IN THEIR OWN WORDS...

The following comments were shared by participants
in I-LEAD's leadership development classes:

"Margaret Mead, through her studies of custom and culture, taught that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens could change the world. Today, we all know too well those who express their political will through the unbridled passions of "in your face" politics, or use violence as a tool of policy. Somehow, we lost sight of Mead's thoughtful committed change. I-LEAD's curriculum teaches that leaders from all walks of life need to master certain intellectual tools to improve our communities and, thus, change the world. To be constructive facilitators for this positive change, to create a shared vision, we must engage in dialogue and negotiate in a principled fashion that allows for true consensus-building. I-LEAD is teaching us the cutting edge techniques of organizational dynamics. It is encouraging us to apply them thoughtfully to the people and the politics of the Greater Philadelphia metropolitan region. I am confident that when my classmates and I look back at this program several years from now, we will see that it equipped us with the tools to answer successfully the economic and social challenges to this region in the first half of the 21st Century."

C. Melidosian




"I-LEAD has taught me things about myself that I did not know. It has changed my way of thinking about myself. I used to be a follower. Now I feel more confident. Through the techniques I have learned here, I now have the confidence to step forward and lead others. My vision is to create housing for disabled persons. It's a five-year plan that I have developed through I-LEAD. I-LEAD helped me to focus on what I want to do, and then find the resources to do it."

V. Blue




"I-LEAD opened my eyes as a leader. I learned that true leadership was about listening and about giving--not about taking and controlling. I learned to reflect deeply, and to observe my own inner landscape. I saw for the first time that great leadership is about creating and realizing a vision in which the hopes and dreams and aspirations of all members of the community are respected and fulfilled. I saw for the first time with clarity the power and importance of leadership in our community."

P. Thomas

"I-LEAD's program has offered me a spectacular opportunity: the time, a framework, and a dynamic environment in which to step back and look at how I construct goals, and how I define success. As someone who is working with community-based nonprofits, and as the founder of my own mission-based organization, I look for ways to guide others, and myself, through a planning and implementation process. I-LEAD's emphasis on visioning and understanding mental models has been enormously useful. I sense that these tools will be well-worn by repeated use in the years to come."

R. Yassky

"Through I-LEAD, I learned a lot about who I was and about how to become an effective leader. What really enlightened me was learning to listen. I learned to be patient enough to listen and hear. I like the idea of people coming together, sharing ideas, and changing their communities. I learned at I-LEAD to go back and do something in my own neighborhood. I'm founding a ministry to serve women and children. Before I had just an idea. Now I have a direction that I'm going somewhere with."

I. Williams




"I-LEAD has had tremendous impact on me. I was a self-taught leader. I-LEAD taught me about negotiating and listening. I learned how to do more listening than talking. Before, I was listening, but not really hearing. I'm not so angry anymore. You can't change people, but I've found you can lead them. I have learned how not to let my emotions get in the way of solving problems. It's helped me all the way around. I learned I can still learn. My work is about seeing my area of the city become safer and cleaner, with more businesses."

D. Clark

"I personally felt that my understanding of the spiritual roots of organizing were deepened--and the visioning model helped me to see ways to invigorate and reenergize both myself
and those with whom I work. That is no small insight, because on the days when the work
feels overwhelming, it's very easy for me to forget why I am here. I sat today in someone's office who had posted on his wall a copy of Langston Hughes' poem, 'Life Ain't No Crystal Stair,' and it made me think of the work we did together. Thank you for helping me
touch that wellspring of belief within myself that keeps me going."

M. Dubrow

"My interest is in revitalization and development of North Philadelphia. I-LEAD has deeply influenced my thinking and my development as a leader. I would say it has revolutionized my thinking and developed my confidence as a leader. There were many situations I encountered as a leader that I didn't understand. Coming to class has given me a framework and a vocabulary to understand and discuss these experiences. Systems thinking has had the most profound effect on my work. I-LEAD has made practical many of the lessons I have learned as a studier of the Word, the Bible. If you develop as an individual, then you begin to think about and to care for other people. Then you begin to become a leader. I-LEAD is about discovering yourself, and the world around you. Through I-LEAD, I have become more proactive and have acquired the tools to be more effective. I am the CEO of a faith-based, community-based CDC. Our mission is to help families struggling with addiction."

Rev. K. Stanford




"Last night's session was great! I didn't say anything in front of the others, but I found it touched a part of me. I needed to have the patience to do that basic art...to give the common courtesy and listen. I know that there is a huge difference between hearing and listening, but I've found myself sometimes wanting to get my point across that I miss what information is being relayed to me...The exercise was on target. I felt totally renewed this morning. Thank you."

B. Gabbadon




"I-LEAD has helped me to identify what type of leader I am. It has showed me how to develop my own leadership skills and those of others. It is hard for me to say what part of the program has had the biggest impact because every part has had an impact. I have enjoyed the dynamics in class and the diversity of the participants. It's a great opportunity for anyone to learn about themselves. I plan to create an employment and training firm serving Philadelphia residents. I am working on developing a core group, as well as the resources, and working through logistics. I-LEAD is helping me to do these things."

M. Bradford




"At first, I did not understand the concepts. When I did grasp it, it became very interesting to me. The ladder of inference is a very powerful tool...I really appreciate the tool of journaling. To those of you who are struggling with it...just let your thoughts flow and you'd be surprised what you get out on paper. Whenever I have a stressful day, I use the journal to write down my thoughts. After you've collected about a week's worth of information, you can go back and read it and actually learn all about yourself...It has actually taught me not to be so stressed."

T. Guerrant




"I-LEAD is absolutely having an impact on me. The process of journaling, for example, has had an impact, by helping me to observe how I interact with others. We find ourselves in a quick-paced world. We lack the opportunity to reflect. I-LEAD has helped me to reflect and learn about myself. The negotiation workshops, where we focused on how both sides can win--"win-win" versus "win-lose"...this has changed my view of the world, where people and organizations are needlessly competitive. I like the diversity of the group of leaders involved in the project. It makes for a very rich experience. I am in the field of public health, and I have
a theological background. I do a variety of projects through my church in North Philadelphia. I am using what I-LEAD is teaching to assist me in my real work."

T. Neely