TRIO Student Support Services

Image Description: A gallery of photos depicting several groups of SOC 209 students and instructors during class activities and field trips.

SOC 209: Leadership Development for Changemakers

SOC 209 is an optional, FREE 3-credit course offered to TRIO students in the Spring Semester. It is co-taught by several KV TRIO staff members, as well as a Teaching Assistant (selected from recent class alumni).

The class meets weekly on Friday mornings for a 3-hour seminar, plus 2-3 daytrips off campus over the course of the semester. Attendance on field trips is mandatory. Dates/times will be announced several weeks in advance, and transportation, meals, etc. will be provided.

It is a 200-level Social Science and Humanities course. This means that it fulfills virtually any General, Social Science, or Humanities elective requirement - making it accessible to most TRIO students, regardless of your degree program. Participants have usually completed at least 1 semester at KVCC.

Throughout the semester, you will:

• connect with local community leaders ("Human Textbooks") selected from diverse fields and backgrounds
• develop creative projects using various media (such as writing, graphic design, podcasting and video creation) to define your leadership vision and amplify other voices
• learn about several different types of leadership, particularly transformational and servant leadership
• design and implement your own service learning project using the Design Thinking framework - practicing leadership skills in the real world!

The only requirement for this course is a growth mindset - no leadership, writing, or design experience needed! SOC 209 is consciously structured to provide intensive support, a holistic approach to leadership development (meaning: we view trying - failing - learning as a successful outcome), and a safe environment to step outside your comfort zone.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, ask your TRIO advisor about SOC 209 when you register for Spring classes!