What Is Social Change In Education?

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What Is Social Change In Education
Education as a means to social change Nelson Mandela once said, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ Over the centuries, leaders, thinkers and revolutionaries around the globe have believed in the power of education to catalyse social change.

  • Social change is triggered when the complex web of human relations and interactions undergoes a mental transformation.
  • It’s when we, as a society, disregard viewpoints propped up by ignorance to accept new ways of life, and education plays a vital part in ushering in this change.
  • Acceptance is the key to social change, and acceptance comes through knowledge.

And educational reforms modernise human perspective, broadening our minds enough for us to envision a better future. fairer Bringing the Ivy Leagues to High Schools In their endeavour to shift the educational paradigm to within a more inclusive system, one that can prompt social change, EdTech players are building an international ecosystem of students, mentors and leaders.

  • What began as an idea to democratise Ivy League education has now progressed into empowering high-school students with instruments of change.
  • Specially curated programmes focus on transformation within communities, societies, and even schools.
  • These programmes, workshops and webinars, etc., have an informal setting but with a global outreach that allows students from diverse backgrounds and cultures to share their ways of life and to network.

Together, the students and mentors find methods to tackle local problems highlighted during the course, while offering sustainable solutions to facilitate positive change. Collaborating with student-led and other organisations such as Harvard Student Agencies, Harvard Graduate Women In Science and Education (HGWISE), CSDGC at Stanford University, MIT Solv, Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations (HPAIR), etc., EdTech startups are globalising out-of-classroom education and helping expand social horizons.

Moreover, they are enabling students to access resources across the world, to better ideate, and innovate to guide communities towards a more fairer and equitable society. More initiatives such as these can only benefit humankind overall. Impact Of Global Mentors Mentors too have a duty in connecting the finest institutions (like the Ivy Leagues) to high schools.

The term mentor reportedly owes its origins to the Odyssey, where ‘Mentor’ was a character who performed the role of a teacher to Homer’s son. Today, mentors hold the same value, sharing world perspectives with their students and acting as stimuli for social change.

  • From Civil Reforms to Women’s Rights to LGBTQ Rights, mentors have played a crucial part in enlightening the masses about the need for these reforms, and we can observe the changes that have taken place in their wake.
  • The advent of the Internet allowed the world’s citizens to connect beyond borders, and access information at their fingertips.

Global mentors have leveraged this opportunity to share knowledge across countries and help bridge cultural and social gaps, while alongside imparting quality international education to students. And when it comes to teaching, these mentors equip themselves with a more holistic approach, and hence are capable of providing a broader view of the issues faced by society today.

Hubs have been created that connect global mentors to high-school students worldwide. This network helps students understand social impact, and how societies are adapting to a changing world. Keeping the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) in mind, these mentors train students to identify issues in their localities, inspiring the young women and men towards solving them and bringing positive change, thus sparking social transformation at a local level.

Youngsters Sparking Social Change Through International Education Such programmes succeed once the mentors make way for the students to take over, and become the change societies need. A retrogressive society lacks suitable education systems, pushing it even further into the grip of backward beliefs, social conflicts and poverty.

But the life-changing quality of education helps eradicate regressive practices and pave the way to progress, and towards building societies in which all relationships are founded on respect. And the Covid-19 pandemic opened up digital avenues for learning, allowing students to pursue education from universities outside their home countries.

International educational set-ups have long possessed the power to influence youngsters by exposing them to global cultures, high standards of living, and, of course, advanced curricula that hold relevance in an ever-changing world. In such an environment, students learn to challenge orthodox pedagogies and untether themselves from conformist mindsets, the better to discover and make sense of a world in flux.

These youngsters, our next generation, are the change-makers who will bring change to society, a change that befits our times. Meanwhile, initiatives such as the Take the World Forward fellowship, The Passion Project: Young Achievers Program, Compassionate Leaders Dream Lab, Policy Making and International Relations, etc., aid in creating a platform for high-school students to take control of their future.

