Andrea,

I've attached a few comments from the students, as they reflected on their visit to Waterfront South. Again, I deeply appreciate your willingness to share with the students. I hope you are encouraged by a few of their reflections:

From Lazarus Coleman:

Andrea Ferich possessed strong qualities attributed to Transformational Leadership. First, her pivotal role in the organization connects her to the children in Camden's poor neighborhood, Waterfront South. And with her vision to revitalize the community through environmental sustainability, I truly believe Andrea is starting to make a lasting impact upon lives of her young volunteers. She's giving them to something to hold on to---hope for a much cleaner and safer community. I was impressed when she told us about how a boy in her group was so excited about gardening that he shared the experience with his family, (the boy told his mother about how seeds he collected will provide a surplus of fruit for his household).

From that perspective, I see a direct correlation with three factors of the Transformational Leadership model (pg. 181-182).

1) Idealized Influence: Andrea's critical role in the community urges her volunteers to be socially responsible and she has set solid ground for moral & ethical conduct for them.

2) Inspirational Motivation: Andrea's work says it all, as it's making the children in the neighborhood truly committed to environmental change---a greater cause.

3) Intellectual Stimulation: Any task involving environmental sustainability produces an outpour of innovative thinking. Andrea is absolutely promoting an atmosphere for her volunteers to be creative leaders in the future.

Likewise, Andrea is growing a name for herself with the community as a positive role model figure.

Non-Transactional: Andrea's leadership role surpasses the level of transactional leadership, because I see her investing heavily into the lives of her volunteers. She's placing much time and effort working daily with the children in her group (planting, baking, extra-curricular activities, etc.).

It seems as if she not only wants them to be recognized for simply doing something for the community, but being an agent for change. So their efforts would go beyond the just being rewarded, because of the monumental step Andrea is taking them through.

Level-5 Leadership: Andrea also tops the list for Level-5 quality in leadership. Jim Collins describes this level of leadership with great sense of humility, modesty, and strong will/fearless. Andrea takes a huge risk in spearheading her environmental initiative within a crime-stricken neighborhood in Camden. Despite the challenges, she does such a good job of reaching out to potential residents. She also shows much humility in serving the community well.

From Erin Thomas

Andrea was also quiet, low-key, humble but sincerely passionate. I've watched many of her Youtube videos since visiting with her, and I've the passion and joy she portrays with her "Junior Farmers". It is the same joy Father Michael cannot contain in his voice when he speaks of others who have worked so hard in South Camden. So yes... transformational leaders, using this example, attract like leaders. I can truly see people like Andrea not only continuing to follow Father Michael now, but also picking up where he leaves off when he's gone with confidence, humility, continuing transformation, and love. The kids in her videos will become the Andreas of the future, as Andreas are becoming the Father Michaels.

From Jamaine

I agree that Andrea pushed people to stand up for themselves and to fight for their desires and needs. I think it was also very evident that she was a Type 5 leader when she stated that she hopes to be the type of leader that is not needed in a community because everyone else is so crucially involved and all of the tasks have been delegated to others. This may be a small example, but I think the fact that she was out in the cold for so long showing us the things in the neighborhood that she is proud of speaks to her leadership skills and the pride she has in her neighbors.

From Kristine

Immediately my mind went to Andrea Ferich. As Andrea displayed ultimate humility in our time with her, it was evident that her humility and passion for the good of the neighborhood extends into her daily work and relationships. One line out of Northouse's book that confirmed my belief that Andrea is a transformative leader is when he writes, "Transformative leadership involves an exceptional for of influence that move followers to accomplish more than what is usually expected of them" (p. 176).

As Andrea's particular neighborhood faces difficult sewage dumping issues, it is clear that that she pushes people past what they think they are worth because of how the city treats their neighborhood, and empowers her neighbors of all ages to create a better life for themselves. You're terrific! Thanks again for giving so much to our students.

Bruce