Inside this issue:
Partners Against Poverty Receives Grant
Leadership Ministry Graduates Cohort
Corporate Letter to President Bush
Obituary: Rev. Francis A. Byrne, CM
Also visit:
Leadership Ministry Graduates Cohort
2003 Cohort of graduates from the
Leadership and Community Development Project
In 1999, the Leadership and Community Development Project (LCDP) was born out of discussions between Rev. William Hartenbach, CM, then the Midwest Province Provincial, and Rev. Pat Murphy, CM, Program Director for the Graduate Program in Public Services at DePaul University. The initial impetus for the project was the Vincentians' concern over the lack of priests in the Colorado Springs and Pueblo Dioceses (see related story on page one). The parishes could not keep pace with the problems these rural communities were facing – a depressed economy, unemployment, spiritual and familial needs, a collapsed agriculture, housing, health care and education needs. Faculty members at DePaul were already working on the idea of field-based education and community development and decided to use their theories to address not how to manage these parishes, but how to manage the communities themselves.
Originally, Rev. Pat McDevitt, CM, was recruited to join DePaul faculty member Maureen Scott to mount this effort. In September 1999, they researched how to set up the program, networked to establish strategic connections and decided how to attract a cohort of students interested in these issues. With these milestones achieved, the program began with 13 students in February 2001.
One of the key issues in designing this program was in recruiting participants who would become agents for change in these areas. Maureen states, "When answering the question, ‘how do students become the architects for the future of these communities?’ We determined part of the answer must include that they are current members and ambassadors of these localities."
The program was intense with the students – already maintaining full-time employment within the social service, government and health care sectors –taking a full load of classes every other weekend for two years. The courses also rotated within three communities: Limon, Fountain and Walsenburg, Colorado, with area families hosting the students on study weekends. Curriculum was field-based and structured around the specific needs of these districts, as well as research-focused wherein the students were aligned with existing community agencies and groups. (Faculty included Rev. Pat McDevitt, CM, Maureen Scott, additional DePaul faculty members and other professionals.)
After two years of hard work and contributions to these communities, 12 members of the original cohort (one student moved during the course of study) graduated on Saturday, February 8, 2003 with a Master of Science in Leadership & Policy Studies from DePaul University.
The students that participated in this program are truly stewards for change in this Diocese. Maureen shares, "These students were Catholic and non-Catholic; regardless, their research and public policy papers have the potential to spur action in these communities. There is considerable momentum and I hope it continues."
The program has established itself as a 501(c)(3) organization and the potential for growth is possible. At this time, however, the future is unclear as this was originally established as a pilot project between the Midwest Province and DePaul University. "The innovation we designed with this curriculum really does work," shared Maureen. "DePaul University has helped put into place a new way of proceeding with research-based curriculum and the notion of learning by doing. The larger impact on the communities remains to be seen, but the signs are promising based on research and support in the communities thus far," she concluded.
Vincentian is published bimonthly by the Midwest and Southern Provinces of the Congregation of the Mission, the Vincentian Priests and Brothers, to promote the apostolic works of its members and those of the larger Vincentian Family.
Congregation of the Mission, Vincentian
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