitude.”
ESSENTIAL NOBILITY
One of the 6 elements of the Transformative Leadership conceptual framework is seeing others as essentially noble. The youth of today often experience difficulties in relationships that are hurtful, contentious, competitive, and disunified. We found that this element was especially important in our collective learning. As we strive to see the good and nobility in others, we in turn recognize and acknowledge the good and nobility in ourselves. This is expressed through the following photograph taken by one of the participants.
“I chose to capture a picture of our mailman who I think shows Essential Nobility. Throughout the virus, we always see him, doing his work happily with a spirit of service. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says that “Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship.” I think that our mailman does his work with a noble spirit every day and especially during this time, we are grateful.”
Another participant shared, “it was fun doing the project Illumined Youth where I learned long exposure and ‘painted with a flashlight’. I believe youth are the spark in the dark. Through our essential nobility we can illumine the world!”
INVESTIGATION AND APPLICATION OF TRUTH
The period of youth has been referred to as the “ choicest time in human life”. Strength and vigor are characteristics with which young people are endowed. Youth from all backgrounds expressed their connection to personal and spiritual beliefs through art that brought inspiration, beauty, and knowledge to all the participants. One example is from a Bahá’í youth.
“For me, the Bahá’í Faith is a way that I am able to find the truth. I love reading the Writings and being able to relate the words to my life. Independent Investigation is very important in the faith so I found a quote by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá and then tried to capture what he was saying in a picture.
‘Be like a well-cultivated garden wherein the roses and variegated flowers of heaven are growing in fragrance and beauty. It is my hope that your hearts may become as ready ground, carefully tilled and prepared, upon which the divine showers of the bounties of the Blessed Perfection may descend and the zephyrs of this divine springtime may blow with quickening breath.’
This image shows how God is like our roots, our lifeline, and the provider. This plant is growing on a steep hill. The hill can be a metaphor for our lives. There are times when life seems steep but there is still great potential.“
TRANSCENDENCE-CONNECTING TO ETERNAL, UNIVERSAL VALUES
“During quarantine, I’ve been going kayaking with my friend to watch the sunset and explore the mangroves, whenever the weather allows. I always see something new, or as my mom calls it, “the little beauties of nature”, and decided to take my camera to try and photograph some of my experiences. It was a lot harder than I thought, because a kayak constantly moves and I kept floating into the bushes and getting attacked by mosquitoes, but after a couple times, I finally started to get the hang of it. I love taking pictures of nature and am happy that I decided to take my camera with me. Kayaking is an amazing experience I am very lucky to have.”
CAPABILITIES OF IMBUING THOUGHTS & ACTIONS WITH LOVE AND GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT
Art serves as a perfect channel to imbue thoughts and actions with love and to give encouragement to others. Throughout our seminar youth created and shared projects filled with love, hope, and purpose to inspire each other, family, friends, and community. Below are a few examples from two youth who used watercolor and letter writing as a way to strengthen interpersonal relationships.
“When so many people are helping, such as doctors, mail carriers, nurses, and teachers, it is opening people’s eyes to how they can help. Personally, I have tried to thank these people with cards and signs. I am able to have meaningful conversations with people about how during this time, we have an opportunity to do things differently. For example, I think that this experience with the virus will plant a seed of gratitude within us and help us think about what we have. Overall, I think this transformative leadership course has helped me develop my skills and think with a broader mind.”
Another participant posted in our seminar forum photos of art designed to inspire friends. She shares, “I decided to create watercolor letters to send to some of my close friends and friends who may need to be checked up on. I was hoping that this could spread positivity to you also.”
CAPABILITIES OF SYSTEMIC THINKING AND CREATIVE INITIATIVE
“This picture represents to me all of us working together with systemic thinking. I think that thinking as one is especially important now to help each other better. “
Another capability this youth expressed was his creative initiative, as he applied his technical skills by creating a multi-exposure image that represented systemic thinking.
If you want to learn more about what the youth did in this workshop, Tuesday, May 19 at 8:30 p.m. EDT, Wilmette Institute will be sponsoring a webinar, in which some of the youth will share what they learned and how it has impacted their lives. You can register for the webinar at: https://wilmetteinstitute.org/transformative-leadership-for-youth/
We are also happy to announce and invite youth to join a second free, 6-week online Transformative Leadership for Youth seminar from May 25th through July 3. The seminar celebrates the dynamic power of youth and cultivates capabilities for personal and social transformation. The youth of the world embody the change we wish to see!