Sunny Khan ’21
Week 8:
Compassion, Connection, and Care- A week full of love
August 10, 2021 | This past week has been one of a kind. We have grown in numerous ways in our mentor-mentee relationships with the kids and as colleagues and fellow leaders. The camp itself has contributed considerably to our self-exploration, self-awareness, and self-love. This is my friend Angelica. What has fascinated me is how kids can grow out […]
Week 7:
The Ideal of representative power, and the idea of goodbye!
August 4, 2021 | Jeffrey Stouts, in his book Blessed are the Organized, writes about a critical, foundational and passionate idea of power. This is pragmatic authority utilized towards the betterment of the authorized and the one authorizing. But it isn’t ordained by birth, skin color, or religious sect. It’s the kind of authority that is ‘earned’ over others. […]
Week 6:
Influence, Connection and Midway!
July 27, 2021 | This past week has been characterized by building connections. As young leaders working in this camp, we have realized that connection is foundational in the process of influence. And I am so delighted to share that all the leaders planning, organizing, and working in the camp are very intentional and creative about ‘connection.’ That’s what […]
Week 5:
Power of value-laden networks, leadership mentors, and taking B-C-D- (Breadth, Context and Depth) into account.
July 23, 2021 | This past week has imbued me within a broader network and structure of social change. It is quite imperative for young change-makers to not only learn about grassroots organizing but to also deepen their understanding of practical leadership. Practical leadership refers to the real-life, on-the-ground, emotionally, and psychologically invested leadership of leaders. It is practical […]
Week 4:
Power-Conversations, Inter-faith scholarship and the Loneliest Whale
July 14, 2021 | This past week has been full of power conversations with my peers, co-workers, parents, and even kids participating in the Summer Meals Program (SMP). Power Conversations focus on diving and exploring people’s concerns, their imposing worries, and their future aspirations. As such, to coalesce an inclusive vision establishes the same stakeholders in a setting of ‘influencing’ […]
Week 3:
Meals, Leadership Networking, and Reading Citizen’s Responsibilities
July 9, 2021 | There are different kinds of ways to organize, bad and good, effective and ineffective. It ranges from civic organizing to community organizing and broad-based organizing. But experience has delivered with judicial confidence that broad-based organizing remains significantly more appealing, sustainable, and powerful in leveraging the power and securing the interests of the citizens. The kind […]
Week 2:
Service and Outreach, Relational Power, and Not Winning Too Quickly!!!
July 9, 2021 | This week has been particularly exciting, challenging, and empowering. As I have now settled into my new role, understood my responsibilities, and am performing my duties. I have started experiencing grassroots organizing. And Reveille for a New Generation by Gregory Pierce has been my academic guide into the formal and informal interactions I have experienced […]
Week 1:
A 44 hour bus ride, Ukulele choir, and few hundreds meals later
June 23, 2021 | The past week has been an extraordinary experience. I took this picture right before traveling to Davenport, Iowa to take the bus to Boston, Massachusetts. Yes, perhaps you even raised your eyebrow, the journey was 44-hour strong letting me knit sightings and record observations through cities like Chicago, Columbus in Ohio, Harrisburg, Philadelphia City, New […]