Leadership and Community Engagement Final

 

LDRS 3400

Leadership and Community Engagement Final

Congratulations on making it to the end. Thank you for all your hard work and collaboration. Your final will be both analytical and reflective and in two parts. Your responses to the questions will be evaluated on your elaboration depth and substance.

PART 1

(20 pts)

For part 1, we’ll use the interviews with community engagement leaders as our content.

Q1 – Reflection on the Interviews (10 pts)

Please read at least 5 interview reports (Module 9) from your classmates and then answer the following questions:

1. Whose reports did you read and how did you go about choosing which reports you would read? (5 pts)

2. Describe at least one thing you learned about leading community engagement or social change from each of the five reports.

Q2 – Analysis of Interviews (10 pts)

For this question, you’ll do a deeper more analytical dive into the interviews. Choose 5 interviews and hone in on questions 9-12. These can be the same interviews you reviewed in the first round, or you may choose different ones to reviews. I encourage you to choose reports that have longer summaries for the questions rather than shorter ones. This will help with the analysis. I’d like to see you do some real qualitative data analysis here. What you’re looking for are any themes you notice across the interviews when you compare responses to each of the questions. It will be interesting to see if there are definite themes about leading community engagement or social change across contexts.

One of the reasons I asked you to stick to the interview questions as they were written and to try to keep your interviewees talking with minimal encouragers is because, in research of this nature, words of your interviewees are your data. In pure qualitative research, researchers record and transcribe interviews and use the interviewees’ actual words as data. While you weren’t asked to transcribe your interviews and offered summaries of interviewees’ responses in your reports, I think we can still apply the same principles of qualitative data analysis. Therefore, we will use your summaries of interviewee’s responses to questions 9-12 as our data.

One way you might perform this kind of analysis, and I highly encourage to try this, is open a blank document and copy and paste each of the four interview questions. Then, copy and paste the responses from each of the 5 interviewees for each of the questions. After you’ve done this, read each response 2 or 3 times. Then, use different colored highlights to note words that are used across multiple responses or phrases that have similar meaning across multiple responses (SEE EXAMPLE BELOW for question 10 from the interview). Then, make some notations regarding any themes you might see across multiple interviews and encapsulate those themes into one sentence. You will likely notice 1-4 themes depending on the interviews you select.

EXAMPLE

What have you learned through leading these projects/initiatives?

Interview 1: One of the things that Nu’man said that she has learned and that stood out to me was her saying “nothing is done alone.” She told me she will do work on her own with contacting people or working with families who need their help, but

effort in making a real change. The Foundation is strong in its mission of

but if it was only a few people, the Sickle Cell Foundation of Georiga would not be where it is today.

Interview 2: I have learned how to connect with people on a personal level. This skill has allowed me to help people improve their lives and motivate people to take better care of themselves

Interview 3: Things that I have learned through leading these projects and initiatives are that sometimes you have to listen really hard before you’re even able to understand. An example she talked about was that she’s not a burn survivor, so she has had to do a lot of listening and understanding for what the community actually needs and how to best create initiatives and projects that best assist them.

Interview 4:

when giving to those in need not just giving what you want, but . Everyone deserves grace, everyone has a story.

Interview 5:

He said that things you are most passionate about you don’t give up on them no matter

how long it takes. That you have to believe that it can only become better in order to do so. (Note: this response did not have elements in common with the other responses)

Some themes that might be noted from these interviews:

Connecting with others is key. Helping others.

After you’ve completed your data analysis

a. Provide 2 to 3 themes you noticed and explain how you derived them from the responses. It may be that you didn’t find any themes for some

questions, or you may note themes across questions.

b. share what insights you gathered from your analysis. Let’s see some real reflection here.

