The Holden Center is pleased to announce the opening of applications for its 7th annual UO LeaderShape Institute, an intensive and energizing six-day national model designed to build the leadership capacity of its participants. This year, the UO session is scheduled to take place September 15th-20th at the YMCA Camp Collins in Gresham, OR.

Applications (which can be found on the LeaderShape website here) for participants are due Friday, May 17, 2013.

Additional information:

This fall, sixty UO students will be invited to participate at no cost to them and based on a competitive application process. Themes of the Institute reflect key leadership issues of vision, partnerships, integrity, and results. The curriculum itself focuses on:

 *   identifying core ethical and personal values,
 *   identifying behaviors and actions supporting those values
 *   developing relationships where the dignity and contributions of all people are acknowledged and respected
 *   developing skills to work in group and teams to accomplish a collective vision
 *   creating visions for the greater good of students’ communities
 *   establishing action steps necessary to implement a vision
 *   and increasing students’ leadership capacity to produce extraordinary results

Other program specifics include:

 *   a Team Challenge Course (a half-day outdoor team-building experience)
 *   an evening with a Guest Leader Forum in which participants are exposed to "real world" role models across different industries and professions
 *   learning and sharing in small groups called "family clusters"
In addition to developing skills to help improve their organizations and causes, participants often praise the LeaderShape® Institute as a time of great reflection. The week is structured so that participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their own strengths and weaknesses, ultimately enabling them to be more effective leaders. One recent participant summarized the experience the following way:

“Personal insights have had the most effect on me. It's really hard to nail down, but I learned to think bigger, that I have a responsibility to lead, that there is strength in diversity, and that I can make a difference...”

Since 1986, over 850 sessions of the LeaderShape Institute have taken place across the country and over 45,000 participants from all over the world have graduated. The first UO LeaderShape Institute occurred during the fall of 2007… graduating 54 students in its first class. Since that initial session, over 350 UO students representing different campus organizations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and leadership positions have participated in the LeaderShape® Institute.

Please feel free to also visit the Holden Center website for more information, and thank you for your continued support.

Feeling your creativity stifled by an onslaught of coursework, writing and teaching, not to mention your friendships and relationships? Here is an opportunity to utilize your creative impulses and contribute in innovative ways to your community.

The graduate student theatre troupe "Rehearsals for Life" is looking for a few more graduate students to join for 2013-2014.

"Rehearsals for Life" is a project of the UO Graduate School, the Center on Diversity and Community (CoDaC) and the Office of the Dean of Students. Utilizing scenario-based learning founded on the model of Theatre of the Oppressed and other applied theatre modalities, students develop interactive presentations for their peers on issues facing graduate students today.

Both peer education and interactive scenario based presentations are being recognized nationally for the valuable role they can play in shaping campus culture and in generating solutions to complex issues. Throughout history theatre has been used as a tool for social change and can provide a valuable springboard for important dialogues. As the complexities of our world increase and the pressures facing students mount, it is important that we continue to find innovative ways to meet and address these needs.

WHO WE ARE SEEKING: We are looking for enthusiastic, committed and creative individuals who have an interest in social justice and a desire to contribute to the campus community in innovative ways. No prior theater experience is required, although students must be willing to learn and be comfortable in front of groups.

TIME COMMITMENT: Approximately 2-4 hrs per week beginning Fall Term . We are looking for students willing to commit for an entire academic year.

FELLOWSHIP: RfL Actors receive $100 stipend per academic term

Potential topics to be addressed in workshops:

• Issues of diversity, equity & access
• Working effectively with advisers and professors
• Gaining credibility in your field International student concerns
• Challenging authority
• Responsible research

Please contact Abigail Leeder (aleeder@uoregon.edu) to submit or request an application (applications due May 31) or with questions.