Are you looking for a curriculum
that empowers your students to
build belonging & create change
on their campus and community?
This is the framework you've been searching for.
We support faculty and university staff like yourself who need tools to help their students learn about civic engagement, social innovation, creative leadership, and community development.
Designed to embed directly into your university class, capstone project, or program. Sit back and enjoy watching your students connect with their surrounding community while being active and engaged learners.
ACADEMIC PARTNERS
WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM
THIS FRAMEWORK INCLUDE:
TAILORED TO SUPPORT UNIVERSITY LEADERS
Make Your Semester Easier
to Build Engaged Student Leaders
with our Plug-and-Play Program
Sign up to access my 6-step framework and quickly:
- Increase student engagement and participation
- Connect students more meaningfully with one another and their broader community
- Unlock practical and experiential facilitation techniques and activities to level-up your teaching style
- Empower students to tangibly impact their community by pursuing and implementing creative ideas.
- Connect your students with a network of fellow community builders around the world
We've built and tested the framework.
All you have to do is tailor it to your campus!
GET THE COURSE CURRICULUM RISK-FREE
According to a 2019 YMCA Poll...
87% of young people believe in theory that they can
create change, yet 74% of them feel ill-equipped
because they don't know how to get started.
Together, we can change this once and for all!
INTRODUCING THE PROGRAM
How to Design
Creative Communities
Take the Guesswork out of Designing Engaging Learning Experiences!
6 modules to guide you and your students to creatively impact your community.
All participants will get access to:
- Dozens of video lessons on assessing community needs and developing innovative solutions
- Tangible activities and weekly challenges to practically apply their learning
- An 80-page Field Guide full of prompts and guidance that is designed to be taken into the streets
- An online peer-learning community to grow their network and find accountability
- Group coaching call with Spud to encourage and inspire creative action for your students
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU
Hi, I'm Spud đź‘‹
I have worked with more than 75 universities and trained over 10,000 emerging leaders in the last decade to build creative communities. It's been quite the journey!
In that time, I've applied this framework in university capstone projects, first-year seminars, study-abroad courses, honors programs, and tailored workshops for student club leaders.
Beyond my work within higher education, I’ve raised more than $1 million in investment capital for community-driven social enterprises.
My process will work for you too - you are in good hands!
Here's What Others Are Saying...
"When it comes to making learning and classrooms fun, 70% of what I do has a Spud influence to it."
Josh Nadzam – Nonprofit Leader and Professor at the University of Kentucky
“This course gets you out of the box and forces you to consider the complexities of any community.”
Dr. Renee Just – Brenau University Professor and Department Chair for Academic Programs
"It is magical to watch Spud bring college students to life. He is the relationship that keeps on giving.
Arshiya Kherani – Social Entrepreneur & Collaborator on College Student Retreats
"This course allowed me to dream big while discovering tangible steps for how to get there."
Adam Lahlou – Past Student of the Program Embedded in a Study Abroad Course
"I ended up getting my mind blown by just how much I learned… and by the end of the course, I felt relief.”
Jessica Rodman – Past Online Course Participant
"As an introvert, Spud helped me connect and talk with people and pushed me out of my comfort bubble.”
Sarah Holmes – Past Student of the Program Embedded in a Study Abroad Course
HOW IS THE PROGRAM STRUCTURED?
Introducing the CANVAS Framework
This framework consists of 6 steps to help you cultivate community in the places you live, work, learn, and play.
Discover practical techniques that are grounded in research, real-life experience and proven through practice. This course is action-oriented and gets you building community – not just studying it – from day one!
MODULE 1
Chart Your Path
Determine what success would look like, how your unique style will influence the idea, and how to move past fears preventing you from getting started.
1.1: Work Backward from the Future
1.2: Identify Your Unique Style
1.3: Reimagine Your Fears and Passions
MODULE 2
Ask Probing Questions
Get a pulse on what your community needs by getting face-to-face, testing your assumptions, and learning how to ask curious questions.
2.1: Get Face-to-Face
2.2: Test Your Assumptions
2.3: Spark Creativity with Curiosity
MODULE 3
Name Early Adopters
Identify those who are most eager to rally behind your idea and build momentum by asking for deeper engagement over time and incrementally.
3.1: Find Your First Followers
3.2: Stagger Incremental Asks
3.3: Build Momentum Through Trust
MODULE 4
Visualize a Prototype
Develop moments of wonder, which are small experiments to tangibly test your idea and learn what works. Think small, cheap, and fast to test the boundaries of what's possible.
4.1: Show, Don't Tell
4.2: Weave in Wonder
4.3: Divide Big Ideas by 500
MODULE 5
Articulate Your Story
Design a clear and compelling narrative for your project that stands out and is easily shareable, while leveraging various media forms.
5.1: Invite Others into a Clear Narrative
5.2: Stand Out
5.3: Navigate the Media Landscape
MODULE 6
Sustain Efforts with Partners
Find partnerships that satisfy a mutual need and learn how to lean on your network's trust as a critical currency of partnership-building.
6.1: Seek Transformation, Not Transactions
6.2: Stop Pitching, Start Serving
6.3: Rely on the Collective Trust of Others
EXAMPLES FROM OUR UNIVERSITY PARTNERS
Here's How Others Use the Program
for Student Club Leaders
Penn State University hosted in-person workshops each semester for their Honors College Student Org Leaders. The workshops sparked opportunities to collaborate and then students received access to the online program to go deeper and apply the framework to their club's focus area.
for Capstone Projects
Brenau University applied the program as a capstone experience for a class focused on "Creativity, Innovation, and Strategy." The program provided the professor a tool to help their students take action and practically apply the theory they learned in class.
for Freshman Seminars
Lees McRae College used the program as part of a First Year Seminar course that focused on community development and changemaking. The program helps students get exposed to and plugged into their campus and community during their first year.
for Study Abroads
The Sullivan Foundation partnered with the European Study Center to offer the program as an accredited course. Students go through the online content ahead of studying abroad and then while in country engage in relevant site visits and field trips.
Tailor the program to your needs.
To get started, purchase and experience the program for yourself and then our team will get in touch to help you tailor it for your situation!
GET THE COURSE CURRICULUM RISK-FREEGET STARTED TODAY!
How to Design Creative Communities Program
14-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
Not sure if the program will be a good fit? That’s ok! Give it a try for yourself risk-free. We offer a money-back guarantee for the first 14 days if you find the program isn’t a helpful tool to use on your campus. No questions asked!
Not ready for the full program? Consider using our book "Designing Creative Communities" as part of your class curriculum instead.
EXPLORE THE BOOK