PART 2 (10 pts)

Part 2: Reflection (10 pts)

Reflect on how you see yourself being an leader of community engagement and/or. social change in the future. With what cause(s) might you see yourself involved? How do you see yourself leading or participating in a service, advocacy, and/or activist capacity for your selected cause(s)? If you do not see yourself participating community engagement for social change, explain why. I’d like to see a well-elaborated response with real depth and substance. (1-2 paragraphs)

 it is all a group

 helping others

       Communication is key

giving what they need or would like

Leadership Interview Report

           For my Social Change leadership interview, I interviewed Tom Gonter, the chief development officer for MUST Ministries here in Atlanta. Tom attended Southern Polytechnic University and has been at MUST Ministries for seven years. He works at Communicorp and Rockfish Interactive in their marketing and media relations departments. His role with MUST Ministries is to work with donors to help secure donations and sponsorships, particularly with other companies throughout the Atlanta area. In addition to this, he is responsible for managing and maintaining several accounts with large corporations. I met him through a friend with whom I run a sports podcast; my friend brought him on to our weekly podcast as a guest. I chose to interview Tom because MUST Ministries is a group that I have donated to and volunteered with, so it was best to interview someone from a non-profit with whom I was familiar. Being familiar with Tom and what he does would provide a better interview. Because I had met Tom before, he told me that leadership, especially community leadership, is a collaborative process. It takes more than one person to change the world, so to change the world or even just a community, we need to commit to working together because that is the only way to fix the issues of the day. 

Interview Questions

Please tell me a little bit about yourself. What is your background? Background of your organization.

“My name is Tom Gonter; I am the Chief Development Officer at MUST Ministries, a Christian-based non-profit in Atlanta. I graduated from Southern Polytechnic, now KSU, with a degree in marketing. I bounced around a couple of companies working in media and marketing before coming to MUST Ministries in 2016. MUST Ministries is a volunteer-based 501c3 non-profit that tries to restore hope by meeting people’s basic needs, whether food, housing, healthcare, or anything else.”

1. What experiences with leading have you had leading community/civic engagement projects or initiatives?

“Through MUST Ministries, I have had the pleasure of leading many civic engagement projects and initiatives. During Thanksgiving, I help organize the Gobble Jog around Marietta Square, which raises funds to provide more for families during the Christmas season. I also help organize some of our charity golf tournaments, including our spring tournament on May 13th in Roswell. All the funds we raise go back into the organization so we can better provide for families.”

What community/social issues are/were you attempting to address?

“As a non-profit, we are attempting to address several social issues in the community. The Gobble Jog on Thanksgiving tries to combat hunger during the holiday season. We get grocery donations throughout the year from churches around the area, but Christmas is a hectic time of year. The money we raise from the jog goes straight into the food bank to provide for families.”

1. What change (if any) are/were you hoping to see happen because of your efforts?

“Well, ideally, we hoped to combat hunger in our areas. For example, our distribution center in Smyrna is right in the middle of a poorer area of town, and as a result, they need a lot of food resources, especially during Christmas. In addition to the Gobble Jog, we run food drives around that time of year because Christmas is a busy season.”

Please describe one of these projects/initiatives. What was involved?

“Well, a lot goes into organizing something as big as the Gobble Jog. You must go to the Marrietta City Council and ensure they are ok with giving up the area around the square on Thanksgiving morning. Then, we must talk to our corporate partners and organize their donations. And then, you must get the word out via posters, fliers, and social media so that people know how and where to sign up and how to donate. So, a lot of effort from many people goes into organizing an event like this.”

What was/is the goal(s)?

1. “Well, our goal for something like this is simple: we want to raise money first, and second, we want to raise awareness. We want to raise money to purchase the items needed to support the community. But we also want to make sure people are aware of the community’s needs so that if they have extra items lying around at home, they will donate them.”

Describe any partnerships you developed with other organizations and why you sought those relationships. 

“We have developed a lot of partnerships with other organizations around the Atlanta area; for example, Northside Hospital and PNC Bank are great supporters of ours. However, our strongest relationships are with the local churches and schools. You told me you live in Smyrna, and Smyrna Presbyterian Church is our fantastic partner; they hold canned food drives every couple of months that benefit the community. We sought these relationships because we believe that the local people are the ones who can provide the best for the community. Yes, it’s great to have corporate sponsors, but nobody knows the community’s needs like the community.”

