We surveyed longtime members of WAAL about their experiences. Read a summary below.
In what ways does WAAL benefit you, personally?
Experience for CVs or resumes
A place to try new leadership skills and strategies
Thinking about and practicing different approaches to leadership
Skill Development:
Communication Skills: Public speaking, formal presentations, strategic planning, and interpersonal communication
Meeting and Discussion Facilitation: Skills like leading discussions, facilitating meetings, and managing Zoom and other group communication technologies
Administrative Skills: Agenda making, note-taking, and using tools like Google Docs to organize information
Personal Growth: Gaining confidence in speaking and leadership, enhancing self-efficacy and focus on life goals
Having a community that stimulates intellectual curiosity and offers a sense of accountability
WAAL’s consensus-based orientation helps understand and improve group decision making and collective action
What are your favorite parts of WAAL?
Learning about leadership and engaging in discussions that question the status quo
The opportunity to practice new skills and learn tips and tricks related to leadership
The strong sense of purpose; feeling involvement in WAAL contributes to societal betterment and helps prepare current and future generations for self-advocacy and social justice
The different types of WAAL meetings (e.g., speaker meetings, workshops, political education book clubs, speaker meetings)
Learning from others with different backgrounds, viewpoints, and leadership experiences
The presence of like-minded individuals focused on intentional leadership development, which creates a sense of community, personal connection, and collaborative learning
The space provided to receive feedback and practice leadership skills
An environment that supports growth and experimentation
The engaging, relevant, and thought-provoking content
What are the main challenges, costs, and/or drawbacks to being part of WAAL?
Time and the willingness to be accountable to others were the only responses.