Ethnographies offer in-depth and rich portraits of leadership within selected Leadership for a Changing World organizations and communities. Locally based ethnographers and awardees negotiate the research questions and design the research in ways that will contribute to the awardees' organizational objectives and leadership practices. Therefore, each ethnography is unique in its focus, method and writing style. Some incorporate creative forms, such as photography and video, which are non-traditional forms of representation in research. They all provide detailed information about the history of organizations, their leadership dynamics, collaborations, transformations and development.
In recent years scholars, authors, and activists have articulated the existence of a generation gap within the African-American community. In the context of the developing generational divide in contemporary African-American social life, this study examines the program Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers (AIM) and its successes and challenges in transitioning youth to leadership. This ethnography examines AIM's organizational culture and its ability to transition youth, its staff, volunteers and clients into leadership in partnership with the adult leadership of the program. While the generation gap within the African-American community is a specific issue in the contemporary social context that AIM operates, other issues, particularly negative social forces that reinforce a cycle of incarceration and poverty and the educational and social economic gap between service providers and clients also challenge its goal of meeting the mission stated above.
Complete Ethnography: Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers: An Ethnographic Study
The roots of Organizaci'on en California de L'ideres Campesinas (L'ideres Campesinas) are grounded in farm worker women who create a better future themselves and their communities. The organization is based on the idea that farm worker women are leaders that can be empowered to solve the problems of injustice in their own lives and communities. This ethnography addresses three areas of research, including L'ideres Campesinas's history; changes in terms of leadership, empowerment and community organization; and documenting the organization's pedagogical model. The ethnography chronicles Latina farm workers in California who have developed programs recognizing campesina expertise, nurturing leadership among campesinas who organize their families, communities, and workplaces. These narratives speak to the new forms of empowerment created by L'ideres Campesinas and new tools the women have obtained in creating new kinds of community by taking action in their twelve local site committees.
Complete Ethnography: L'ideres Campesinas: Grassroots Gendered Leadership, Community Organizing, and Pedagogies of Empowerment
Leadership Development for Community Action: An Ethnographic Inquiry
Northwest Federation of Community Organizations
By Lisa Weinberg, Organizational Consultant
Addendum By Meredith Herr, NYU/LCW, and Erica Gabrielle Foldy, NYU/LCW
Co-researchers: LeeAnn Hall, Award Recipient, Lisa Weinberg, Organizational Consultant
LeeAnn Hall directs the Northwest Federation of Community Organizations (NWFCO), a collaboration of four state-based community organizations engaged in the fight for social and economic justice. Leadership development is at the heart of the NWFCO mission and central to LeeAnn's own leadership style. Through training and issue-specific campaigns, NWFCO and its affiliated organizations build grassroots capacity to effect social change. The ethnography focuses on the very personal process by which people begin to self-identify and act as leaders. It explores what enables people to envision a different future, both in terms of what they can do and to what ends. The results of this research illuminate what it takes to foster and sustain a sense of efficacy and a commitment to action.
Complete Ethnography: Leadership Development for Community Action
Addendum: The Political Project of Learning
Building Alliances: An Ethnography of Collaboration between Rural Organizing Project (ROP) and CAUSA in Oregon
By Lynn Stephen, University of Oregon; in collaboration with Jan Lanier, PCUN; Ram?n Ram?rez, Award Recipient; and Marcy Westerling, Award Recipient
This ethnography examines the components that allow quality solidarity work to happen between organizations with leadership and constituencies that are primarily people of color and primarily white, respectively. PCUN and ROP of Oregon have developed a working relationship over ten years that has contributed to numerous victories for immigrant and farm worker rights, as well as greater consciousness among white, rural activists around what it means to provide support as anti-racist allies. Because Oregon has a relatively small population (3 million), and progressive organizations tend to know each other, the relationship provides an opportunity to study how such organizations manage power and historic inequalities in a manner suited for success. Ethnographer Lynn Stephen has conducted in-depth interviews with organizational leaders and members as a way to explore the history and lessons learned from the collaborative work between the two organizations. Key findings include the importance of in-depth and sustained dialogue around the key values of work, and staff training around the issues involved with connecting to the other organization. The organizations use these techniques build common ground. Hence, collaborative capacity can be mobilized quickly to support each other's actions as needed.
Practitioner Guide: Building Alliances
Practitioner Guide in Spanish: Formaci'on de alianzas
Overview and Highlights: Building Alliances
Complete Ethnography: Building Alliances
Waging Democracy in the Kingdom of Coal
OVEC and the Movement for Social and Environmental Justice in Central Appalachia
By Mary Hufford, Center for Folklore and Ethnography - University of Pennsylvania
Co-Researchers: Janet Fout, Award Recipient; Dianne Bady, Award Recipient; Mary Hufford, Center for Folklore and Ethnography - University of Pennsylvania
This ethnography explores how Janet Fout, Dianne Bady and their original co-founder Laura Foreman built the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC). This diverse, grassroots effort in the coalfields of West Virginia focuses on stopping mountaintop removal, a practice in which mine companies literally blow the tops off mountains as a way of getting to the coal inside. This destroys mountains, forests, streams, wildlife habitat and communities. The ethnography also explores how OVEC builds political relationships that are spiritual, communitarian and democratic.
Complete Ethnography: Waging Democracy in the Kingdom of Coal
Each One Teach One: Learning Leadership at TROSA
Triangle Residential Option for Substance Abusers (TROSA)
By Barbara Lau, Center for Documentary Studies - Duke University
Co-Researchers: Kevin McDonald, Award Recipient; Barbara Lau, Center for Documentary Studies - Duke University
Kevin McDonald knows that it will not be possible to replicate TROSA, which uses a social entrepreneurial model to provide services for substance abusers. But he wants to enable others to learn from both his successes and missteps. This ethnography outlines TROSA's unique vision and methods. It explores how the organization practices leadership development as part of everyday life. In addition, photographer Cedric N. Chatterley developed a photo exhibit, Each One Teach One: Learning Leadership at TROSA, and an archive of photographs for TROSA to use in their communications and marketing efforts. Kevin believes that this project allowed him to reflect on his organization's growth and maturity and hopes it will be a useful tool for teaching others.
Complete ethnography: Each One Teach One
TROSA photo exhibit