Describe any activities you engaged in that connected you with the people/community who would be affected by the project/initiative.

1. “We engage a lot with people in the community; in your area, we provide a lot for elementary schools such as Norton Park, as I am sure you are aware. We provide it at several rates, whether paying for school lunches or giving our items from food drives to families at the school. We also put signs in front of the school directing people to our distribution center if they do not know about us.”

What challenges do you find in leading community/civic initiatives/projects?

“There are a lot of challenges when it comes to leading these community engagement projects. Our biggest problem right now is the lack of volunteers. Obviously, we have no shortage of volunteers during the holidays, but during the summer, when everyone is at the beach, we struggle to find people to help. Donations will come and go, but we need people willing to volunteer right now.”

What have you learned through leading these projects/initiatives?

1. “I have learned a lot through these projects. Obviously, you learn to become a better leader, but more importantly, you learn the needs of the community. Learning the needs of the community is far more important because once you know them, you can organize events to help meet those needs. And that is a crucial part of being a community leader.”

What kinds of things would you recommend people do if they want to lead efforts at community/social change?

“I recommend getting to know the people of the community first. You may think you know the community’s needs, but until you talk to them, you do not know anything. Leading a project is easy, but to be effective, you must lead the right project that meets the community’s needs correctly. And that is where people struggle. They can lead a project, but a lot of times, it is not the right project.

What would you like to share about leading and leadership that you believe is relevant but that I have not addressed in my questions?

1. “You covered it well; leadership is all about community. To be a good leader, you must know the people you are leading. Think about it: They do not lead 16-year-olds to run for president because they do not know anything about the country they are leading. But they let old men run for president because they have experience and know the people, and knowing the people is how you become an effective community leader.”

Analysis and Reflection

           Throughout my interview with Tom, he gave me a lot of things to think about. My biggest takeaway from the interview is what he said about community leadership. His “To be a good leader, you have to know the people you are leading” (Tom Gonter) hit home for me. We often want to create a project and jump straight in, but we do not know their needs because we are not part of the community. We think we know what they need and when they need it, but it is not until we talk to them that we know anything. This applies to other forms of leadership and not just community projects. Leaders everywhere must get to know the people they work with and around them to become better leaders. 

           In this interview, what I learned from Tom changed my perspective on community leadership and non-profit organizations. I honestly did not realize how collaborative you must be to be successful. It gave me a new perspective on community leadership. I also did not know how much someone like MUST Ministries relies on the community. From donating to them, I knew they depended on community donations, but it never really clicked with me how impactful those donations can be. It was eye-opening to learn more about the non-profit and the communities they serve.

1.            I was shocked by what I learned through this interview and investigation, not only about community leadership but also about community leaders. To be a good and effective leader, you would need to be connected to the community. And the people and non-profit organizations that are community leaders rely a lot more than I thought on other, more fortunate community members. It was a fantastic experience and will change how and when I volunteer with non-profit organizations. This is Adams interview.

1. Please tell me a little bit about yourself? What’s your background? Background of
your organization. The person that I choose to interview their name is Arielle Chung she is partnered with and volunteers with the hope Atlanta organization. The hope Atlanta is dedicated to helping the homeless population of Atlanta.

2. What experiences with leading have you had leading community/civic engagement projects or initiatives? Ms. Chung spoke of many projects she has been apart of from food drives to health initiatives that sought to provide toiletries and essentials to homeless people in the Atlanta area

3. What community/social issues are/were you attempting to address? The social issue that was sought to address was the homeless epidemic in Atlanta the primary focus, HopeAtlanta is to help shelter and feed the homeless population. Ms. Chung speaks of the groups goals of satisfying the immediate needs of homeless individuals while also working towards finding long-term solutions to prevent homelessness.”

