What are the social conditions under which an individual realizes his or her full potential as a leader who is willing to take private action for public good?

Students will study the community education philosophy that was founded in Michigan by meeting with the community education director in their district.

Anticipatory Set:

Who has taken a community education class at sometime in your life?
Who has participated in state or local recreational activities in Michigan or some other area?
These programs were made possible by the community education program promoted by a foundation named after a leading Michigan citizen, Charles Stewart Mott. Today we will find out how he got started.

• Give each student a copy of "Man of Vision Led with His Heart" from the web site or have students visit this Web site prior to class.
  
  
• Divide students into small groups of six, assigning one of the letters below for each member to answer:
  1. What early events do you think affected Mott's attitude about education and helping others?
     
     
  2. Do you believe being born into the right family helped Mott's success?
     
     
  3. In addition to his family connections, which of Mott's personal qualities helped him to achieve success?
     
     
  4. Once he became successful, what did Mott do to help society?
     
     
  5. Why do you think he made helping others a priority in his life?
     
     
  6. What do you think Mott gained from helping others?

• Restructure groups so that all the individuals with the same "letter" question from above develop a comprehensive answer. Have each group post their answer and guide a brief whole group discussion.
  
  
• In a whole group exercise, have students evaluate the impact of Mott's philanthropy on the economy of Flint. When this is completed, visit the Web site and have students find examples of international philanthropy from the Mott Foundation which carries on his work.
  
  
• In small groups, students should use the Internet to find two other major Michigan philanthropists and describe his or her contributions to society and the continuing role their work plays in society today. Post their reports or copy and distribute to other groups. Have students evaluate the impact of Mott Foundation grants in these communities.

Have students describe what they would do if they had the resources of a major foundation.