JCL 150: Leadership in Justice & Community
Course Description
As a core course in the Justice, Community & Leadership Program, this course
addresses the necessary connection between understanding community and
becoming advocates for and agents of change. The course builds on prior JCL
courses and deepens the exploration and application of leadership theory and
research. The course addresses the questions, "How does knowing leadership
theory contribute to my disposition about justice and my ability to enact change
with and in communities?" This course serves as the catalyst for putting together
the theory and practice of leadership and social change. Moreover, this course
emphasizes Friere's notion of praxis, action and reflection within the world in
order to transform community.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. identify core elements of leadership theories related to education and
social change;
2. apply these leadership theories to current social or community issues and
develop strategies that contribute to a more just social order;
3. identify a problem/opportunity in a community setting and demonstrate
an understanding of the larger context in which the problem/topic exists;
4. design a capstone project/proposal to address the problem/opportunity,
incorporating the necessary research proposal processes;
5. demonstrate the capacity for critical self-reflection in order to understand
their own histories, the contexts in which they operate, and how they
collaborate with others towards change.
Required Reading
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Alinsky, S.D. (1971). Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic
Radicals. New York: Vintage Books.
Komives, S., Wagner, W. & Associates (2009). Leadership for a Better World:
Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. San
Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Preskill, S. & Brookfield, S. (2009). Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons
from the Struggle for Social Justice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Shields, C.M. (2012). Transformative Leadership in Education: Equitable
Change in an Uncertain and Complex World. New York: Routledge.
supplemental articles and chapters that provide an overview/landscape
of history of leadership theory and theories of community engagement
Course Activities
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3 critical reflection papers (30%)
1. Kolb learning cycle reflection (Komives & Wagner, 2009, p. 329)
2. Based on chapter questions in Shields (2012)
3. An invented dialogue about how to create a particular social
change between Alinsky and a community leader of the
student’s choice
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3 exams (30%)
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Preparation and participation (10%)
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Group Presentation – Leadership Applied to Justice (15%)
Each small group will choose a social issue/problem/opportunity
for the purpose of this exploration. The group will first educate the
class about the issue itself and possible courses of action to create a
more just situation. The group will then apply the framework of the
leadership theory currently under consideration and propose a
specific course of action that is grounded in that approach. The
presentations will happen after each of the major readings; linking
theory and practice throughout the course. The group will produce
a summary handout of their topic and applications. Each person
will write a reflective essay about their growing understanding of
their own leadership practice in groups.
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Final paper (15%)
The final paper is the beginning of a literature review for the thesis,
placing the project topic in the context of social justice and
addressing how the literature of this course applies to the research
project. It will be submitted in three steps (a list of topical
resources, a draft which infuses the resources and the course
readings, and then the final paper).
Course Overview*
Weekly Topics
1. Leadership Theory in
Context
2. Introduction to the
Thesis & Group
Projects
3. Learning as a Way of
Leading (part 1)
4. Learning as a Way of
Leading (part 2)
5. Learning as a Way of
Leading (part 3)
6. Leadership Applied
7. Transformative
Leadership in
Education (part 1)
8. Transformative
Leadership in
Education (part 2)
9. Transformative
Leadership in
Education (part 3)
10. Leadership Applied
11. Leadership &
Community
Readings & Activities
Review Komives &
Wagner; Chapter
overview of leadership
theory development
Reading TBD that
provides overview of the
forms of research in JCL;
library research skills
training; group project
overview & assignments;
reading about leadership
& group roles/processes
Brookfield, 1-5
Student Deliverables
Critical Reflection Paper
1
Issue-based resource list
for literature review
Brookfield, 6-11
Brookfield synthesis
Exam 1
Instructor & studentchosen readings germane
to the justice topics being
addressed in the
presentations
Shields, 1-4
Presentations
Shields, 5-8
Critical Reflection Paper
2
Shields synthesis
Exam 2
Instructor & studentchosen readings germane
to the justice topics being
addressed in the
presentations
Alinsky, 1-4
Presentations
Draft of Literature
Review
Organizing (part 1)
12. Leadership &
Community
Organizing (part 2)
13. Leadership &
Community
Organizing (part 3)
14. Leadership Applied
Alinsky, 5-9
Critical Reflection Paper
3
Alinsky synthesis
Exam 3
Instructor & studentchosen readings germane
to the justice topics being
addressed in the
presentations
15. Justice, Community & Pair-sharing of literature
Leadership –
reviews and peer
Synthesis &
feedback
Application
Presentations
Final Literature Review
*Additional course activities and augmenting will be developed. This grid
provides a preview of the course layout and key design elements.