What is Large-Scale Change?

Written by Alexandra Siclait for the Leadership Programs at the Bush Foundation

If you have looked at the Bush Fellowship application questions, you may have seen the words large-scale change. But what do those words mean in terms of the Bush Fellowship?

The Bush Fellowship invests in your leadership development based on your leadership track record and vision for transformational change in your community. If you become a Fellow, we are investing in you because you think of making vast changes in your community and have partnered with people to identify problems. You are considering extensive shifts in systems, processes, or patterns of outcomes.

When it comes to the application questions about large-scale change, many applicants identify the need for change, talk about raising awareness of an issue or focus on a single solution to a problem. Yet, large-scale change requires you to think bigger, beyond the existing situation. The large-scale change consists of transformational actions to bring about more desirable outcomes in your community.

It is the difference between:

• Working within the system -or- working to remodel the system.

• Relying on known patterns to solve challenges -or- reimagining new frameworks.

• Simply tweaking current structures and mental models -or- redesigning ways of thinking and behavior patterns.

We are looking for aspiring Bush Fellows who continuously push their vision to have a huge impact; whose large-scale vision includes building inclusive, anti-racist systems regardless of the issue; and who are thinking big about how their vision will actively engage and activate their community to make change happen. Applied well, this can sustainably change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors.

As you think about your vision for large-scale change, ask yourself:

• Does your vision affect a whole or a portion of a system?

• Does your vision create a mental, behavioral or paradigm shift in you or others?

• Does your vision impact many people or just a few?

• Does your vision inclusively reflect your community’s needs and wants?

• Does your vision include multiple stakeholders across systems and commitments from community members to act?

As you reflect on these questions, your potential, and your vision of change for yourself and your community, think about how you will need to grow to influence the large-scale change you hope to make. Then, develop your Fellowship plan to help you build the leadership skills, experiences, and connections you need to build your vision with the community. I hope you consider applying for the Bush Fellowship!

What is a Strong Track Record?

Written by Alexandra Siclait for the Leadership Programs at the Bush Foundation

I will never forget it. Looking me square in the eyes, visionary artist and choreographer Liz Lerman said to me,

"Resist the urge to give counsel because multiple truths exist. Questions are the product — investigative inquiry."

Her simple yet powerful words moved me. Liz is right. Questions do open the mind to think bigger and differently.

As a Bush Fellow, you must be grounded in why you show up to lead and get comfortable interrogating your values, identity, culture, and experiences, all of which profoundly and perpetually shape your vision. Bush Fellows ask questions to spark curiosity, which in turn sparks ideas, which then spark innovation. Without deep introspection, they risk relying on old, broken patterns to solve problems, risk working within broken systems instead of working to change them, and potentially miss the opportunity to maximize their leadership capacity. 

In my role leading the Bush Fellowship applicant experience, I am often asked: What is a strong track record? When it comes to track record, many applicants talk about their record of success in terms of the positions, titles, or awards they have earned. Yet, a strong track record is not just a list of degrees and accolades. 

Rather, we are looking for aspiring Bush Fellows who continuously push themselves to broaden their perspectives and increase their effectiveness inside and outside their paid work. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate commitment to building the skills to bridge cultural differences and work inclusively with people of different backgrounds. And we are looking for Bush Fellows who are thinking big about how their leadership could influence change in others, with the potential for ripple effects and impact across their communities and the whole region. This can be challenging, so we ask applicants to illustrate their resilience and ability to learn in adversity. 

As you think about applying, ask yourself:

• How do your culture and experiences impact your vision and the way you do your work? 

• What does leading inclusively mean to you? 

• How could your leadership growth impact your community, state, or region? 

• And how do you take care of yourself to ensure you can persevere through setbacks and challenges? 

If these questions ignite your curiosity, and you are interested in growing as a leader to solve problems in our region more creatively, I hope you will consider applying for the Bush Fellowship!