1. 4. What change (if any) are/were you hoping to see happen as a result of your efforts? The changes that Ms. Chung has seen for herself is the sheltering of people who have come on hard times no matter their situation she sees the impact of being able to give people essentially hope for a better tomorrow.

5. Please describe one of these projects/initiatives. What was involved? One of the initiatives of HopeAtlanta is to 

One of the project initiatives of the group has been to continuously fight the homelessness epidemic with times only getting tougher and the cost of living growing this mission has become more and more important.

6. What was/are the goal(s)? Ms. Chung spoke on One of the goals/ plans is to work with clients to support them through their situation of homelessness and housing uncertainty to propel them to self-sufficiency, and stability

1. 7. Describe any partnerships you developed with other organizations and why you
   sought those relationships. Ms. Chung has sought to partner the HopeAtlanta organization with her church she see’s the ways that she could raise funds and advocate for the people of her church to donate food toiletries and other essentials

8. Describe any activities you engaged in that connected you with the
people/community who would be affected by the project/initiative.

9. What are some of the challenges you find in leading community/civic
initiatives/projects? Some of the challenges Ms. Chung feels she faced is finding more effectives solutions to this every growing problem. She feels that some of the things done like clothing drives and food drives are only a band aid to and gapping wound it helps but it doesn’t stop the bleeding.

10.What have you learned through leading these projects/initiatives? Ms. Chung felt that she learnt more about people’s circumstances through helping within the group. Everyone has a story for why they are in the situations that they are in and some people need help to get out of the situations they are faced with.

1. 11.What kinds of things would you recommend people do if they want to lead efforts at community/social change? Ms. Chung believes that people should push to help communities that they see need help if you see a group of people are struggling and you have the means to help you should. If you can change someone else life through your actions you should want to go that extra mile to do so.

12.In relation to leading and leadership, what would you like to share that you believe is relevant but that I haven’t addressed in my questions? Something that Ms. Chung believe about leadership is that it takes a village to lead one person shouldn’t be shouldered with the task to lead so much more can be completed with the collective thoughts and ideas of many. This is Christians interview.Interview Report: Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup Organization

I had the opportunity to sit down with the owners of the Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup organization, John and Sarah Reynolds. The couple shared their passion for environmental conservation and their dedication to preserving Lake Allatoona for future generations.

The Beginning: John and Sarah started the organization five years ago after noticing the increasing pollution in and around Lake Allatoona. “The lake is a treasure,” Sarah said. “It provides recreation, wildlife habitats, and drinking water for the surrounding communities. We couldn’t stand by and watch it deteriorate.”

1. The Mission: Their mission is clear: to engage the community in cleaning up Lake Allatoona and its surroundings. “We believe in the power of collective action,” John emphasized. “It’s not just about us; it’s about everyone who cares about the lake and wants to make a difference.”

Community Involvement: The organization hosts several cleanup events throughout the year, bringing together volunteers of all ages. Sarah described the events as “family-friendly and educational,” with activities for children and opportunities for people to learn about the importance of environmental stewardship.

Challenges and Triumphs: When asked about challenges, John mentioned funding and raising awareness. “It’s not always easy to secure the resources we need,” he admitted. “But we’ve been fortunate to receive support from local businesses and individuals who share our vision.”

Despite these challenges, the organization has seen significant successes. “We’ve removed tons of trash from the lake,” Sarah proudly shared. “It’s incredible to see the difference we’re making, not just in the water but also in the community’s attitude toward conservation.”

1. Future Plans: The couple plans to expand their educational outreach and involve more schools and youth groups. “We’re working on a program to teach kids about the environment and the importance of taking care of our natural resources,” John said.

Conclusion: John and Sarah’s dedication to Lake Allatoona is evident in their words and actions. Their commitment to making a positive impact is inspiring, and their efforts are already showing results. As they continue their work, the Great Lake Allatoona Cleanup organization serves as a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together for a common cause. I really did enjoy talking to them and learning about more ways I can help keep the lake clean since I’ve grown up on Lake Allatoona my whole life. This is Jacksons interview.

