Learning Labs And Workshops
Ozya Leadership Laboratory – Developing Multi-cultural Youth Leadership
The Youth of Seattle are our emerging leaders. The Ozya Leadership Laboratories and Workshops are designed specifically toward multi-cultural youth wishing to combine a sense of artistic expression with the leadership and business skills needed to produce artistic performances. An overview of how these labs and workshops are conducted is offered here:
1. Combination of classroom workshops with hand-on field work in the neighborhood
• Four capacity building in-class room workshops – 2 hours six weeks apart
• Field practice in the community between workshops
• Pick a project and develop an action plan for implementation and funding
2. Building coalitions and partnerships connecting people, communities, and government
• Using culture and the arts to motivate and energize a community
• Share results – One Day “Ozya Urban Odyssey” Conference (up to 300 participants)
Ozya - developing leadership skills with youth by:
• Listening
• Building partnerships and connecting people
• Public Presentations
• Understanding community needs
• Interviewing skills
• Conducting meetings
• Networking with public and private agencies
• Developing action plans
• Developing funding scenarios
Connecting Ozya Leadership Lab Youth with:
• Their own community
• Cross cultural and multigenerational communities
• Neighborhood Leaders
• City of Seattle agencies
• City Leaders
Participating Youth:
Youth and their families from The Central District to Rainier Beach High School including:
• People from multi cultures and 38 language groups
• Low income renters
• Refugees and immigrants
• Gang and former gang members
The Ozya Leadership Lab Process
1) Recruit participants
2) Develop needs assessment with community input
3) Review applications and contract with participants
4) Conduct 4 workshops with field practicum & mentoring in between
5) Plan the Ozya Leadership Lab Conference (up to 300 participants)
6) Conduct Conference including Performance of Ozya an Urban Odyssey and
Open Space discussion by the community based on discovered needs and show
Recruitment Sources include:
• Schools
• Service Centers
• Nonprofit Assistance Centers
• Multicultural Assistance Agencies
• Washington Health Foundation
• Community Agencies
Four Capacity Building Workshops & Field Practicum Overview
Class room workshops: 2 hours.
Class room workshops every six weeks with field practicum in the community and mentoring in between.
Methodology
• Interactive and youth relevant hands-on skill development.
• Youth will pick a project and work on it and share results with City and community and at the “Ozya Urban Odyssey Conference”
Participants:
• youth and their parents and/or
• adult community leaders from traditionally under represented communities
Number of participants – up to 50
Four Capacity Building Workshops
1. The Community Voice – interviewing to identify community needs and interests
2. Building Relationships – creating collaborations, coalitions, and durable organizations that work with governmental agencies and process
3. Identify Assets and Challenges – creating a strategy for change that uses Public and Private resources including partnerships with governmental agencies
4. Using Appropriate Culture and Arts to Motivate, Unify, and Energize the Community – Creating an inclusive forum for community feedback on issues.
Overview of Each Workshop:
Workshop 1: The Community Voice – interviewing to identify community needs and interests
Goal: Learn how to conduct cross cultural interviews to identify community needs and interests
Objectives: Participants will learn and practice skills for;
1. Building trust with the person you are interviewing – telling your own story
2. Cross cultural listening skills to hear their stories
3. Interviewing skills for bridging generational and cultural gaps
4. Identifying community needs and issues
5. Documenting interview results – using the survey tool(s)
Workshop 2: Building Relationships – creating collaborations, coalitions, and durable organizations that work with governmental agencies and process
Goal: Identify resources and strategies for meeting community needs and interests
Objectives: Participants will learn and practice skills for;
1. Analyzing the interview results
2. Prioritizing needs and interests – what can you do? Where is your passion?
3. Identifying resources for meeting community needs and interests – community partnerships, government agencies, coalitions, and potential funding sources
4. Identifying stakeholders and allies
5. Successful strategies – community organizing and researching funding sources
6. Creating a preliminary plan of action – pick a project and develop next steps
Workshop 3: Identify Assets and Challenges – creating a strategy for change that uses Public and Private resources including partnerships with governmental agencies
Goal: Participants will learn skills for getting money and community support for a project
Objectives: Participants will learn skills for:
1. Identifying funding sources – government, corporate, foundations, donor development and working with your community for in-kind donations
2. Understanding how city (government) funding works
3. Identify the challenges and develop strategies to overcome them
4. Identifying and leveraging your personal and community assets for funding projects that meet a community need
5. Getting organized – what’s involved?
6. Create a plan of action to fund a project(s) to meet a community need(s) or interest(s)
Workshop 4: Using Appropriate Culture and Arts to Motivate, Unify, and Energize the Community – creating an inclusive forum for community feedback on issues
Objectives: Participants will learn skills for;
1. Using music, dance, and the arts to communicate across language barriers
2. Using the power of cultural heritages to build support and funding for projects that meet community needs and interests
3. Using culture, arts, and music to build confidence and credibility for community projects and to build partnerships between government and neighborhoods
4. Getting organized for doing your project using spoken word, music, or dance as a tool for organizing
5. Preparations for one day “Ozya: An Urban Odyssey” conference
Ozya Leadership Lab Builds Community Capacity
• A model for constructive youth community action
• Professional youth leadership curriculum for community and City wide use
• Youth connected to their own community
• Youth connected to other communities and City of Seattle agencies
• Sustained effort to developing Ozya Leadership Lab through public and private contributions
• Leaders who emerge and know how develop strategies and get them funded
Ozya Builds Healthy Youth!