In the Methods for Community Leadership course, I gained a comprehensive understanding of various tools and approaches for addressing complex questions through collaboration and community engagement. This course taught us how to establish a learning environment to include and foster community participation. I learned how to apply different approaches to ensure that community voices (especially those who have been marginalized) are heard and valued ; this was the most significant step for effective community collaboration. In addition, I learned how positionality and worldviews shape our approach and methodology to research in a community. I developed an awareness of worldviews and the role of these perspectives in applying various methods to community context. This course introduced and highlighted Critical Participatory Action Research. It is a research methodology that encourages researchers to include community members in their research process, and value their lived experiences, knowledge and perspectives when addressing social issues. The goal is to create practical and actionable solutions developed through collective action and collaboration that is directly relevant to the community's needs. I developed a practical toolbox method to undertake community leadership in a variety of settings. This course has prepared me to address complex community challenges using a range of inclusive approaches and collaborative problem-solving methods.

For example, I introduced the data walk approach (one of the methods I learned in this course) to the Community Leadership Director, as we undertook an evaluation of the program. We conducted a data walk workshop to engage different community leadership communities, including students, alumni, and faculty members. We then utilized their perspectives and recommended solutions for improving the Community Leadership program.

In this course, I was working with two other classmates on a group project to address a complex problem. Our group project addressed how to bring safety and wellbeing to Patterson Park in SoutheastBaltimore City. Through our group efforts, we recommended collaborative research approaches and methodologies, particularly focusing on Critical Participatory Action Research in our study of Patterson Park.

As an international student in Introduction to Community Leadership, I gained foundational knowledge and practical skills that empowered me through community service and community development. This course helped me to explore the historical and structural inequities that impact communities, including the role of systemic racism and economic disparities. I learned how racial inequities have had an impact on the lives of people and their communities, and I developed an understanding of how leaders can advance social justice and equity, as well as advocate through intentional actions. I learned the skills essential to become an effective leader who can establish learning communities by implementing practices that foster self-reflection, deep listening, and communication skills. The course introduced me to various leadership models and metaphors, and the importance of understanding the deep roots of social and economic inequities that have shaped our communities. I learned how to address the challenges by undertaking transformational change. Moreover, key components of this course were to engage and work with a community organization, to build relationships with community partners, and understand the community's needs and find solutions to address them. Through semi-structured conversations and interviews with our community partners, I gained an awareness of leadership challenges and strategies. This partnership helped me to put into practice the theoretical knowledge I gained throughout this course and design a project for my community partner that would address a specific need within their organization. This community project allowed me to apply what I had learned in a tangible and meaningful way. 

In this capstone course, I learned how to be a more effective and inclusive community leader. The class helped me understand important issues like housing inequality, leadership, and how to work with others to make positive changes in the community. I especially learned how to connect ideas from my previous classes and apply them in communities or organizations. It was a transformative experience that allowed me to apply my knowledge and skills in community leadership in a positive and practical way. Through classroom discussions, guest speakers, and site visits, I deepened my understanding of complex issues such as housing inequalities and structural racism and how understanding of history can empower us to take corrective actions for the future. I continued to learn how to think critically and evaluate situations using different models and perspectives including storytelling, and community-based approaches.

The most impactful part of the course was the opportunity to collaborate with a local community partner on a final project that addressed a specific issue within the community. I worked with Bamyan Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that focuses on education for at-risk youth in Afghanistan. This hands-on practice helped me build practical skills in project planning, research, communication, and relationship building. I learned how to listen actively to community voices, adapt to challenges, and deliver a project that added value to the organization’s mission. As a new person in the United States, this provides me with the opportunity to be in touch with some grassroot leaders in the Hazara American Community. This experience helped me grow both professionally and personally, strengthening my confidence and reinforcing my commitment to community-based work. It was inspiring to see how our academic learning could be directly applied to support local efforts and how leadership rooted in collaboration and compassion can make a lasting impact. I hope my commitment to serving my people and community results in a positive and meaningful change through the contribution of what I have gained from the Community Leadership Program.

It was my first time taking an independent study course, and through it, I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge by conducting academic research and exploring the complex intersection of Afghanistan’s historical context. The title of my paper was Navigating Afghanistan’s History: Women’s Needs, and the Negative Impact of the Taliban Policies on NGOs.

