End Product 

Pictures of Fort Support's Journey to the End Product

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Team Dynamics

Starting this impactful service-learning project from scratch, not knowing one another prior to the start of our work, made it difficult to form a solid and efficient team dynamic at first. However, after creating and devoting ourselves to the vision and mission of Fort Support, our team dynamic began to take shape throughout our service-learning experiences. Each member took on a unique role that allowed for a productive and meaningful team dynamic to form. Nevada took on the role of explorer by helping to generate new ideas and bringing them to life. Elizabeth acted as the team manager by enforcing an organized environment that worked to keep track of our progress in achieving our mission in a timely manner. Jaylah fulfilled the role of investigator by examining issues and recognizing future problems before they became larger issues, which ensured positive progress was always made for the mission to become reality. Dawn played the important role of caretaker by ensuring each member of the team was supported and heard when any new ideas or thoughts arose and collaboration was required. As a whole, the team decided to each work as peacekeepers. This agreement created a safe space for both internal and external conflict to be discussed and resolved in the most caring and efficient way possible. The open line of communication via our group chat allowed for an easy way to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of our team dynamics. Our reflection as a team then determined how the overall dynamic had to adapt to the various challenges we faced for each agency spotlight.

Our Leadership Development 

• Fort Support's success stems from the leadership qualities that each team member utilized in order to create lasting social change within the Ellis County community. In order to ensure real change would occur from our project, the team not only reflected on, but embraced the Social Change Model of Leadership that includes the Seven C’s of Change. The Seven C's include the individual values of consciousness of self, congruence, and commitment, the group values of collaboration, common purpose, and controversy with civility, and finally, citizenship is the value that encourages society/community to become agents of social change. 

• Individually, each team member exhibited consciousness of self by fulfilling various behavioral roles and reflecting upon them when needed. Congruence was demonstrated when conflict and setbacks occurred. While these experiences tend to feel negative, we   found that they motivated us to find a solution, so that the mission could be achieved on time. We also each exemplified commitment as we all dedicated a majority of free time this semester to see out the completion of providing support to United Way’s partner agencies. 

• As a team, Fort Support stressed the importance of collaboration to positively address social issues. Working together with Erica Berges at United Way and those that work at First Call for Help, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Options allowed us to fully understand the primary needs that these agencies were facing. Understanding the greatest needs of each partner agency led us to create a plan tailored to help each of these agencies thrive during their month-long spotlight. A common purpose of providing Ellis County residents with the resources they need in order to be successful was shared by all collaborators. Controversy with civility came into play with each partner agency. We had ideas for agencies that were not always in line with their most prevalent needs, so hearing their diverse perspectives and embracing them promoted our mission from just a statement to reality. Finally, citizenship was achieved because the sole purpose of the individual activities that we took on, as well as the fundraisers and collection drives that were put on by our team as a whole, was all to better service the residents of the Ellis County community. 

• As successful agents of social change, each team member will now work to recognize social issues wherever we find ourselves in the future and take action to continue to implement social change.

Final Results from Agency Spotlights