My Interview for a non-profit 

On my pre-planning stage I originally wanted to find a non- profit animal organization that is locally based in Kennesaw. Most organizations I tried to contact via email would decline, but after searching I finally was able to find one willing to be interviewed. The place is called, “Rehome by Adopt-a-pet”. I emailed their organization by asking for an interview two weeks ago on (4/15/24) and got a response to leave a call back number on when they are able to do it via-phone. I understand that most non-profits are very busy and want to be contacted on phone or email. The executive director called me to let me know her availability and we decided on Friday (4/26/24) to hold the interview. The executive director gave me her name, “Ms. Gigi”, and ended up giving me her personal number for this interview to be held at 7:30 pm that Friday. The questions I asked on the interview are shown below: 

Interview started –

Can you tell me about the mission and goals of your nonprofit organization?

“ Ah yes, my organization is all about the rescue of animals from being killed by big corporations. We go into county shelters and rescue cats and dogs that are to be killed from overpopulation and bring them over to ours.”

What motivated you to start or join this nonprofit?

“I came from a corporate world in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I did volunteer on the side because of my love for animals. Most organizations I have joined were not very kind to us, the volunteers and the animals at large. They had harsh conditions for the animals, let anyone adopt that wasn’t a good fit , and that really affected my mental health. With that, I started my own organization to change that environment for volunteers to join a safe environment and have pets be in safe ones also.”

How does your organization measure success and impact?

“That question can be very broad, but we have grown from a small organization with very little funding and volunteers to having multiple streams of income and lots of help. We started our organization in 2003 and have been blessed to have two stores and many donors that help keep our organization running.”

What are the biggest challenges your nonprofit faces, and how do you address them?

“The biggest challenge we face is overcrowding of animals and not being able to rescue animals in time before they are killed at the county shelters. We try our hardest to keep track of these animals, so that we can rescue them. Another challenge is making sure the right family can adopt without neglecting them or return them back.”

Can you describe the typical programs or services your nonprofit provides?

“We have a big camp called, “Campopp”, in the summer in June and July for kids. We teach kids on how to care for animals and not to adopt from puppy mills. Many kids return back and say that they convinced their friends to adopt from the adoption center and not from big corporations like, “Puppyland”. This really keeps me going because we have to start with the youth to hopefully make a difference in the world.”

How does your nonprofit engage with the community it serves?

“We often have parties for different themes like Valentine’s day and invite our community out to play with our animals, have food, and then have a fundraiser at the end of these events.”

What role do volunteers play in your organization, and how do you recruit and retain them?

“ We have been blessed with the amount of volunteers we have and they have a good track record. We get volunteers from all over and they often sign back up because we create a positive environment unlike other animal organizations.”

How does your nonprofit handle fundraising and financial management?

“We have many ways of keeping afloat and have been blessed so far. We have two stores that funnel their earnings back to us since we are a non-profit. One is a thrift store and  a daycare/boarding for pets. The daycare boarding is for our adoption center and is available to the general public. Many local organizations also donate to us and we have donors that donate monthly and yearly.”

Can you share a success story or significant achievement your nonprofit has had? 

“That is another broad question, but I will focus on our summer camp. We went from having very few seats for our summer camp to having every seat filled. We have a volunteer waitlist because we have so many people who love our organization. We have a high save rate on animals we have saved from being put down and so many more things we try to do for the community.”

How do you ensure transparency and accountability within your organization, both internally and externally?

“Honestly we just make sure that volunteers are in good mind space, so that energy doesn’t spread to other volunteers and people who would like to adopt. We make sure that the volunteers we get don’t ruin the vibe by being negative, which ultimately keeps the organization running smoothly.”

What values or principles guide your nonprofit’s work?

“Our main goal is having a good attitude. You can’t have workers with bad attitudes because pets can feel it, the volunteers  around can , the people adopting can possibly turn away, so we make it our number one principle.”

Interview over –

She ended off with saying “Thank you so much and I hope your project goes well, text me if you need anything!” This is Lauren’s interview.

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