They inculcate skills to shape confident and motivated leaders of tomorrow, while offering global networking opportunities for students to connect, share, explore and learn. Education in a cosmopolitan environment—influenced, for instance, by the forward-looking reputation of Ivy Leagues—can nurture holistic perspectives that fashion a forward-looking society.

  1. Programmes that keep this objective in mind strive to build world citizens who follow best practices to solve problems and generate positive transformations ‘glocally.’ In Conclusion Education can help us embrace social change by cultivating a positive outlook and broadening our thinking.
  2. Further, it can initiate behavioural change and prompt a shift in attitude in people, allowing them to contribute constructively towards the growth of a progressive and tolerant society.

Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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What is the meaning of social change in education?

What Is Social Change And Why Should We Care? – Social change can be defined as the way in which human interactions, relationships, behavior patterns, and cultural norms change over time. These changes ultimately transform cultural and social institutions, concepts, and rules, which will inevitably impact society for the long-haul.

These changes and transformations are not necessarily good or bad, but they are profound. On the surface, we may not notice social change; it can take years — even centuries — of action to cause one change. As students and members of a rapidly changing society, it’s important to look back on social changes of the past and how they’ve influenced us now.

For instance, at one point, women were not able to study at university. Today, both men and women, of all races, religions, nationalities, and creeds, can study — even online and tuition-free, like at University of the People, This is why social change is important.
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What is the meaning of social change?

What is Social Change and Why Should We Care? Social change is a concept many of us take for granted or don’t really even understand. No society has ever remained the same. Change is always happening. We accept change as inevitable, and it is, end of story, right? Well, not exactly. Sociologists define social change as changes in human interactions and relationships that transform cultural and social institutions.

  1. These changes occur over time and often have profound and long-term consequences for society.
  2. Well known examples of such change have resulted from social movements in civil rights, women’s rights, and LBGTQ rights, to name just a few.
  3. Relationships have changed, institutions have changed, and cultural norms have changed as a result of these social change movements.

That’s pretty heady stuff. Don’t you think? What interests me, and what I hope interests you, is our collective power to influence social change. While we accept that change is constant, we do not have to accept that we are powerless in its wake. It is the extent to which we care about the direction of social change that we can try to shape it and help to create the kind of “change we wish to see in the world.” Whether or not Gandhi actually uttered these words doesn’t matter.

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What matters is that the phrase begs the question, what kind of change do we wish to see in the world? As executive director of the 43+-year-old nonprofit, Global Citizens Circle (GCC), I think about this question every day as I work to carry forward the mission of the organization to foster constructive change in our communities, our nation and our world.

I imagine that our partner and host institution, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), also thinks about this question on a daily basis as it seeks to “transform the lives of students.” And surely, our Belfast-based partner, The Social Change Initiative (SCI), thinks about it as it strives “to improve the effectiveness of activism for progressive social change.” We, all three institutions, care and understand that we can influence social change for the better.

  1. We may exercise our power to influence change in different ways.
  2. GCC does it through discussion among people of diverse opinions and backgrounds.
  3. SNHU does it by offering affordable and innovative educational and similar, and now even in refugee camps in Africa,
  4. SCI exercises its influence by bringing together social activists with philanthropists around the world.

These are lofty goals to be sure, and they demand our constant attention and unrestricted imagination to envision a better world. You may think that’s great, but wonder why you should care, why you should take time out of your incredibly busy schedule to take action and more importantly, how you can even go about helping to create positive social change.
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What is social change and examples?

Why is Social Change important? – Social change occurs when societal institutions, structures, and cultures undergo a significant shift. Famous examples include the Reformation in 16th-century Europe and the American civil rights movement. More often than not, social change is slow.

This is especially true of a global society. Why does social change matter? Here are 10 reasons: #1. Social change gets the world closer to gender equality Looking at the state of gender equality can be overwhelming, even discouraging. It’s important to remember that social change starts small. It becomes impactful as more individuals, groups, and institutions get on board.

