Leadership Training Institute

Official LTI Documents

As LTI ventures into its' third year, Director Amanda Mok has created an Executive Summary Report, detailing LTI's progress, structure, and history. As national and international expansion progresses, the directors have established guidelines for expansion and an LTI Board of Trustees to aid in the establishment of additional LTI Chapters and related programs

HSSP LTI 2009 a Success

LTI's second year of HSSP classes concluded at the end of August. First time mentor, Intae Kim LTI Spring '08, led the students through a final reflection of the lessons in leadership, teamwork, and development highlighted in this year's HSSP curriculum. LTI is looking forward to leading another HSSP session in summer of 2010!

LTI at Activities Midway

LTI is scheduled to make its first appearance at the 2009 Freshman Orientation Activities Midway as an official ASA recognized service group! The Leadership Training Institute booth will feature snacks, official LTI merchandise, and a slideshow featuring the recent international partnership with MIT's China Development Initiative, CDI-LTI's Service Leadership Project.

LTI Expansion

LTI members Dave Zou, Taylor Jay, and Jia Zhu returned at the end of August from the CDI-LTI's Service Leadership Program. After implementing a modified version of the LTI curriculum in Shenzhen, China, the mentors are excited to aid and support the students' own service project with a local elementary school in the Shenzhen area. Blogs detailing the program, traveling adventures, and final reflections are posted at mitlti.blogspot.com.

LTI's Expansion team has finalized an international program plan with a university in Brazil. LTI Executive Board is currently modifying the curriculum for a intensive two-week trip to Brazil in January 2010. The Finance committee is currently exploring outside funding options for the tentative Brazil and Shanghai, China development trip for IAP 2010.

LTI Mentor, Executive Board, and Student Recruitment

The 2009-2010 Recruitment process is kicking off in full swing! In addition to a special appearance at the Activities Midway in September, LTI is planning several information sessions and mixers to recruit the 2009-2010 members! Look out for all our upcoming events!

HSSP LTI in Full Swing

Almost a full month into the 2009 HSSP Summer Session, LTI mentors have engaged local high school and junior high students fully in the Leadership Curriculum. Mentoring groups have bonded over various team building activities, such as "The Human Knot," in which students and mentors untangle each other from the human web, and reflective discussions on leadership experiences, such as the difference between a good and bad leader.

Fall Mentor and Student Recruitment

New electronic applications are in development for the 2010 recruitment. Mentor and Executive Board recruitment is scheduled for September and early October, ending with a new staff retreat in mid-October.

Mentor recruitment commences during the MIT class of 2013 orientation. LTI is tentatively participating in SLOPE, an orientation event that introduces the new freshman class to the various student groups. Applications are scheduled to be released in mid- September.

Congratulations Summer 2009 HSSP Mentors!

2009! Mentors include Kenneth Cottrell '08, Andrew Ha '08, Intae Kim '08, Jennifer Chen '09, and Bekri Ahmed '09. Following the application and selection process, the previous students experienced a rigorous training session that taught our new mentors how to run icebreakers, activities, and facilitate difficult discussions.

In addition to the general mentor training, the mentors were put to the test in "extreme mentoring." In this activity, each mentor facilitated a controversial discussion while the rest of the LTI staff acted as disruptive students. This activity showed each mentor the crucial aspects of a great mentor.

LTI Elections

As LTI's 2009 spring session comes to a close, we look forward to elections for our 2009-2010 Executive Board. In order to run for a position, you must submit a platform to LTI directors and present it at the April GBM to all LTI members. The platform must include:

• Your name, year, and current position in LTI
• Why are you interested?
• What skills sets can you bring to this position?
• What goals do you want to accomplish in this position?

Here are some important upcoming dates for this process! Mark your calendars now!

• Exec Position Platform deadline - Wednesday, April 15th 11:59 pm (email to: lti-directors@mit.edu)
• April GBM - Wednesday, April 22nd from 9pm to 11pm

Additional Guidelines:

• Any member of LTI is welcome to apply to more than one position, but you must submit a platform for each position.
• If no platforms are received for a position by April 15th, there will be open elections at the GBM. We will email list of open election positions after April 15th.
• New Executive Members (Monica, Chris, Fei Sun, Walter, and Wesley) are excluded.
• NOTE: All positions, excluding the posititions of the new members we just welcomed, are open for election!