This experience provided me with a deeper understanding of the country’s history through the lens of its geographic location, external influences, cultural diversity, ideologies, and internal divisions. I examined the conditions of women and their rights before the Taliban first emerged in the mid-1990s, after their collapse, and during the presence of the United States and NATO over two decades. One key aspect of my research was understanding how conflict and sociopolitical issues have had a devastating impact on the lives of Afghan people—particularly women and girls—and how women's roles in society have evolved throughout different historical periods.

As a humanitarian aid worker with nearly eleven years of experience in my country, I drew on my own background while analyzing the role of international NGOs. These organizations have served as lifelines, providing lifesaving interventions, education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and psychosocial support. I explored critical questions such as why the operation of international NGOs remains necessary, how their activities have been restricted and negatively affected by Taliban policies, and what strategies they must adopt to continue meeting the needs of vulnerable populations—particularly women and girls who are most impacted by oppressive regulations.

Overall, the course strengthened my commitment to community empowerment, social justice, and policy advocacy for people whose human rights have been violated in conflict zones. In addition, I developed academic insights, along with critical research and analytical skills. This independent study helped me broaden my knowledge, view complex issues through different lenses, and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing Afghanistan today.

Taking Mindset and Methods of Emergent Strategy really changed how I see leadership, change, and working with others. I learned that change doesn’t always have to come from the top—it can grow naturally from small actions and strong relationships. The course helped me understand that we are all connected, and the way we treat ourselves, each other, and the world around us really matters. One big thing I took away is the idea that we can learn a lot by paying attention to nature, our communities, and the systems we’re part of. I started thinking more about how power works, how we can build more fair and equal spaces, and how we can work together in creative and meaningful ways.

For our group project, we looked at the Community Leadership Program itself. The goal of the CLDR 611 group project was to do research and offer up strategies and recommendations for co-learning and co-creating social change through the lens of emergent strategy and system thinking. The project topic was to gain insights and offer recommendations for future improvements to the program. We gathered all the syllabi as well as the story and historical context of the program. We interviewed 12 adjunct faculty members as well as the Graduate Program Director and Affiliate Faculty members using developed interview questions. Using AI tools for support, we did in-depth data analysis to organize the information into common themes, gaps, overlaps and collaborative efforts.  We shared our research and proposed a workshop session to the Graduate Program Director. Fortuitously the GPD already had planned a faculty retreat in January 2024, and responded positively to the students’ recommendation that we conducted a reflective ecosystem mapping session during that retreat to help faculty build relationships, reflect on their roles, collectively identify barriers, and explore actionable strategies for enhancing collaboration and alignment within CLDR.

I have gained valuable perceptions and practical skills through the skill courses I have taken so far.  I participated in three skill courses including Programming As An Inclusive Practice, Digital Storytelling, and Budgeting for Community Impact. These courses were wonderful and each one of them lasted for 5 weeks. Below is a summary of what I learned from these courses and how they empowered me. 

I learned the significance of creating an inclusive event and why the event or program needs to be engaging and collaborative within the community. While the collaboration requires significant time and support to involve community members and ensure that events or programs can meet the actual needs of the communities, it is worth it. In addition, while designing an event, it is important to ensure the program welcomes diversity and foster active participation.  I believe I have the ability to design and implement an inclusive program that is culturally relevant and strengthens the community ties with shared spaces and experiences.

I have gained the skills to create digital stories and use storytelling as a community leadership tool. I have learned how digital storytelling can be an effective and powerful tool for communicating, building trust, and sharing our voices and narratives within a community. This also helps individuals to reflect on their personal and professional experiences while making connections and building relationships with people and communities. 

Budgeting for Community Impact helped me learn how to create a budget narrative that aligns with an organization’s vision, mission, and values. This is a vital process of transparency and alignment with the organizational goals in the context of community–focused organizations. I learned to identify the factors that can have an impact on budget planning and develop strategies as an alternative while creating risk analysis and opportunity profiles. I plan to work with a community organization where I can support developing a financial plan and an evaluation schedule to ensure the budgets are used effectively and meet the community needs, while monitoring income and expenses to promote trust and transparency.

The one-credit skill courses have equipped me with the knowledge and practical skills necessary for effective community leadership, working with organizations and communities, and being a part of social change and movement for a bright future.