Northwestern University :: Undergraduate Leadership Program

A lot of people contextualize leadership in the sense of organizing a group project or company, but the Community Connections Retreat really showed me that leadership has mostly to do with building a productive and felicitous community, whether it is at school, at work or in your community.

Midori G.
Chemical Engineering Major
class of 2007

The Community Connections Retreat is our second retreat that occurs during fall quarter. The retreat takes place in Evanston and is similar to a mini field study. Using the knowledge attained in the first course of the program, students will meet with various community groups to observe and discover how leadership functions in a community context.

Retreat Time

Education

Education is an incredibly important issue wherever you go. Evanston is no exception. Every community encounters educational challenges that need to be overcome. Naturally, the challenges Evanston faces, and its methods for educating its population, are particularly unique.

Students with an Education focus will get a first-hand account of several schools and organizations that are working towards providing the best possible educational experience for Evanston residents. They will have the opportunity to hear different perspectives on different educational approaches, and hear from leaders in the field regarding their own personal leadership experiences.

The Environment

The environment and environmental issues have been increasingly popular areas of focus for several decades. From the preservation of natural resources, to the planting of more vegetation, to the monitoring of vehicle emissions, environmental concerns are many and varied. Right here in Evanston, there are those working towards providing residents of the community with a better environment. And just as you might think, there are challenges to overcome.

Students who choose The Environment as their focus will see two Evanston environmental groups up close. They will have the opportunity to hear about the mission of each respective group, along with the leadership approaches of two respective leaders.

*To keep with the spirit of being environmentally friendly, students in this focus will be required to have access to a bicycle and helmet.

Fine Arts

Artistic pursuits provide opportunities to build community and enhance the human experience. The feelings and emotions that a song, painting, or sculpture elicit can be truly powerful. When shared with others, these artistic experiences can unite a group of people. Additionally, artistic pursuits provide a means by which life skills, such as discipline, can be learned. Of course, those who wish to provide residents of Evanston with access to the arts encounter challenges along the way.

Students with a Fine Arts focus will get a first-hand look at Evanston organizations who seek to give residents an opportunity to experience what artistic pursuits have to offer. They will have a chance to hear two different leadership approaches to providing access to the arts in Evanston.

Philanthropy

There are many different types of community groups. Some focus on providing musical training to children, and yet others are trying to help make their community a more environmentally friendly place. While these organizations are great, it takes a lot to get such undertakings off the ground, and to sustain them. This is where philanthropic organizations come in and offer assistance. It's not simply about passing out money at a philanthropic organization. Tough decisions have to be made. Right here in Evanston, there are several philanthropic organizations designed to offer support to community groups.

Students with a Philanthropy focus will visit two philanthropy groups and learn more about each group's mission, goals, and duties. They will have the opportunity to meet with the leaders of those organizations to learn valuable leadership lessons.

Health(care)

Every community has health-related concerns that they need to address. From drug prevention programs, to treatment facilities for the mentally ill, communities strive to provide their residents with the resources they need to live healthy and prosperous lives. There are several organizations in Evanston that aspire to provide this opportunity to the residents of the city and beyond. As you can imagine, doing so is not an easy task.

Students with a Health(care) focus will visit two organizations that are dealing with issues pertaining to providing health(care), in some respect, to members of the community. They will have the chance to learn from leaders, as they will be exposed to the leadership skills, strategies, and tools of the leaders from each organization.

CCR Sign UP

Enrollment for the CCR begins at 12 pm on September 26th. Students attending the CCR must sign up for a focus. To do so, please use the eDevelopment system.

For information on how to use eDevelopment, visit the Perpetual Blackboard Site. If you have any questions or difficulty signing up, call 847-467-1367.