Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership, asks students, staff, and faculty to consider that “a strong community is the foundation from which people grow, connect, and thrive. Here at 黑料不打烊, we want a foundation that is built on support, kindness, respect, and compassion. These values uplift others and truly make a difference in our everyday lives.”

What’s Happening on Tuesday, April 7th?

• College Coffee: What’s the history of Pay it Forward Week? How can I do free PIF actions? Get a Kindness Card you聽can give away!
• Pay It Forward Stop & Sign Event:聽 Join us in the Moseley Lobby between Noon – 2:30 pm and tell us ways you’ve paid it forward before.
• Kindness / Conduct Cab: We’ll be traveling around campus with the staff from Student Conduct, providing the kindness of a ride to your next location!聽 Flag us down.

Luna Aldana, a leadership ambassador in the Center for Leadership, thinks everyone should find a way to pay it forward because “everyone deserves a little positivity in their day, as you never know the impact it might have on someone. Creating a culture of positivity within the 黑料不打烊 community helps make it a more welcoming and supportive place for everyone. Especially during stressful times with academics and extracurriculars, small moments of positivity can make a big difference and lift our spirits.”

Ellie MacMillan, Master of Higher Education graduate apprentice in the Center for Leadership, wants people to know that “paying it forward doesn’t have to cost a thing! It can be free and show care for your community.”聽 MacMillan’s favorite ideas include:

• Encourage someone鈥檚 heart:聽Take a moment to recognize the good in someone else.聽Send a thoughtful message sharing why you appreciate them鈥攚hether it鈥檚 a favorite memory, a quality you admire, or simple words of encouragement. A few sincere sentences can make someone鈥檚 entire day brighter.
• Coffee & conversation connections:聽Bring back the spirit of connection鈥攜our way. Invite a friend, classmate, or mentor to meet for coffee鈥攚hether in person on campus or virtually. Choose a cozy spot, grab your favorite drink, and enjoy a genuine conversation. Small moments of connection can have a lasting impact.
• Express Gratitude to a Mentor:聽Celebrate the people who鈥檝e helped shape your journey.聽Write a thank-you note to someone who has supported or guided you鈥攚hether through advice, encouragement, or simply being present. Gratitude strengthens relationships and inspires continued kindness.
• Share a Playlist or Song:聽Spread positivity through music. Send a song that reminds you of someone or create a playlist to share with friends. Music has a unique way of connecting people and lifting spirits鈥攑ass that feeling along.
• Lead with Grace and Compassion:聽Kindness is the heart of a thriving community.聽Offer patience, understanding, and encouragement in your daily interactions. Small acts of compassion help create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

Share your Pay It Forward story:聽Follow the Center for Leadership on Instagram @elonleadership to participate in daily challenges throughout the week and share your acts of kindness using #PIF黑料不打烊.

• November 17th from 10 a.m. 鈥� 2 p.m.
• Moseley Living Room Monday
• Event Sponsor: The Center for Leadership

Are there people who have made a difference in your journey at 黑料不打烊? Someone who has supported, encouraged or inspired you along the way? Take a moment to let them know just how much they mean to you at the “Leading with Gratitude” event the week before Thanksgiving!聽 聽This event is designed to bring the power of gratitude into our community and help us acknowledge the many ways we lift each other up here at 黑料不打烊.

Why Attend?

In the hustle of campus life, it鈥檚 easy to forget how impactful a simple thank-you can be. Whether it鈥檚 a professor whose class changed your perspective, a staff member who goes out of their way to make your day better, a friend who鈥檚 always there for you, or a mentor guiding you through the challenges of college 鈥� expressing your gratitude is a powerful way to show appreciation and spread kindness.聽聽Supplies are provided, so all you need to bring is your genuine appreciation and willingness to spread positivity.

