Date of Award

2-2023

Document Type

Project Portfolio

Degree Name

Doctor of Leadership in Global Perspectives (DLd)

Department

Seminary

First Advisor

Karen Tremper, PhD

Second Advisor

Diane Zemke, PhD

Third Advisor

Jason Swan Clark, DMin, PhD

Abstract

The opportunity addressed in this research is to create an effective leadership capacity-building experience equipping young adults (18-24 years old) to practice justice, equity, reconciliation, and perseverance while positively impacting society in Lebanon and Oregon. iLEAP: An Intercultural Leadership Pilgrimage for Young Adults, is the result. My research has revealed that young adults want a learning environment that supports the cultivation of positive self-identity, meaningful connection with others, and agency. They want to develop cross-cultural friendships and collaborations and want to be equipped for effectively working with difference. Additionally, they want to cultivate visioning skills that lead to discerning and implementing practical, transformational projects which incarnate the gospel values of justice, equity, reconciliation, and perseverance in their context. Simultaneously, they believe that mental health challenges may create a barrier to them successfully doing so. Thus, integrating trauma resiliency skills will also be highlighted. Since July 2013 I have been serving in the role of Regional Liaison to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Gulf States on behalf of the Presbyterian Church (USA). This research and the resulting project were motivated by what I have learned from the practice of bridging between cultures. My focus for iLEAP in this project is designing year-one of the three-year pilgrimage with a summary of what year-two and year-three will hold. Year-one includes twenty-six weekly sessions. It is a cohort based experiential learning environment. The goal is for participants to become globally aware citizens with skills in the areas of intercultural competency, leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and peacebuilding competencies used in service of discerning, designing, and implementing transformative initiatives in their local contexts. Students 18-25 from Lebanon and Oregon will participate in a variety of learning activities focused on developing their cultural competency and leadership shaped by these four values—justice, equity, reconciliation, and perseverance

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