See the LTI constitution for a list of all positions with job descriptions. Submit all questions and inquiries to lti-directors@mit.edu

Session of Inspiration

The first session of LTI after the spring break can best be described as a "session of inspiration." In one featured activity, each student gave a short presentation on leaders that either inspired them, or displayed the characteristics of an effective leader. Students chose a range of people from political figures like Barack Obama, to historic figures like Malcolm X, to family members and famous public figures. Overall, the exercise showed that effective leaders are those who stand up and take action for their beliefs , while inspiring others to be just as passionate for those beliefs.

The session also included a panel discussion on service, which included representatives from Alternative Spring Break (an organization that uses its spring break to do community service around the country), Camp Kesem (an organization that works with the children of cancer patients), and Mobility Lab (an organization that builds wheel chairs from bicycle parts and donates them to needy people in Africa).

Welcome New Exec Members

The Public Relations committee recently wrapped up recruitment for open executive positions in late February. Positions included Public Relations Chair, Curriculum Chair, Expansion Director, and International LTI Chair. Congratulations to Chris Su '11, Fei Sun '12, Wesley Leung '11, Walter Anazonwu '11, and Monica Oliver '12.

Final Project Proposals

This past Sunday, March 8th, students presented their final project proposals to the LTI Board of Directors. The final project is a vital part of the LTI curriculum, in which students have the opportunity to give back to their own community in the form of an LTI-funded service project. Proposals included projects aimed at removing graffiti from public areas, implementing an invisible children awareness program, and an education play on alcohol abuse. After initial feedback, students will edit proposals and presentations in time for approved funding and the final presentations at the closing ceremony in May.

Spring 2009 First Session

This past Sunday, February 8th, was LTI's first session. In the "Anatomy of a Leader" activity, students used MIT's famous Stata Center chalkboards to illustrate the physical, mental, and personal qualities of a good leader. Each group's work reflected their own creative conception of how leaders typically behave and what characteristics today's prominent leaders possess. The boards are still adorned with a diverse collection of sketches depicting leaders with interesting accessories, such as cell phones, wild hair styles, mysterious creatures, and even open hearts. The group work promoted creative brainstorming, discussion, and compromise. Look forward to next session's program!

NOTE:There is no session this upcoming Sunday, February 15th due to MIT and Boston/Cambridge area school schedules.

Executive Board Recruitment

LTI is recruiting for several positions during the spring semester to fill in vacancies and establish an expansion committee. We are looking for a Public Relations Chair, Logistics Chair, Planning Committee Director, Curriculum Chair, Sponsorship Chair, and Expansion Committee. An informational session will be held at the beginning of February. We are currently accepting applications. Click here for detailed descriptions of each position.

Opening Ceremony a Success!

Ten students and their family and friends attended the second annual LTI Opening Ceremony. Following opening remarks by Director Amanda Mok and Associate Director Taylor Jay, guests enjoyed a hearty lunch and several engaging activities for students and parents. While the students teams raced in a leadership scavenger hunt, their family and friends got to know each other with a game of splat and paper tower building. All the LTI staff are excited to get to know the students and their families even better as the semester continues.

REMINDER:The first LTI session will be this upcoming Sunday February 8th from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm in room 4-149. Lunch is provided for every session. Please arrive 15 minutes before start time, as the MIT campus is difficult to navigate.

Opening Ceremony

LTI Opening Ceremony is coming up! It will be taking place on Sunday, February 1st from 12:00 noon to 3:00pm in 32-141. The LTI Directors, Executive Board, and Mentors are excited to meet the new incoming spring class of 2009 and their family and friends. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the ceremony to pick up name tags and turn in forms.

LTI Abroad: Mexico

Our mentors arrived back from Casa Telmex at Tuxtla just in time for the Opening Ceremony. Apart from implementing the LTI curriculum for local students, they defined their experience as an exploration of culture, language, and teaching styles.

The students and facilitators at Casa Telmex thoroughly enjoyed the experience and believed the program taught them how to communicate, work in teams, and most importantly, that young adults can be great leaders. We are working on making LTI a permanent part of the curriculum and program at Casa Telmex.

See the LTI Mexico Blog for more.