At the start of the second semester, Co-Director of Roberts Center for Leadership Kelly Anstead and Director of College Counseling and Co-Director of Roberts Center for Leadership Jami Silver introduced a new leadership group, the KO Changemakers, allowing freshmen and sophomores to continue projects started in the Leadership Impact Lab class.
The class worked on a myriad of projects, from volunteering with nonprofits and food pantries in the Greater Hartford area to learning more about who they are as leaders and what they will inspire in the future. After the first semester was complete, Ms. Silver and Mrs. Anstead decided they wanted to continue building on the class. “We wanted to give them a space and time so that they could get invested in the things they care about,” said Mrs. Anstead.
The group meets every Tuesday during Community Time in the College Conference room. A typical meeting consists of students splitting into groups, reaching out to members in the community, coming up with ideas, and sharing updates about our weekends. Unlike many school clubs, the KO Changemakers group is meant to be a collaborative workspace rather than a traditional club with strict structure or roles such as presidents and vice presidents. “The Changemakers are not a club,” Ms. Silver said. “This is a place for students to come together who are working on or want to work on projects, and also want some support and help.”
This idea of providing a space for students to work towards their goals was one of the main motivations for creating the group. The Roberts Center for Leadership wanted students to have a consistent place to explore ideas and develop projects that connect the school with the surrounding community. Ms. Silver explained that the program also fits into a larger shift in student leadership at the school. Last year, the Leadership Council worked on many in-school projects, but it was similar to the Student Government: “We are looking for a student voice for the Roberts Leadership Center,” said Ms. Silver.” “The Changemakers really are more aligned with the student component of the Center.”
Freshman Giselle Brighthaupt in the KO Changemakers club is currently working on a project with the middle school about teaching classes and promoting new ideas about what a middle and high school group could look like. “I thought it was a very good idea to put my ideas into motion,” she said. “There aren’t really as many outlets to do that, and I thought it’d be a good opportunity to be able to make a difference in my community. “
The group currently consists mostly of underclassmen who have previously participated in Leadership Impact Lab, though several new members and a few upperclassmen also attend meetings. During these meetings, students discuss their ideas and plan projects that address real-world challenges.
One student group has an idea of working with the Greater Hartford Community. “We’ve been planning this project to work with either Levo or Loaves and Fishes to bring our community closer around us,” said Giselle. The majority of the students in this group are working together to find time and space to collaborate with middle schoolers through Skills Incubator classes.
By providing time, space, and support for student ideas, KO Changemakers aims to help students become more connected to their community and more confident in their ability to lead. The program is ultimately about encouraging students to not just focus on academics, but also on what we can do to help our community. “We’re looking for kids to get engaged, to be connected to their community, and to engage with authentic problems and challenges,” Ms. Anstead said. Through this work, students discover that they don’t have to wait for the future to make a difference; they have the tools to start now.
