Lauren Slater Siegmund
2008 MCN Conference | Undergraduate University: Boston University
My MCN Story:
"I was involved with MCN in its first years as a student leader of the UNICEF Campus Initiative at Boston University (BU). Following my student leadership, when I joined the staff of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF on the Community Partnerships team, I helped establish a formal relationship between MCN and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, so that these two likeminded organizations could work together to empower college students to make a positive change on our world."
Effective Student Leadership:
"As a student leader, I was most effective when working on the MLK, Jr. Peace Concert that united 80+ different student organizations on my undergraduate campus for a college-wide collaborative event. The key to success was in our process: we started with a rough idea—the idea of uniting the campus with a mission of doing good. We then sought out the input and participation of clubs and groups across campus, listening to their ideas and input for our event. We then co-created the event, from start to finish, making this program one of the largest campus-wide collaborations Boston University had ever seen. In doing so, we brought great music, a positive message, and the combined fundraising efforts of thousands of students together for one night of peace and unity."
Out of My Comfort Zone:
"The hardest thing I had to do as a student leader was develop the confidence to talk to the powers that be – the movers and shakers in BU's administration. Getting up the confidence to meet with the Dean of Students and other influencers within BU’s campus was extremely difficult, but the pay-off was well worth it. In developing strong relationships with the administration, I not only was able to achieve more on campus as a student leader, but I also gained new mentors and developed long relationships that still positively impact me to this day."
Today:
"I am the Manager of Knowledge and Impact on the Participant and Alumni Impact team at Teach For All, a global network that is developing collective leadership to ensure all children can fulfill their potential. I am in this work because of a deep-seeded belief in the power of education to be transformative. I previously worked at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, taught English abroad in Nicaragua, and taught in inner-city schools in New York for several years. Along the way, wherever I was or wherever my organization worked, I saw the extraordinary power that an excellent education can have on a child—and community’s—future."
*The "quotes" above have been edited for clarity and concision.