Application Evaluation

Nominees are contacted by Synergy & Leadership Exchange and invited to apply for the award. Applications are evaluated by a team of volunteers who serve without compensation. They are experienced practitioners and leaders from the private, public and independent sectors who are committed to quality character and ethical leadership development.

The evaluation panel is assembled with an emphasis on expertise. The background and relationship of all evaluators to any applicants is reviewed to avoid conflicts of interest. Evaluators sign a Confidentiality/Conflict of Interest Statement. The evaluators score, rank and discuss the applications and make award recommendations. Synergy & Leadership Exchange finalizes the recommendations and contacts all applicants.

Applications are evaluated on the evidence of character strength and ethical leadership skill development in program participants, the measurable changes in character and ethical leadership, evidence of community-wide collaboration, and replicable program elements.

Honorees

Award Honorees:

More About the Current Honorees:

ComMUSICation

ComMUSICation amplifies young voices and cultivates skills for success through equitable access to music, collaboration and opportunity. Their programs combine ensemble-based music-making with evidence-based youth development practices that support youth’s growth in musical skills and socio-emotional and leadership skills. https://www.commusicationmn.org/

The Inner Hero

The Inner Hero empowers youth, young adults and community heroes to realize their full potential by actively fostering trust and legitimacy between law enforcement and the community, breaking barriers through initiatives such as round-table dialogues, community outreach, and sports-based activities. https://theinnerhero.com/

Definitions and Resources

DEFINITIONS:

   ●Ethical leadership is leading, acting and making decisions ethically, in the way you treat others in everyday interactions, in your attitude and in the way you encourage and empower others to do and be their best.

Knowing your core values, having the courage to live them in all areas of your life in service of the common good, and having a clear ethical framework to draw on is important in making good decisions and taking action.

(Adapted from the Center for Ethical Leadership and from Ethical Leaders in Action.)

   ●Character is a person's values and habits which shape behavior. A person of good character is trustworthy, responsible and concerned with the well-being of others. Good character consists of healthy self-awareness, positive self-management, insightful social awareness, and the ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships.

(Adapted from the Minnesota Character Council.)

   ●Equity is the provision of personalized resources needed for all individuals to reach common goals.

(From Equity Education.)

RESOURCES: Below is a limited list of resources to learn more about character and ethical leadership development:

   ● Ethical Leadership in thought and action

   ● Synergy Core Values Exercise

   ● Thinking Ethically: A framework for moral decision making

   ● Making an ethical decision

   ● Practicing ethical leadership

   ● Science of Character video and downloadable discussion guide and questions by age (4-9. 10-14. 15-18, 19+).

   ● ELA Virtues of Ethical Leadership

   ● [VIA Institute on Character website] 9

Strengths, Attributes, Skills

Strengths and Attributes: A strength is the quality of being strong, while an attribute is a characteristic or quality of a person, place or thing.

Examples of strengths and attributes include, but are not limited to:

   ● Acts with honesty

   ● Treats others with dignity and respect

   ● Keeps promises and commitments

   ● Dependable, trustworthy, reliable

   ● Assumes responsibility for actions

   ● Strives for excellence through persistence and hard work

   ● View additional examples. Download PDF of VIA Classification of 24 Character Strengths

Skills: A skill is the capacity to do something. Skills generally are taught. A person will undergo training to learn or improve a particular skill. Skill development provides the opportunity to put an attribute in action. Attributes without action don’t become skills.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

   ● Critical thinking

   ● Effective problem solving

   ● Engaged listening

   ● Exhibits an understanding of other perspectives and cultures

   ● Ethical use of information

   ● Empowers others to improve the world (from Ethical Leaders in Action, 2015)