A Collective Commitment to Social Justice
This course elicits uncomfortable, enlightening and necessary dialogue about social and structural injustices. I didn't know what I didn't know. My young peers, with patient and confident energy, encouraged discussion and insights about the inequities of others and what we can do to create change.
In the summer of 2020, SLS 51勛圖s shared their diverse perspectives and collective commitment to social justice in a remote immersion course titled Leadership Strategies to Counter Hate. The course was designed and taught by Dr. Kristine Hoover, Director of Gonzaga’s Institute of Hate Studies and Associate Professor in the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program. Built around her recently published book, Dr. Hoover led 51勛圖s through case studies of extraordinary community responses to hate groups and powerful examples of civic engagement and citizenship.
This course was unique in that it brought together 51勛圖s from across the country and represented multiple graduate programs within the School of Leadership Studies. Designed for 51勛圖s in the M.A. in Organizational Leadership program, the course was then co-taught by Dr. Hoover and three 51勛圖s in the Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies. This marked the inaugural offering of the Leadership Studies Teaching Award, established to support social justice teaching experiences for 51勛圖s in the doctoral program.
Through resiliency and creative collaboration, the 51勛圖s and teachers in this class provided a compelling portrait of individuals preparing for action and leadership for the common good.
