TU students develop a ‘super’ leadership workshop for local children

Not all superheroes wear capes.

In fact, some superheroes are created at the Towson chapter of the Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) with some help from the Towson University students.

This past fall, students involved in the Towson University leadership program Tigers Lead designed, developed and led a workshop for elementary-school-aged students titled “SuperPOWERing Leaders for Tomorrow.”

The workshop included arts and crafts exercises and physical activities with teamwork challenges. Each activity had leadership lessons embedded into them, all with a superhero theme.

Jaida Washington ’27, a deaf studies major in the College of Liberal Arts, was excited that the group partnered with BCPL to help kids find their inner superhero.

"The event opened a door of opportunity that I have dreamed of for years [which is] to help children,” Washington says. “It [the program] helped me realize how important it is to take those steps into that door of your future. It showed me you need a team to create a plan [and while working together] that can create [the] success of a vision.

“To empower children of their superpowers, [you must be able to] embrace yours."

Tigers Lead is a three-tier leadership development program that guides TU students in discovering themselves as a leader through interactive workshops and hands-on experiences.

Designing and leading the workshops at the Towson branch of BCPL is the culminating experience where the students put their leadership skills into practice.

To develop the workshops, the students picked a theme (superheroes) and interviewed several staff members from public libraries throughout Baltimore County to develop curriculum that will benefit elementary school students.

The {Tigers Lead} Phase 3 students should be tremendously proud of the work they've done uplifting Towson youth through this project.

Brian Wickman '14, library manager for the Towson Branch of the Baltimore County Public Library

Brian Wickman ’14, library manager for the Towson branch of the BCPL, says he was excited TU and its students provided a fun and informative workshop for young visitors.

“Community connectedness is at the heart of our work at Baltimore County Public Library,” Wickman says. “Not only am I thrilled to have been able to be a part of this collaboration with Towson University's Tigers Lead program, but I'm proud to have seen the wider impact that the final program had on the community.

“The Phase 3 students should be tremendously proud of the work they've done uplifting Towson youth through this project."

Tigers Lead is a scaffolded leadership development program open to all undergraduate majors. Its three phases are completed over the course of multiple semesters; each phase ensures participants can delve into various aspects of leadership.  

The program offers active and engaged learning, community building activities and a certificate at the completion of the third phase.

Shemiah Dickens, coordinator of student leadership at TU, says the workshops with BCPL were an amazing end for the students in the final phase of the program. She says it was also a great way to show the community the exceptional students that attend Towson University.

"I'm tremendously proud that this partnership came together, and it's made such a great impact on the community as well as our Phase 3 students,” Dickens says. “Brian and the Towson branch have been remarkable partners since the initial conversation of me pitching the idea. The students have gained so much from this process and truly feel proud of the work they've done and the collaboration they've shown."