These actors propel the world forward culture by culture, country by country. Actions like closing the gender pay gap; increasing education access; and improving women’s healthcare contribute to lasting social change on a large scale. #2. Social change improves worker rights Throughout the course of history, greed exploits and endangers employees in every industry.

The United States is an example of how social change affects labor and worker rights, Over two centuries, the US experienced the birth of unions, child labor laws, the minimum wage, and laws for family and medical leave. This area of social change is ongoing as workers continue to fight for their rights.

They strike for higher wages and push for better legal protections. Consumers also play a part when they boycott businesses with unethical practices. #3. Social change protects the LGBTQ+ community The LGBTQ+ community is one of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

  1. People in this community face higher rates of suicide, violence, and discrimination.
  2. Many past and current social movements around the world center on LGBTQ+ rights.
  3. The legalization of same-sex marriage; legal protections against discrimination; and shifts in cultural perspectives represent social change.

It protects individuals and gives them equality within society. #4. Social change improves racial equality Most societies deal with racial inequalities. Based on their race, groups and individuals face discrimination and disenfranchisement. Social movements (like the civil rights movement in the United States) focus on protesting current conditions and changing laws.

  1. Social change is also significant when it addresses society’s perception of race.
  2. Education and awareness can be as important as legislative measures. #5.
  3. Social change is good for business Studies show that when workplaces are more diverse, they’re more productive.
  4. If every workplace prioritized better inclusion and equality, it would improve business and society’s economy as a whole.

Social changes include closing the gender pay gap, establishing legal protections for workers, and following non-discriminatory practices. These contribute to a workplace’s diversity and success. #6. Social change helps the environment No other living thing has affected the environment as much as humanity.

Research shows that we’re damaging the air, water, and land at unprecedented rates. This affects the wellbeing and safety of everything on earth, including humans. Green social movements have pushed back with earth-friendly initiatives such as supporting endangered species. They also encourage individual responsibility and spread awareness about issues like climate change,

#7. Social change keeps governments accountable History proves that power can corrupt. Governments often commit human rights violations against their own people. Social change can draw attention to these injustices, dismantle destructive structures, and help societies transition into better systems.

These changes can occur quickly and violently through civil war or conflict. Through elections and legislature, the change can be more gradual. #8. Social change addresses problems at the root Lasting impact is one of the markers of social change. It isn’t enough to treat the symptoms and not the wound.

The most effective social movements tackle issues at the root instead of only looking at the effects. As an example, to address homelessness, we must examine why people are homeless in the first place. Only providing short-term solutions won’t deal with underlying causes.

Long-term measures are also needed. Looking at the roots allows for permanent changes to develop, saving a society’s time, energy, and resources. #9. Social change empowers citizens Social change often occurs when individuals decide to work towards a common goal. They take note of what’s destructive or inefficient in society and take the steps necessary to change it.

Most activists can point to a specific movement or person from the past that inspires them. Social change empowers citizens, proving that passion and hard work pays off even when there’s significant resistance. #10. Social change makes life better for future generations Many social movements lean on the understanding that social change is slow.

  • Those fighting for change now know they might not reap the benefits, but coming generations will.
  • Climate change activists are keenly aware of this fact.
  • They understand that healing the planet takes time.
  • Fighting battles now on behalf of those not even born yet is a selfless act.
  • It sets up a society for future success.

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What are the 5 types of social change?

Definition – Social change may not refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution, the philosophical idea that society moves forward by evolutionary means. It may refer to a paradigmatic change in the socio-economic structure, for instance the transition from feudalism to capitalism, or hypothetical future transition to some form of post-capitalism,

  1. Social development refers to how people develop social and emotional skills across the lifespan, with particular attention to childhood and adolescence.
  2. Healthy social development allows us to form positive relationships with family, friends, teachers, and other people in our lives.
  3. Accordingly, it may also refer to social revolution, such as the Socialist revolution presented in Marxism, or to other social movements, such as women’s suffrage or the civil rights movement,

Social change may be driven through cultural, religious, economic, environmental, scientific or technological forces.
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What are the main factors of social change?

