Am I a Leader?

Our 2nd class with Mr. Silverberg focused mainly on leadership - defining what a leader is using all of what is said in actions by "leaders".

Interestingly enough, I had to check all the information presented with myself to see if I am a leader - do I hold any of the characteristics describing a leader. I mean, I'm calling myself a founder of a youth preventive type organization that uses hip hop to creatively empower people younger than myself.

I was not born a leader. I took it upon myself at around 11 or 12 to read Young Miss Magazines about being yourself, choosing good friends and what happy young women did to be happy young women. I read articles about community leaders that were a little older than I was then, but the articles inspired me, making me want to be a leader with the same qualities shared about the young women in the articles. The magazine gave advice on how to take care of yourself from the inside out as well. Those series of magazines changed how I saw myself. I followed the advice in the articles that brought self-fulfillment.

We discussed why people take leadership positions in non-profit organizations.

In reflecting what was discussed in class, I realize that P4P was founded to help young people the same way the magazine empowered me. P4P offers me self-fulfillment in seeing young people shine from advice offered them from the program curriculum.

The PowerPoint slide that sided Manager vs. Leader left me a checklist of what I know I have inside and what I know I need to build or acquire a team member with that strength I do not have. In the position I am in, how could I not?

P4P originated from a desire to prevent youth from self-destruction during spring break of 2004. Warren Bennis is cited on the presentation from his book "On Becoming a Leader" (pg 45) The manager imitates; the leader originates. That is only one of many examples I saw when I asked myself at the start of Mr. Sivlerberg's lecture, "Am I a leader?"

Honesty with one's self is something a leader must possess. You have to see proof of your capabilities in order to believe them yourself. I see the proof that can also be presented to others, as well as measured and evaluated by others.

I am a leader.

The Road to the 501c3

First day of class this fine Spring 2009 semester at St. Edwards came with some surprising new classmates and ideas.

My instructor happens to be THE Mr. Barry Silverberg, Director of the Center for Community-Based & Nonprofit Organizations at Austin Community College www.nonprofitaustin.org ; and President & CEO of Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations (TANO) www.TANO.org . You can read Mr. Barry's biographical information here.

Yes, I got all of that info from the syllabus overview. lol. I'm not a grammatical genius.

As with most classes, we started A-NMGT 4325 by introducing ourselves and what we desired to gain from Mr. Barry's teachings. The woman next to me stated that she lives in Bastrop and there is not a strong presence of non-profits there. Especially for any preventive programming for youth, like the ones P4P offers.

You know I made it my business to properly introduce myself to my new classmate, offering my business card and a ride to her vehicle which was way on the other side of the dark, cold campus.

We spoke at length about P4P and how she could easily have programming similar to P4P's simply by securing a venue large enough to hold about 50-100 kids and implementing a good marketing strategy. Yes, it is that easy. The venue and the marketing is the hardest part. Content for programming is relatively found in your local Jr. High School's counselor offices.

The next thing we did was get a better understanding of organizational effectiveness. Having a vision keeps any organization on track - simply put. I had to get clarity on competency within the structure of a well developed organization, even the correct way to pronounce the word. lol. Not minding at all that as a rapper, I rarely use some of the terms involved but may very well be operating full force within the definitions of the terms. Ahh...my life... lol. It comes with so many wonderful surprises.

It is Mr. Barry's intentions to make sure each student benefits from each other's work. We will be sharing all of our writings and me personally am very good at that already as a rap artist. My career survives off sharing my work. lol.

Part of our ongoing assignments is to Journal or Blog our "learning", reflections from each class and questions on a class by class, or topic by topic basis. Piece of cake! I have a never used Blogger.com account from last year that will do just fine. lol.

Needless to say, my first day of class was exciting and I am looking forward to sharing this journey in obtaining a 501c3 certification for Positivity for Purpose as well as making the organization one of the most well built and effective organizations on Austin's Eastside.

www.Positivity4Purpose.org for more details!