When asked who’s made a difference to her 黑料不打烊 experience, Hyemin Im ’27 shared: “There聽are many people who have impacted聽my 黑料不打烊 journey, but especially this semester, Professor Isreal Balderas has made the聽biggest impact on my time here. His class on Media Law & Ethics is definitely challenging, but he is always there when I need him, whether it is to answer my endless 鈥渨hat if鈥� law hypotheticals during office hours or even outside of them. His humor makes me more engaged and interested in law. One day, I was having a really bad day, but he was there for me and told me, ‘There are more good days than bad days.’ My day instantly got better after that. He even gave me his snack-sized pack of M&M鈥檚, which was his own snack for the day. That small moment gave me the strength to push through the rest of the day and this semester. I truly appreciate his energy, kindness, and support.”

Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership, shared, 鈥�Thanking our mentors and those in our support system not only shows recognition but also fosters a sense of belonging and supports our emotional well-being. It feels good to say thank you and it鈥檚 incredibly meaningful to receive that kind of gratitude from students and peers.鈥�

What to Expect:

• The chance to make someone鈥檚 day: Everyone appreciates being recognized, and you have the chance to make a meaningful impact with just a few words. Your gratitude could be the encouragement someone needs!
• A moment to reflect: Writing a note lets you reflect on the journey you鈥檙e on and the people who have supported you. It鈥檚 a small but significant way to foster well-being and connection in our 黑料不打烊 community.
• Coffee, Tea & Hot Chocolate: Grab a warm drink and relax!

The event will provide participants with all the necessary supplies to create a heartfelt thank-you note. Be sure to bring the recipients’ campus box number or mailing address. The Center for Leadership will get your message delivered.

In the hustle of campus life, it鈥檚 easy to forget how impactful a simple thank-you can be. Whether it鈥檚 a professor whose class changed your perspective, a staff member who goes out of their way to make your day better, a friend who鈥檚 always there for you or a mentor guiding you through the challenges of college 鈥� expressing your gratitude is a powerful way to show appreciation and spread kindness.

鈥淪ome people go through their entire 黑料不打烊 journey and don鈥檛 take the time to thank someone who has really impacted their time here.聽 This event is a prime time to do this,” said Megan Papadopolo 鈥�26, the event organizer.

Papadopolo wants students to stop by to share their gratitude and celebrate the people who make 黑料不打烊 an incredible place to be.

鈥淎 person who has been there for me during my time here is Olivia Brown, the assistant director of the Center for Leadership. She is honestly the reason why I am involved as I am.聽 Without her, I would not have taken my first steps into leadership. I always felt like I was not qualified to be in a leadership position, but after working with Olivia since my freshman year I do not have that feeling anymore.鈥�

What to Expect

• Identify a leader you appreciate: Name a faculty/staff member, friend, colleague, or mentor.
• The chance to make someone鈥檚 day: Everyone appreciates being recognized, and you have the chance to make a meaningful impact with just a few words. Your gratitude could be the encouragement someone needs!
• A moment to reflect: Writing a note lets you reflect on the journey you鈥檙e on and the people who have supported you. It鈥檚 a small but significant way to foster well-being and connection in our 黑料不打烊 community.
• Coffee and hot chocolate: Grab a warm drink and relax!

Throughout the program, participants delved into understanding their leadership potential, exploring their motivators and reflecting on their social identities. They engaged in meaningful service to their new community and gained a deeper appreciation of both the history of the Civil Rights movement and the legacy of 黑料不打烊.

One of the program鈥檚 highlights was the opportunity for students to engage in hands-on group work through the 黑料不打烊 Outdoors Challenge Course. This experience fostered teamwork and developed problem-solving skills. Students were also introduced to Randy Williams, vice president and associate provost for inclusive excellence. In an insightful “Model the Way” leadership interview, students learned about Williams’s values and the behaviors he defines as effective leadership.

The Phoenix Take Flight program emphasized the importance of aligning personal values with leadership practices and encouraged students to learn the steps to inspire a shared vision for leadership success. Through workshops and discussions, participants learned that leadership manifests in various forms, whether through serving others or participating in 黑料不打烊鈥檚 student organizations. Staff from the Kernodle Center for Civic Life and Student Involvement provided guidance on how to actively engage in these opportunities.