Social change occurs due to various factors such as demographic, technological, cultural, political, economic and educational. These factors often act in concert resulting in changes either in a serial manner or something in parallel too.
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What is social change what are its main types explain?

Meaning of Social Change: – When change in social structure, social order, social values, certain customs and traditions, socio- cultural norms, code of conduct, way of conducting oneself in the society, standards, attitudes, customs and traditions of the society and related factors take place, it is said that there is social change.

When there is social change, the process of socialization also changes accordingly. The individual who is an active member of the society becomes an agent and target of social change. He brings social changes and also is influenced by such changes. In a particular period or after a gap of several years each and every member of the universe is subjected to face social change.

A particular social order does not continue for several decades, say hundred years or more. There is bound to be some change. In a particular period people of the society are guided by certain rules and regulations, customs, traditions values and beliefs, the way every one has to manage and guide himself, people have to manage their style of living, their work, business, profession and conduct.

  1. Individuals of the society, young and old are guided by these rules and belief.
  2. Socialization of children is also influenced by these frame of reference.
  3. The DOS and Donts of the society, as we know influence the process of socialization.
  4. But after a certain period, due to evolution or revolution we find slight or remarkable change in the above aspects of social life.
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In some cases, these changes may be slow or fast, may be a matter of degree or kind. In some cases it may be substantial and drastic while in other cases it may gradual and of low order.
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What is social change and its causes?

Does cancel culture (or “callout culture”) promote social change? – social change, in sociology, the alteration of mechanisms within the social structure, characterized by changes in cultural symbols, rules of behaviour, social organizations, or value systems.

Throughout the historical development of their discipline, sociologists have borrowed models of social change from other academic fields. In the late 19th century, when evolution became the predominant model for understanding biological change, ideas of social change took on an evolutionary cast, and, though other models have refined modern notions of social change, evolution persists as an underlying principle.

Other sociological models created analogies between social change and the West’s technological progress. In the mid-20th century, anthropologists borrowed from the linguistic theory of structuralism to elaborate an approach to social change called structural functionalism,

  1. This theory postulated the existence of certain basic institutions (including kinship relations and division of labour) that determine social behaviour.
  2. Because of their interrelated nature, a change in one institution will affect other institutions.
  3. Various theoretical schools have emphasized different aspects of change.

Marxist theory suggests that changes in modes of production can lead to changes in class systems, which can prompt other new forms of change or incite class conflict. A different view is conflict theory, which operates on a broad base that includes all institutions.

  1. The focus is not only on the purely divisive aspects of conflict, because conflict, while inevitable, also brings about changes that promote social integration,
  2. Taking yet another approach, structural-functional theory emphasizes the integrating forces in society that ultimately minimize instability.

Social change can evolve from a number of different sources, including contact with other societies (diffusion), changes in the ecosystem (which can cause the loss of natural resources or widespread disease), technological change (epitomized by the Industrial Revolution, which created a new social group, the urban proletariat), and population growth and other demographic variables.
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What is positive social change in education?

Education and Positive Social Change I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine about Africa ELI and our philosophy. My friend asked me to name one of the fundamental beliefs that drives, I responded with a phrase that comes up often in discussions with my colleagues at Africa ELI and in communications with our supporters.

“Education,” I said, “is a vehicle for positive social change.” My friend then replied by asking, “What do you mean by positive social change, and why is education so important for it?” My friend had posed an excellent question, and one that deserves some reflection. The assertion that education drives positive social change is widely accepted, and indeed seems rather self-apparent.

However, it is worthwhile to investigate what it means. First of all, what do we mean by social change? defined social change as “any modifications in the established patterns of inter-human relationship and standard of conduct.” There are various aspects of social change, including cultural, political, economic, religious, demographic, and technological.

Positive social change results in the improvement of human and social conditions and in the betterment of society. Such change can occur at many levels, including individuals, families, communities, organizations, and governments. Positive social change is driven by ideas and actions with real-world implications.

