jkerr – Transformative Leadership

Youth Move The World Thru Transformative Leadership

Watercolor art inspired and symbolizing the society-building power of youth moving the world.

Transformative Leadership for Youth and Releasing the Society-Building Powers of Youth integrated multimedia art within the 8 weeks sessions and provided the online community culture where skills in graphic art, photography, music, and media were nurtured through professional accompaniment and encouragement. Diverse art was created and inspired by the youth’s innate attraction to beauty and thirst for knowledge combined with their commitment to personal and social transformation. It is clear that youth are the change we want to see in the world and through our recent sessions, the youth have cultivated authentic friendships founded on mutual support imbued with passion and purpose of service to humanity.

Digital art designed and created by Anis Neakakhtar, one of the youth participants in the Transformative Leadership for Youth empowerment seminar with Wilmette Institute.

In the midst of the world pandemic and the immensity of today’s challenges, youth from around the world have dedicated themselves to study and service through Transformative Leadership and the arts. In the most recent youth seminars hosted by Wilmette Institute, youth ages 11-17 investigated humanity’s current need for a new model of shared-leadership based on ethical principles, scientific evidence and strengthened a new conceptual framework of 6 elements and 18 capabilities that support personal transformation, better interpersonal relationships, and contribute to social transformation.

The Transformative Leadership conceptual framework provides the support to live a life of material and spiritual coherence. It has complemented youth in their engagement in the Ruhi Institute society-building activities and fostered greater capabilities as they engage in the three areas of endeavors; expansion and consolidation, social action and societal discourse. In addition, vital to the processes of personal and social transformation are the relationships within the family. Youth have applied their learning within their families by imbuing thoughts and actions with love, practicing effective consultation, giving encouragement and promoting unity in diversity. Ultimately, their commitment to principles of love, unity, justice, truthfulness and unity are cultivating families and community through conscious knowledge, volition with purpose and action inspired with love.

Fiber art crafted by Ruha Ghafoori representing promoting unity in diversity, the capability that betters interpersonal relationships.

Youth translated learning and new insights through many forms of art including photography. The above image photographed by Kian Bahin-Aein captured one of the elements from the Transformative Leadership conceptual Framework; the development of capabilities.

The Youth Move the World video is dedicated to all the youth and their commitment to being the change we want to see in the world. It shares a highlight of the art created by youth and is a celebration of their society-building powers that are fostering and building an ever-advancing civilization. Our next Transformative Leadership for Youth sessions will begin on January 16. For more information visit wilmetteinstitute.org or contact Jessica Kerr, lead faculty for Transformative Leadership for Youth, jkerr@wilmetteinstitute.org.

For older youth and adults who have studied the conceptual framework of Transformative Leadership, a level-2 course, “Cultivating the Capabilities of Transformative Leadership”, focusing on the 18 capabilities of Transformative Leadership that contribute to personal transformation, improving interpersonal relations, and bettering society will begin on February 25. For more information write to translead9@gmail.com or go to https://wilmetteinstitute.org/courses/capabilities-of-tl/

The level-1 adult course “Cultivating Transformative Leadership” for those who have not previously studied the framework will begin on April 1

Youth Light the World through Transformative Leadership

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

Participants in one seminar learned basic photography skills and were invited to photograph their environment and each other through the lens of capabilities that better interpersonal relationships.

Photos by Compass students during Being the Change through the Lens seminar.

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.”

Watercolored card art imbued with love and encouragement created by Compass student.

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.”

Photo of Jessica Kerr, facilitator of Being the Change Through the Lens, taken by Compass student.

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.

A Reflection on Relationships by a High School Student

What makes a relationship? Is it the bonds and connections with other people? Is it how we feel towards ourselves? The answer is, both. Interpersonal and personal relationships are fundamental to being human. Relationships are necessary; unfortunately, they can be challenging to manage.

Do you have perfect relationships in your life? When was the last time someone told you that their relationships were perfect? No one has ideal relationships. People aren’t perfect.

Environments and opportunities dedicated to learning, analyzing and practicing relationship skills are valuable, especially for young people. I personally partake in these activities as a high school student.
I do my best to make sure that my thinking is always self-reflective and analytical. In our Transformative Leadership seminar, we listened to an extract from the audiobook Giving Love and Encouragement, then looked at what we can do to fill our minds with positive thoughts. It was very reflective. Questions included “What actions resulted from these positive thoughts?” and “Share examples of actions you have taken in the last 2 days that have contributed to positive thoughts.” I found these questions interesting; not only do they ask for a reply, they ask you to take responsibility for your actions or lack thereof.

Group of students reading and answering reflection questions on “Imubing Thoughts and Action with Love”, one of the capabilities of Transformative Leadership that betters interpersonal relationships.

*Handout with questions and answers*
*from a recent seminar.*

As a young person, I go to school. I am continuously surrounded by the type of relationship issues people have in their lives. Common ones encompass friend drama, lack of trust between parent and child, and the pressures of graduating from high school and applying for college as well as authority figures who are disconnected from what we are facing every day. As a teenager, these matters are life. Your parents are in charge of everything, you need good grades to graduate, and problems with friends can feel like the world is crashing and burning.

Students consult on how elements of Transformative Leadership can be applied to everyday challenges.

This last week, we did a puzzle-like exercise. Every participant wrote down a situation that included problems youth face today. These situations were not light topics. They included bullying, depression, suicide, and abuse. We then mixed all the situations up and gave one to each group. The groups were to look at the areas related to the situations, and find where the 6 elements of Transformative Leadership would be effective. This was to exhibit the use Transformative Leadership has in real-life situations.

*Exploring and applying the element Transcendence from the Transformative Leadership framework to address challenges in daily life.*

My partner and I collaborated well. We were able to work together to find the elements we thought fit with each of the situations. We had two specific ideas on this. She made the point that Transformative Leadership isn’t always sufficient when dealing with themes like depression. I thought it was fascinating how an awful lot of accountability is put onto every person. In the end, we both came up with Transcendence as the appropriate element to apply to topics such as depression, suicide, and abuse. Transcendence consists of looking toward eternal values and achieving a broader vision in order to overcome challenges. Getting assistance from professionals can easily be incorporated into Transcendence.

*Bella Kerr and peer consult on problems youth face daily and explore how elements of Transformative Leadership can help better these challenges.*

Recently, I have been becoming aware of how much everything depends on perspective. We all have choices in life, I have been practicing Transcendence to look outside myself. Transformative Leadership is one of the driving factors behind this. Relationships give purpose, that’s why it hurts so much when they are lost. They take a lot of management and care, but if both sides contribute and make an effort, it’s worth it.

Bella is a sophomore at a school in Fort Collins, Colorado. She is the founder of DanceAgents a grassroots dance group that empowers and inspires youth through positive change and the arts. Bella serves on the board of Intercultural Community Builders, a Fort Collins based nonprofit that promotes diversity education and training for middle & high school students. She strives to ‘be the change’ through learning and action while mentoring peers.