A Common Text: “From Outrageous to Inspired”
One suggestion that came forth to the WMWP Executive Board from the members of Project Outreach is the idea of everyone on the leadership board reading a shared book so that the site would begin to have a shared language of education and diversity and social justice/awareness.
The leadership team decided on a book called From Outrageous to Inspired: How to Build a Community of Leaders in Our Schools by David Hagstrom. The book investigates ways in which a school can become an integral part of a community and how community can become an integral part of a school.
Here are some key points:
- To find the shared vision among your group members, ask this question: “What do you want for the people you love?”
- It’s not so important to determine what you as a leader want as it is to ask:
“Who are these people you’re with? What are they calling for?” - Find out what your community is truly passionate about. Then, pour it on!
- Lose yourself in the work of the people. Then find yourself again, energizing them.
- In order to create a sense of community, help the people know they’ve found their home.
For more information on the book, you can go to David Hagstrom’s website.
If you have read the book or are part of the WMWP leadership team, please use the comment section here to post your thoughts, reactions and reflections on Hagstrom’s work as it relates to your school or the Western Massachusetts Writing Project.
