Catalyst

A one-day program designed to start something extraordinary.

Craft your story. Question. Dare to have a meaningful conversation. Challenge yourself. Go deeper. Ask yourself hard questions.
Then ask some more. Grow. Get real. Expand your perspective. Find the possibility in you. See the possibility in others.
Figure out what’s holding you back. Then go start something extraordinary.

Catalyst will be held Saturday, March 7, 2020 in Stern Center Ballroom from 9:30am-4:00pm.
Cost: There is no cost for College of Charleston students, failure to attend will result in a charge to your student account.
Apply here: Application deadline is Friday, February 14th or once spaces have filled.


Catalyst is a one-day program designed for anyone who is interested in starting something extraordinary. Participating in Catalyst is a first step in the life-long process of learning, exploration, and action. 
 
This program is designed to allow participants the time and space to connect with others and engage in learning more about their own story of leadership. By attending Catalyst, participants will explore questions like: Who do I want to be? What is my story? Am I being the person I want to be? What are the causes and communities I care most about and how can I contribute? This one day program my not provide participants the answers to these questions, but rather create a community in which participants can engage in meaningful conversations with each other and start exploring these questions.
 
The content of this program is designed to meet the multiple learning styles of each group. Participants will be engaged in small group dialogue, large group interaction, and personal reflection. The content of this day will push participants to get real with themselves. At the end of this experience, participants will leave compelled to start a new habit, to persist, to live in possibility.
 
Learning Outcomes:
  • Explore what it means to choose your own authentic path.
  • Understand how you best connect and contribute to the groups and causes you care about.
  • Commit to a plan to be a catalyst for yourself and the groups or communities you are a part of.  
 
Catalyst is a day that is designed to meet participants where they are as they explore their leadership potential. The curriculum will do that in the following ways:
  • Engage in learning. Showing up is only part of participating. Participants will challenge themselves to do something different to help their learning. Catalyst will be about taking ownership of their learning an what they can accomplish in community with others.
  • Connect with ideas and people. Participants will have time to get to know other people and listen to their thoughts. It is rare to have the space to connect with other people and what they truly care about in the world. The Catalyst curriculum creates a community that welcomes that opportunity.
  • Craft their story. Where have you been? Who are you? What labels have you adopted that help tell your story? We are constantly writing our life’s story. We will take some time to think about what stories participants have learned along the way and how they have developed. When we tell our story, we allow others to see us in a different way. We also make it a little easier for them to tell their story. Let’s have courage and be brave together to share stories and listen to the stories of others.
  • Expand their perspective. If you continue to do what you have always done, you can’t really expect different results. Catalyst will challenge participants to think out of the box. Ask “why” more often. Quietly reflect on their choices and the path they have taken so far… and then look further. We do not know everything we think we know. Catalyst will encourage participants to engage curiosity and remain open to a different way of seeing the world.