What, then, is the role of education in creating positive social change? This question gets to this crux of the matter. The answer can be found by looking at socialization and the transmission of knowledge — two of the central elements of education — and at the role of an education system within society.

While education is not synonymous with socialization, it does enable the socializing process. A better way to state this might be to say that schools are an agent of socialization. For example, in school children learn social skills through interactions with teachers and other students. They learn how to relate to different personality types, to work through disagreements, to problem-solve, and to exercise self control.

(Granted, not every child learns all of these skills or develops them at the same pace, and some children may possess anti-social tendencies due to influences in their lives which make them resistant to socialization). Perhaps most importantly, school reinforces the concept that actions and choices have consequences.

  • All of these factors influence the social development of the individual, thereby increasing the likelihood that he or she will become an agent for positive social change.
  • Early on, teachers acquaint students with the social, moral, and cultural values of society through activities, games, and storytelling.

Later, students learn about their system of government, its constitution, and its history. Education makes students aware of the rights of citizens and imbues them with a sense of civic duty and responsibility. Through lessons about public figures and leaders, education develops leadership qualities in students and inspires them to become future leaders.

Education counteracts superstition and parochialism, both of which are obstacles to positive social change. The education system of any society is related to its overall social system, and the goals and needs of a society are reflected in its education system. This dynamic is perhaps even more significant in a very young nation, such as South Sudan, where goals and needs are rapidly changing and developing.

How does this relate to positive social change? The Former British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, wrote, “The education system in any country is a point of contact between governments and their citizens.” It is because of that relationship that those belonging to an education system are especially well positioned to have a positive impact on society.

  • This is probably a much longer answer than my friend was expecting (or wanting)! Nevertheless, this idea of education being a vehicle for positive social change is an important one for those of us with a desire to be agents for change.
  • It is indeed one of the ideas central to Africa ELI’s philosophy and belief which drives our efforts.

: Education and Positive Social Change
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What is the importance of social change?

What Is Social Change In Education Social change is the transformation of the social order in the community by making adjustments and variations to social institutions, behavior, and relations. It involves social evolution where the society makes amendments to traditional societal norms leading to the necessary change.

However, the modification of the developmental psychology is crucial in ensuring that the necessary change is successful. It results from various factors, which support the change making it inevitable. -Social change leads to increased awareness and more understanding due to the presence of more information in the community, which enables people to make informed decisions based on the scenario at hand.

There is also improved civic participation attributed to change in the attitude of the public, which motivates them to correct instances of injustice (Cohen, 2011). According to psychology, social change begins with the personal change, which leads to commitment and motivation needs to undertake group and community change in general.

  1. Community social change entails transformative change, cultural change, and organizational change.
  2. Transformative change involves making amendments based on plans in the community.
  3. The building blocks of social change include various crucial factors that need to be fulfilled to achieve the required change.
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The first component is transformative change. It involves addressing of pressing and sustainability issues and challenges such as loss of biodiversity in the society and climatic changes. To ensure the success of this component, the social and cultural systems need to be amended to enable the transition to sustainable humanity civilization.

  • It is done through the application of practical knowledge and experience that will facilitate the transformative change.
  • Another critical component of social change is engagement and participation.
  • Members of the community need to be involved in the formulation of the modification policies to ensure collaboration among the parties involved.

Through the involvement of people in the society in creating a sustainable future, they become committed and motivated in pursuing the required social change. Environmental education and learning are also important in ensuring behavioral change compliance.

Through education, people obtain valuable information that encourages people to think keenly of the necessary change and get involved in the change process. The vision of the change program is shared among the participants that allow them to become involved in the change process leading to the realization of the change (Sharan, 2004).

A combination of the education and applied foresight identifies threats to the sustainability of the program enabling them to take advantage of current opportunities thus achieve the desired plans and goals. Social change is facilitated through social research.

Social research involves members of the community in collecting information from the society that requires implementing changes in their policies, thinking and approach in life. It requires innovative methods that determine strategies that will be successful in realizing the required change. These research programs are based on specific problems facing the community to identify the needs and wants of the community.

