Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership
Michael Pocress ’21
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Major: Applied Economics and Management
I work with my community(ies) to address … social justice and sustainable economic development.
My friends would say that I’m … always looking for an adventure
The best part about the Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership is … participating in the capstone dialogue [Stage 3], which allowed me to learn more about community organization, leadership and engagement through dialogue with the capstone peer facilitators and fellow students in my class. I also enjoyed meeting activists who are just as passionate about social change and civic participation as I am.
For my Stage 2 committed project, I … traveled with an NGO to Poland and Germany to consult with community leaders, business owners and activists to develop social justice and community outreach programs. I then traveled to Israel to promote civic discourse on the Arab-Israeli conflict and work with local agencies to develop economically sustainable policies and practices.
My community partner(s) taught me … the value of a bottom-up approach to change.
I’ve also learned that engaged leaders … do their homework by taking time to thoroughly research the communities they operate in and the issues they want to address. They also take strategic risks and are collaborative.
Other projects and organizations I’m committed to include …the World Economic Forum Global Shapers Community, Consult Your Community, the Emerging Markets Institute, Cornell University Into the Streets, Sustainable Enterprise Association
I’ll continue my journey as an engaged leader by … participating in the Public Service Center Scholars Program.
Certificate in Community-Engaged Leadership
Build on your interests and apply your experiences (from courses to extracurricular activities) to this program to develop the skills you need to be a community-engaged leader.