Question

Professor Edwards’s “Fundamentals of Supervision” class was in the fifth week, and the class was discussing servant leadership. Professor Edwards identified three things for the students to consider. “Leaders need to create a vision for their team that will create a future for the organization based on resilience. Leaders need to use the talents and skills of their team members to get the best results. Leaders need to find ways to engage their followers to be the best they can be in doing the job they were hired to do.”

The classroom door opened and someone the students did not know walked into the class. Professor Edwards in- troduced her as Alisha McDonald, a former student, who was now district manager for IHOP and active in the area Habitat for Humanity Women Build Projects. He said that she would share her story of how her work with Habitat had helped her.

Most of the students had never done or even heard about the “hammer” experience.

Alisha began her talk by saying that Professor Ed- wards had gotten her professional business fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi, to get off the bench and get in a game that none of the group had ever heard about.

My fraternity got involved in building a home for Habitat for Humanity. It was the most fun project I had ever been involved in. Marketing and finance majors worked
on securing funds for the build. Other majors worked on all aspects of the house.

Habitat for Humanity put on “Women Build” classes
to give us some knowledge, skills, and familiarity with working on a Habitat project. The area Habitat affiliate is planning on building over 100 homes in the next four years and they need volunteers. Projects like this have not just al- lowed me to be a better person, but also gave me a real ap- preciation for the leadership and teamwork needed to help those who are truly in need. I knew nothing about building a home, but I learned lots about working with a diverse

group of people. Projects like this one and others allowed me to develop and demonstrate my leadership and follow- ership skills and to get others to do some things they never thought they would be able to do.

This year, we will begin our Women Build project on Fri- day, May 1, and conclude on Saturday, May 16. There is also a men’s build at the same time. As a team leader I have a critical role in making the Women Build program a success. A Habi- tat build is fun and rewarding, and I want you there to help.

Habitat for Humanity also has a year-round program known as the Collegiate Challenge. Summer, fall, winter, and Spring Break trips are available for those of you who might like to travel out of the area and spend a week work- ing in partnership with a local Habitat affiliate to eliminate poverty housing in their area. Last year, we took a group

of students to Jacksonville, Florida, on Spring Break. More than 14,000 college students took part in the Collegiate Challenge last year. If you would be interested in doing that during your Spring Break, Professor Edwards will help you get in touch with me so that we can get you involved.

Habitat’s Women Build program started in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1991 with a home completely built by a crew of female volunteers. Women Build projects provide an environment where women can feel comfortable learn- ing construction skills they might not otherwise have an opportunity to learn. Women all over the United States will participate in a Mother’s Day build. I encourage you
to become a volunteer to help those in need and change communities.

Each Habitat home is sponsored, and we use private funds to purchase building materials and land for the homes. Each home built has a cost of $75,000, and we ask that each volunteer secure a gift of at least $250 to ensure that the home is properly funded. Last year, Professor Edwards and his wife gave us $2000 for a Women Build project, and he has told me that they will do that again.

What questions do you have for me?

Answer 1

Solution -

The article is very informative and Alisha seems to be a driver of change - My questions would be on the scope of work that this Women Build project has to offer to us -

Q1. Can only girls participate in this program or boys will also be allowed?

Q2. If we volunteer then will we get a core technical experience in construction work or we qould just be getting a high-level overview?

Q3. After our volunteer effort is over do we get a certificate for the experience we have had.

Q4. What are the challenges that this project currently has that would require management and mitigation during the volunteer stint.

The above questions would define the complete cope of work for the volunteer.