SL Activism Log 1

     This week as part of preparing for our service learning project, our group met outside of class on February 28 to touch base with one another about our individual progress and collaborate our ideas.  As far as my own individual tasks are concerned, I made progress in attaining a donation of 100 cookies from Orlando Hard Rock Café. I also have a date set for tomorrow (March 2) to visit Sprinkles, a local cupcake shop, to ask for donations for our bake sale that we will be having on UCF campus. I also plan to contact via phone two more bakeries tomorrow which were referenced to me by Kathy, a group member.

     I made contact with NOW, our group’s community partner on March 1. The president and other group members, including myself, carpooled to Planned Parenthood to take a certification class to volunteer as an escort during this crucial time. I am excited to volunteer there and hope to gain valuable knowledge doing so. Next week, I plan to follow up with the bakeries I have contacted and find out what I can do to help with LOL Day at UCF campus.

     The activism that our group has been participating in these past few weeks sets a good framework for feminist transformational leadership, as our group works in collaboration for the common good of the community. But rather than quoting CREA’s definition of leadership, I prefer the definition found in King and Ferguson’s Black Womanist Leadership, where leadership is defined as:

 “The desire, ability, and efforts to influence the world around us, based upon an ethic of care for self and others and fueled by a vision that sustains over time.”

  Our group has the desire and efforts (and in this case the ability) to influence the world around us. We do this out of ethic care for ourselves and others, in which we are fueled by a vision. As of now we are the living definitions. The work that I am doing individually and with my group has changed my view of women’s leadership as well. It has helped me become a participant rather than just being angry or sorrowful about the grave reality of our society. The lectures in class have helped me to view leadership in a different light; one that incorporates me. My academic knowledge has been enhanced and challenged by having both class time to reflect with other scholars and outside service learning projects that provided the opportunity to discuss other definitions of leadership.

     I feel that through participation in this service learning project, I am slowly gaining confidence and the necessary academic language that helps validate the feelings I’ve had for so long, but had no other women to support me. It has encouraged me to know that there are other women out there who not only notice and acknowledge the current gender issues in our society, but actually fight to do something about it.