Led by Faith to make Change

"You should really take the class VaShone. You are perfect for it."
"Send me the link so I can look it up."
"You have to hurry, because the class starts Monday."
"Okay send me the link and I will make it happen."

It was a lunch that changed my life. I had planned a check-in/catch-up with my friend, meeting her at the OFA Offices, and she asked me, "Is it okay if Hope joins us for lunch?"

Over tacos and burritos at Don Tomas, we spoke of our faith in God, empowering community, developing leadership and educating young people and community leaders, changing the world and discovering our Divine purpose.

Hope shared about the life changing work NOI was doing training a new generation of engagement organizers throughout the nation to use their power and resources to create the change they wish they see in the world. 

Taking the course can change your life. It changed mine...and for the better! I learned a new model, a new philosophy of engagement organizing, and a framework for developing leadership and empowering community.

And when Hope invited me to join the New Organizing University (NOU) as a fellow, I couldn't pass up the chance. Together, we imagined the Millennial Project, with programming and curriculum built to increase leadership development and civic engagement organizing for youth and young adults at the community college level.

The Millennial Project aims to capture the largest growing population of students at the community college level through a program based in student outreach, recruitment, retention, and enrichment. Through the development of extensive strategic partnerships, NOU seeks to train and develop leaders and community organizers for youth and young adults within the California Community College system. As a community college graduate (Chabot College, Hayward, CA), I understand the important role that these schools play as a location for training, obtaining knowledge, and building skills to prepare students, whether for career technical education, or a trade, or to transfer on to a college or university. It is our hope to further expand and develop leadership opportunities and civic engagement among Millennials at the community college level.

In the pilot phase of the program we are focusing on community colleges in the Oakland/San Francisco Bay Area. Students accepted to NOU's Millennial Project will have the opportunity to gain invaluable leadership experience using the engagement organizing philosophy to create their own community engagement project and make the change that they wish to see in the community. We are partnering with Harvard Executive Education Program to offer a dual certificate in Organizing and Leadership to students who are accepted and successfully complete the program.

It has been my faith and my deep sense my purpose that has led me to a life of service in the community. The Bible says that people suffer from the lack of knowledge. It is my honor to help NOU develop this work and train our next generation of leaders and organizers to lead and listen with their heart, dedicate their hands to the work and use their head to creatively analyze and evaluate and ultimately create the change that we so desperately need in our community.

I am grateful for this new opportunity that God has provided me with through this class and this fellowship.  I am hopeful and enthusiastic about the Millennial Project and look forward to testing and scaling this program at community colleges nationwide. I am confident that God's grace will continue to lead NOU staff and me and partners as we embark on the great journey and undertake the challenge to train, empower and motivate tomorrow's generation of leaders, advocates, and engagement organizers - today.

Read more about the Millennial Project here.

I grew up in a loving, Christian family in a working class household, the eldest of four and daughter of an educator and a union leader.  I understood the importance of community service, giving back, and civic engagement from an early age. It was through watching and "supporting" my parents and my involvement in church as a youth and young adult ministry leader that I first developed my leadership.

After becoming a primary school teacher and being disillusioned and disappointed by the overall systemic failure and fiscal challenges of our school system, I began to explore other options. That frustration brought me to a life in public policy work. It was clear to me that the changes that I wished to see in the school system would only come about if there were changes in policies and regulations that schools were mandated to abide by. So I figured that I would become an elected official or work in government for a progressive leader whose policy platform and ideals matched mine. I was led to work in the office of California State Senator Liz Figueroa, and learned invaluable lessons and skills about life in politics, development of policy, community development, and civic engagement.

It was there I also organized my first political fundraiser and became heavily involved in local politics including assuming a leadership role in Black Women Organized for Political Action.

After working for the State Senate, I continued my work in public service including working for elected officials, the Port of Oakland and various issues campaigns while serving on boards and working in the church. Then in 2006, I had the one of my life's most profound experiences serving the community as a part of the mayoral campaign and administration of the Honorable Ronald V. Dellums. Working for Mayor Dellums as a member of his senior staff was extremely demanding. Mayor Dellums philosophy of coalition and consensus building and vision of Oakland as a Model City was an awesome charge. Dedicated to breaking down the walls to City Hall and providing a seamless, responsive experience for Oaklanders, developing and advocating for Oakland's progressive policy agenda at the State and Federal levels as well as managing key programs and initiatives proved to be rewarding and exhausting. At the end of the Mayor's tenure I found myself tired and depleted. Looking for a new experience and unsure of what I should do next. I opted out of life at City Hall.

Teaching, my professional experience in government had brought me to yet another defining moment. What was going to be my next move? What was I going to do? And the truth is, my path was not clear. What was clear was that I should wait, understanding my steps are ordered and having the faith to wait for my next Divine Assignment. Using the time off for restoration, healing, rejuvenation, and focus on myself, and opening myself up to hear from God, spending time with family, and catching up on the past six years of life. I decided I would only work on projects near and dear to my heart, and not accept a full-time employment opportunity unless it was the perfect "VaShone job," tailor made just for me. In the meantime I would use this opportunity to get my life back in order. I continued my HIV Advocacy work leading the HIV AIDS Ministry at my church and supporting Get Screened Oakland, a City of Oakland mayoral initiative that encourages Oakland residents to know their HIV status. I began boxing for my health, training at East Oakland Boxing Association to get off my high blood pressure medication and also spent time volunteering for Organizing for America and supporting the work of my very close friend who works as the Statewide Political Director. Although I did not have a traditional job, my life was full and I was on the road to health and happiness. And then I went to lunch with Peggy and Hope, which is where we began.

That lunch with Peggy and Hope changed my life's direction, and brought me to my fellowship and the Millennial Project. And I hope that the project will help change others, too, and create a generation of leaders dedicated to change.

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Vashone Huff is Director of Development and Programming at New Organizing University