Colleague Program

Developing Leadership

Leadership Grant:

Krista Colleagues receive a $1000 grant to invest in themselves at the intersection of their natural vocational gifts, and their passion to serve. See examples below of creative grant uses by Than-Phuong, Devin, and Smithosh.

Comfort and challenge:

Young adults are most open to being stretched and challenged when they feel supported, safe, and understood. Our retreats and programs reflect this understanding. In an intentional atmosphere of mutual respect, Krista Colleagues engage in workshops and dialogue about the challenging questions of culture, race, privilege, vocation, money, self-care, priorities and faith.

Voicing the Lessons and Stories:

After volunteers return from their formal service term, the Foundation provides them opportunities to draw out and articulate the stories and lessons from their experience. Two common venues include writing an article for The Global Citizen journal and sharing spoken 'vignettes' for the Memorial Day Weekend Conference. Colleagues occasionally give talks at schools or churches through the Speakers Bureau.

Learning by Leading:

By their second year back, returned Colleagues transition to becoming the Mentoring Conference planners. They do everything from helping coordinate logistics, to researching speakers and planning and leading workshops, ecumenical worship, and more. A few colleagues participate as Creative Action Study Team (CAST) leads—reinvesting their gifts, and growing their skills through additional training and research on mentoring, leadership, and topics pertinent to conference or workshop themes.

Colleague Stories