Global Leadership Education: developing emerging young leaders for community service in Missouri and Thailand

Abstract

The 2009–2010 experiential Global Leadership Education program emphasized inclusive community engagement processes within and among diverse social, economic, ethnic, and geographic young professionals working in Missouri and Thailand communities to build leadership capacity for volunteerism, community service, and multicultural understanding. Key tenets of the program, supported by US Department of State funding, included mutual commitment to sustainable community development, collaborative program development, and evaluation. The experiential program included orientation, local workshops, experiential learning, and social networking to foster increased learning and continuation of relationships. Quantitative analysis indicated Thai and Missourian delegates reported significant learning of key community service leadership, volunteerism, and community development competencies. Analysis of qualitative data provided understanding of cultural differences and the program’s impact. The discussion provides context for how community development international experiential learning programs can be developed or strengthened.

Keywords:

• community
• leadership
• organizational development
• volunteerism
• international exchange; cross-cultural competencies

Notes

1. Gutierrez, Alvarez, Nemon, and Lewis (1996, p. 502) identified multicultural community organizing as recognizing and valuing “the experiences and contributions of different social groups in an organization or community while working to bring groups together when necessary.”