Week 2:
What went well?
Discussions with community partners and training on fair trade learning went well this week. I gained a lot of insight into how to search for community partners and organizers who align with the goals of my program and provided some guidance and tools for the eventual social justice research and community action guide that I hope to make.
What could have been done differently?
It was slightly difficult to implement some of the training that I underwent during this week into my guide, as many of them targeted organizations that work with minors, such as discussions about social-emotional learning, while my guide is more geared towards adults performing individual social justice-oriented research and community engagement.
What did I learn about myself while working with others?
I learned that I really like working in small groups to target tasks and hold discussions about the ideals of the program. By establishing group ideals I feel like I can best approach my individual work.
What did I learn about leadership?
I learned the importance of understanding that community partners are not there to serve us, but rather that if we wish to learn from those engaged in a community, we must discuss how we can best be in solidarity and show up for them and their causes without causing harm.
What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I want to focus on best accumulating the training that I feel would be most pivotal for people engaging in community-engaged research and social justice learning for my guide next.