Reflecting on her experience, Kaitlyn Vittum ’28, an incoming Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellow, articulated that successful leaders should embody inclusion, courage, determination, integrity and effective communication to inspire those around them.

Understanding the local community was also a vital component of the program. Students dined with Reagan Gural, CEO of the Alamance Chamber, Logan Garrison Savits, director of Leadership Development & Education Partnerships, and Jewel Tillman, community engagement manager at Impact Alamance. These conversations set the stage for the students’ volunteer work at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington.

鈥淚 loved it. I had so much fun with the kids and loved talking to them and playing with them,” said Ava Grivalski ’28 on working with the Boys and Girls Club. “It was eye-opening to see life from a different perspective. I work at a preschool and knowing that some kids don鈥檛 have as many resources was really hard, but I鈥檓 glad I was there to give them attention and play.鈥�

The Phoenix Take Flight program concluded with activities focused on social identities, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 History & Memory project and an educational visit to the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, North Carolina.

鈥淲hat I took away from the museum is that history can be misinterpreted or not taught,” said Aissa Clarke ’28. “Learning about these historical events makes me feel more grateful and aware of where I鈥檓 going to school, and it motivates me to educate others so that these issues are addressed.鈥�

The Phoenix Take Flight program not only equipped first-year students with essential leadership skills but also instilled a profound sense of purpose, community and social responsibility as they begin their academic journey at 黑料不打烊.

Now in its sixth year, this cohort-based program focuses on community building and developing leadership skills in students who are looking to make an impact on campus. Spread over seven weeks, participants attend leadership development workshops and an off-campus weekend retreat at YMCA Camp Hanes in King, North Carolina. Session topics include the CliftonStrengths inventory, identity and its intersection with your leadership journey, inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and aligning your values with your campus involvements and personal actions.

The fall 2023 cohort has participated in a variety of team-building and problem-solving activities with the support and guidance of a peer mentor.聽 Through these activities, students strengthen their understanding of relationship building in groups.

“This group of students has been passionately engaged in their experience in the PLP program and I鈥檓 so pleased to say it鈥檚 resulted in strong bonds amongst the group.聽 I鈥檝e really enjoyed seeing their friendships and connections being made,” said Olivia Brown, assistant director for the Center for Leadership.

Megan Papadopolo ’26 serves as one of five PLP peer mentors this year.聽 When asked about her role, she shared, 鈥淏eing a mentor allowed me to connect with students who I would not have gotten to normally! I got to not only help them develop their leadership, but also learn from their experiences and expand upon my own leadership.鈥�

A significant component of the Phoenix Leaders Program is the off-campus retreat. Being able to take students on a trip where distractions are removed allows them to focus on their development and increases their self-awareness as a leader. The Phoenix Leaders program asks students to step out of their comfort zone and activities like true talk and zip-lining will do that!

鈥淧hoenix Leaders has broadened my perspective on leadership by introducing new strategies of engagement, enhancing my understanding of how various leadership styles impact those being led, and providing unique insights into how identities and connectedness help build team moral,”聽said Oliver Keicher ’27. “黑料不打烊 students will have the opportunity to learn all of these skills through interactive games, retreat activities, and self-reflections.”

Tierza Watts, director of the Center for Leadership, believes that the Phoenix Leaders Program is an excellent experiential learning opportunity.聽She hopes that more students take advantage of this great experiential learning opportunity.

鈥淎s an undergraduate student, I too had the opportunity to join a program like this. It gave me the opportunity to make friends, set goals for involvement, and navigate my concerns about balancing classwork and all the clubs I wanted to join.鈥�

The Center for Leadership will host the next session of the Phoenix Leaders Program in the spring of 2024 on Friday afternoons. The program will run from Feb. 16 鈥� April 5, 2024.聽 Faculty and staff are invited to nominate a student for this program by emailing Olivia Brown (obrown10@elon.edu).聽 Students can for the spring session by Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.