We Help Build Relationships For Relationship-Builders.
Your first step is to join a cohort for this immersive four-session course—20+ hours of learning that form the foundation of our work together.
It’s both intellectually and spiritually demanding, designed not only to equip you with practical tools for relationship-building but to cultivate moral imagination and courageous leadership.
We recommend attending all four sessions in sequence, though make-up sessions are available.
Read below to learn more about the course and apply today.
Still deciding? Join us for one of our Table Conversations or other special events to get a taste of what Lead For One is all about.
Course Outline
Session 1: Laying The Foundation
This session introduces the course and examines the Judeo-Christian belief in the inherent worth of all people as the foundation for human rights. In contrast, we explore modern views that undermine the value of devalued groups by measuring human worth against shifting cultural standards like wealth, productivity, and status.
You will learn to recognize unconscious biases toward certain groups and individuals, clarify what you truly believe about the value of all human life, and identify where your stated beliefs may conflict with your actual mindsets. From there, you’ll be invited to take intentional, morally grounded action that reflects the dignity of every person.
Session 2: Establishing Guiding Principles
To build freely-given relationships across societal barriers, we need guiding principles that interrupt the default cycle of dependence on formal services.
No matter how innovative or well-funded a program may be, paid human service workers can never replace the care that family, friends, and community members provide.
In this session, you’ll explore why freely-given relationships are essential—and how the institutional assumption (the belief that a professional service should exist to solve every human problem) can unintentionally weaken what families and close-knit communities do best.
That’s why we need guardrails: to promote, protect, and sustain relationships within a supportive community.
Session 3: Building the Pathway
Session 3: Building the Pathway
Session 3 follows Do For One’s intentional approach to matchmaking—first identifying a Partner, then seeking an Advocate whose qualities, interests, capacities, and availability align to foster a meaningful relationship.
While matchmaking can be a thoughtful and sometimes complex process, it rests on a simple yet profound belief: freely-given relationships have the power to transform lives. And contrary to popular assumption, ordinary people are not only willing but fully capable of entering into them.
Building on the foundational principles introduced in Session 1 and the structural insights explored in Session 2, Session 3 turns to practical implementation—how Partners and Advocates are thoughtfully recruited and matched to bring Do For One’s mission to life.
Session 4: Sustaining Relationships and Vision
Session 4: Sustaining Relationships and Vision
Session 4 equips you to guide and strengthen (‘potentiate’) relationships. These are the third and fourth functions of relationship-building. You'll explore the three phases of guiding Advocates: follow-up, follow-along, and availability, each essential for sustaining relationships over time. These phases provide individualized support, help navigate challenges, and foster trust.
Key Takeaway
Relationships thrive when supported by a structured program that builds collective wisdom over time. We gather insights and shared experiences from across the network, channeling them into targeted resources and meaningful support.