It leads to customized policies and approaches that will address the issues identified thus leading to real change. The first step in social research involves analysis of the community in question. Information and full details of the community are examined to determine the problems in that society that needs to be rectified and changed to achieve an operational society (Unkelbach, 2013).

The policies implemented are customized to suit the changing requirements of the community. Social research allows the social change strategies to be sustainable. It is because the change is evidence based leading to informed decision-making in the development of the modification structures and strategies.

References Cohen, G. (2011). Social Psychology and Social Change. Science, 334 (6053), 178-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1212887 Sharan, M. (2004). Social Change and the Self-Concept. The Journal Of Social Psychology, 92 (2), 325-326. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2004.9923121 Unkelbach, C.
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What are the roles of teacher in social change?

In many societies around the world, teachers are looked upon as the individuals who can help to bring about positive changes in the lives of people. They are seen as natural leaders who can give advice on various affairs in the community.
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What are the forms of change in education?

Types of Change and Schools Change is a part of life, and one thing most people have in common is a dislike of change. This post will look at change and its relationship with the organization of schools. Types of Change in an Organization There are at least three ways that an organization, such as a school, can change.

These three ways are structural, technological, and cultural. Structural change relates to redesigning how the school is organized. For example, a school might add or remove departments, change job responsibilities, and or create new positions within the institution. Technological change refers to having to make adjustments to the use of various electronics.

It is common for there to be resistance to changing technology because people generally do not want to waste time learning new things. Technology can also, at times, lead to downsizing, which is something people do not like as well. The final form of change is cultural change.

This form of change has to deal with how people think about the organization. In other words, cultural change causes a shift in the beliefs and assumptions about the company and how things are done. Each school has its unique way of seeing the world and teaching and helping students—cultural change involves modifying these views.

Points to Ponder The scope of change can affect people’s willingness to accept it. For example, suppose a school hires an additional teacher because of the overload of the current teachers. In that case, there will probably be little resistance to this form of change because the current system was so intolerable.

However, if the change calls removing teachers, it is safe to assume strong resistance. This same line of thought applies to the other forms of change, technological and cultural. Minor changes will be tolerated, and significant changes will be tolerated if they relieve a significant problem. However, if the changes are unpalatable due to their size or inability to solve a problem, resistance is more likely.

It is also important to realize that all of these types of change can happen simultaneously in a school. For example, a technological change such as incorporating e-learning could lead to a need to change things in terms of the organization. For example, it may be necessary to restructure the IT department by splitting responsibilities and hiring additional people.

In addition, cultural changes may also be affected by e-learning adoption through the need for the organization to be more receptive to the rapid changes of the IT world. The point being made here is to remember that change cannot happen in a vacuum. Unfortunately, when change comes, it will affect things that the leadership did not want to be changed.

This has led in part to disdain by many leaders of change. It is not so much the change that is the problem but the unforeseen consequences of the change that bothers many educational leaders. Conclusion Change will always be a threat to a school. However, when it is time to make a change, leaders need to know how change can impact an organization.
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What are the 3 causes of social change?

Key Takeaways –

  • Major sources of social change include population growth and composition, culture and technology, the natural environment, and social conflict.
  • Cultural lag refers to a delayed change in one sector of society in response to a change in another sector of society.

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What are the 7 C’s of social change?

Franklin & Marshall – Social Change Model There are many ways at F&M to develop your leadership skills which is not limited to just leading one of our many student organizations! All members of an organization or community have the opportunity to develop and exercise leadership skills.

At F&M, we have been inspired by the Social Change Model of Leadership Development, which you’ll see referred to around campus as SCM@F&M, This values-based model focuses on being socially responsible; seeking to have a positive impact on the world. Furthermore, it assumes that leadership is a process, not a position, and that it is collaborative, inclusive, and available to all.

SCM is sometimes known as “The Seven C’s for Change,” because it is organized around seven values that all start with the letter C: Consciousness of Self, Congruence, Commitment, Collaboration, Common Purpose, Controversy with Civility, and Citizenship.
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