Please describe your proposed solution.
Perception + Approach
We all have good intentions to read more books and improve our knowledge and sharpen our saws. Let's take action on those good intentions and form an intentional community to read a book a month to improve our entrepreneurial skill set and meet to discuss and learn from each other how we can apply the lessons of the book in the Catalyst ecosystem and how to improve our skills in communicating ideas, gain confidence in presenting strategy and objectives, and create better outcomes.
The high-level proposal is to create a curated list of 4 books to read over the course of four months with community input. Funding is requested to support the work to prepare, host and facilitate bi-weekly book club meetings and perform administrative duties for 6 months.
The book club meetings themselves will be 60-90 minute sessions over Zoom to discuss the book, and ideas that are relevant for the Catalyst community, and dive deeper into how we can improve our skill sets together, collaboratively, looking at the material through the lens of seeking to improve skills to communicate great ideas to voters and stakeholders and be better able to execute when funded. Each session will be recorded and written notes will also be provided for the community to use.
Who Will Your Project Engage:
There is a strong learning culture in Catalyst and this proposal will engage those who are committed to learning but might require some social accountability to follow through with those good intentions. So in some sense, this will function as an accountability group for reading book for those that want that.
Others might not know which books to read, and the book club will provide selections that are pre-vetted and are of high relevance and great content.
We will also engage with those who do not have the time or interest to read a book, yet still would like a high-level understanding of the content and discussions about the topic with others.
What is Unique & Why is this Important?
Continuous learning is important and often overlooked in our busy lives. The Leadership Academy Book Club format is unique in that we have been serially funded in the past for Catalyst book clubs and have a track record for creating learning opportunities and facilitating these events.