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Transforming Concern
into Clout
With Sharon Leslie, MA

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Description

Do you often feel very concerned, yet overwhelmed, about what is taking place in your workplace, your neighborhood, the world…? Do you find yourself wondering how you could make a difference on such complicated challenges? Do you wish you could become involved but do not know quite how to go about it? Are you already taking steps to bring about change but would like to increase your effectiveness?

Participating in this interactive “hands on” workshop will help you discover ways of translating concerns about your world into actions that can help shape things in ways you feel are more positive. Through a variety of activities, you will leave more confident and better prepared to act and provide leadership to issues that concern you.

Learning Objectives

You will learn:

• To be more confident in being actively involved in making a difference in the world
• To identify qualities and skills that increase capacity to provide effective leadership to change efforts
• To develop a personalized plan to apply “back home”, transforming intentions into action

After completing this one-day workshop, participants will, the same day, receive a Certificate attesting to their participation in this workshop.

Methodology

This workshop is highly experiential, with the facilitator creating a participative climate and structuring activities that engage the participants in exploring conditions and approaches for acting on issues. The starting place will be the self, with identifying ideal qualities and skills a priority. Complementary attention will also be accorded to collective strategies and their effectiveness. A variety of methods will be used including viewing and analyzing film clips, completion of inventories and grids (i.e. personal action plan), small group work and community discussion.

Who will benefit?

Anyone who has experienced a desire to better influence what is going on in his or her world or in the broader global context would benefit from such a workshop. This would be particularly true if they are unsure of how to get started or insecure about being more actively involved or stepping forward as a leader. Through the workshop activities, participants will be encouraged to recognize the qualities and skills they already bring to such efforts. They will be able to reinforce and develop others, leaving more aware if what they can contribute and how they might get involved to transform their concerns into effective action.

Short Bio of Sharon Leslie, MA

Sharon Leslie, MA, is an adult educator with over 30-years of training experience with organizations, primarily in the public and non-profit sectors. She creates conditions in workshops for adults to engage actively in learning by assisting them in applying new skills and understanding to their team and organizational settings. She currently teaches Community Development and Group Leadership Skills in the Department of Applied Human Sciences, Concordia University. In addition to her professional activities, she has a long history of activism. She has worked extensively with women, assisting them in increasing their capacity to feel more confident, act effectively and be better able to influence what happens around them. She brings a unique perspective to women and leadership, with her teaching background complemented by her former role as a Montréal City Councilor

Registration and Payment

Download the Application Form

Payments can be made by Cheque (payable to CHRCS), Visa, MC or Debit card. If you are paying by Visa or MC please indicate this on the Registration Form and a representative from the Centre for Human Relations and Community Studies will contact you to obtain your credit card information and authorization for payment.

This registration form may be faxed to 514-848-2262 or sent by e-mail to Laura Dota at centreh@alcor.concordia.ca to reserve your space. Registration will be verified on receipt of payment.

Send completed application package to the attention of

Laura Dota, Workshop Series Coordinator
Centre for Human Relations & Community Studies,
Concordia University 7141 Sherbrooke St. West, VE 225-04, Montreal, Qc, H4B 1R6

For more information

Tel: 514.848.2424 ext. 2273
Fax: 514.848.2262
Email: centreh@alcor.concordia.ca