Lessons Learned: Emergencies Happen

Emergencies happen. We can survive them. We survive them best TOGETHER.

Many times in life, we are presented with challenges that are opportunities for growth. These obstacles can be anything from missing the bus to losing a loved one. In any instance, we are faced with an option to adopt a new mindset or utilize new tools to deal with these trying situations.

When in the "eye of the storm", it may seem natural to panic and lose sight of what the emergency truly is. One might even try to avoid the true issue entirely; however, addressing the needs of the challenge are the key to gaining tools necessary to deal with it..

One of the most important tools can be a support group. A support group can be anything from a friend or family member to a fellow RAPPer. This support can help you to view your options from a perspective outside of your own or just provide an open ear when you need one.

 Together, we can make it!

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Lessons Learned: Practice What You "Teach"

When gathering feedback, it is important we remember to use it! Within RAPP, we frequently ask for feedback from our participants. We, as a facilitation team, then spend hours pouring over this and making appropriate updates. In some recent feedback we received, the group expressed what keeps them engaged as learners. As a program, we need to make sure we practice these things in our sessions.

Too often we are tasked with giving feedback and then....nothing. For me, many of the course evaluations I completed as a student are the first things that comes to mind when thinking of underutilized feedback. It is interesting to me that many colleges wonder why course evaluation participation is so low when the reason seems to be glaringly apparent.

Know that if RAPP asks for your feedback, it will be used!

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Sign Up Today! Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation Orientation Training!

Student Activities & Leadership Development is about to host the first Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation (KNCR) orientation training at UC since the 1970s.  The curriculum has been updated much since then and the number of people who've completed it around the world has grown exponentially!

The orientation training to KNCR offers students, faculty, and staff at UC the chance to build a foundation in nonviolent social change and reflect on their own values and practices as leaders.  This training is offered all over the world, connecting Bearcats with a global community of nonviolence.

Through full participation in the 16-hour orientation training, participants:

• Develop a nuanced understanding of nonviolence as a philosophy and practice
• Build their ability to analyze conflict for effective response
• Explore key examples of nonviolent social change in the US Civil Rights Movement
• Learn the Six Principles of Nonviolence and the Six Steps of Nonviolence
• Learn and apply multiple models to social change movements for effective nonviolent practices

All materials are provided free of charge to participants courtesy of SALD and the UC Diversity Council.

Applications are available NOW for a mid-January to mid-February session that meets over four Friday afternoons with dinner provided.  Apply today!

Applications will be available soon for a two-day training held in conjunction with the Annual Student Leadership Conference.

Lessons Learned: The RAPP Agreement

In RAPP, we use "The RAPP Agreement" to help our group members communicate their needs to one another. 

The process of building The RAPP Agreement begins with a list of suggestions from current members on ways they can feel heard and respected within the group as well as ways they can stay present and respectful. After vetting these suggestions the group ends up with a nice set of community guidelines (not rules) that will help them communicate throughout our 9-month process. 

I feel this process and its end product are invaluable to the RAPP group and I highly recommend implementation outside of RAPP. This agreement helps the group promote healthy conversation with the group, while avoiding conflict where no learning takes place. Thinking about needs is a good communication skill for leaders.

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Lesson Learned: Peer Leadership

At this point in the year, I am reminded of how much I rely on the other leaders around me. Though everyone in RAPP is a leader, I am thinking specifically of our peer leaders. RAPP's peer leaders play pivotal roles both as mentors and friends.
This year Jalisa, Nate, and Siva have been amazing! They show up to everything, they contribute real and valuable insights to conversations, and they make me feel comfortable in the work I do with RAPP.

Nate, Siva, & Jalisa on their way to retreat!

There are many things I find inspiring about our peer leaders, but these are just some of the examples. They set their own learning goals, but I have found that they are indispensable at helping me achieve my own. 

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Lessons Learned: Questions about Social Justice Education Career Paths

I am occasionally asked about how one gets involved in Social Justice Education as a career path. Let me say that I love being asked this question because I feel that I have positively impacted someone's potential career choice.

Though I am grateful, I struggle because I often don't have an answer. Personally, I stayed involved with organizations that supported social justice values. This helped me better understand the field of Social Justice Education. Through participating in conferences like the Social Justice Training Institute or Tristate Diversity Conference and programs like RAPP here at UC I feel I have a better understanding of where my career path lies.

I resolve that I will have a better answer the next time I am asked this question through reflection and I hope that it happens again and again!

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process

Lessons Learned: Take Care of Yourself!

Sometimes, I'm thinking of what to do next. What's going to be the most impactful? How can I contribute to certain activities. During this same time, I'm learning really oppressive things that happen around the country in which some of these acts, I'm the target of. However, I never realized that self care was such an important thing. So much information especially around discrimination and oppression can take a mental toll on both leaders and participants and it's good to infuse lighter activities and mental breaks that can bring your mood back to a better place.

Lessons Learned is a RAPP Blog initiative intended for folks who hold formal leadership positions in RAPP programs to share what they're learning through their process