Assembling An Altruistic Alliance As A Capstone Project

(Editor's note about the author: T.O. Illustratio is a free lance writer and observer of the interaction of personalities in everyday life. The author seeks to inspire readers to look within themselves to see how much good they can do in this world when a definitive purpose in life is clear.)

The semester was drawing to a close. As they had come to expect the unexpected from this unique educator, the class wasn't surprised by the equally unique final exam. Small group collaboration as a "capstone initiative" would be the requirement. This particular small team chose the title, "Assembling An Altruistic Alliance."

"Prof Daniels" as he was known to his class was an interesting case study. He had served in the Peace Corps, in the United States Army, and then earned multiple degrees while also working full time.

While most of the other faculty members at this pricey university came from inherited wealth and supposed "blue blood," Prof Daniels came from middle class, blue collar roots where honest work ethic and a strong moral compass were ingrained in him from early childhood.

His teaching methods were equally divergent from his fellow faculty mates. Prof Daniels brought a life experience initiative to his classroom. These small groups weren't a new thing. The class was used to team projects. Prof Daniels had a knack for breaking up cliques and creating small collections composed of students who didn't know each other.

This capstone project that would be assembling an altruistic alliance was composed of four people who had never met before this academic year. They would discover that to be an advantage as they went about the task of completing this final exam that had specific requirements.

Prof Daniels had a calm presence about him. He had a way of resolving conflicts with limited conversation and zero confrontation. Maybe it was his time in the Peace Corps? Maybe it was learned skills from his service to country in the military, or maybe it was that moral compass and blue collar work ethic from his family?

Whatever it was, he had it and he knew how to use it. It wasn't part of the curriculum, but he told his students that what they would learn in his classes should transfer to everyday life. This was another lesson the small group would use in assembling an altruistic alliance.

When they were given the requirements of this final exam, they would see the magnanimous imprint of Prof Daniels' skill in molding new leaders.

Prof Daniels dealt in truth, in doing right. Even his most technical, mathematical lessons always came back to implementing the gained knowledge into acting responsibly when dealing with life events. This small group would use those lessons as they assembled an altruistic alliance.

Assembling An Altruistic Alliance

As they began to outline their proposed structure, some mild debate arose on what was important and what could be left out. Prof Daniels wasn't one to put much stock in fluff. Substance was what mattered. The first debates were resolved by a surprising source. The most quiet, painfully shy member suggested breaking down the last two words, "altruistic" and "alliance" to create a template.

They didn't realize it at the time, but they had just modeled a key point in any successful alliance. But they did recognize one clear result. They resolved this dispute exactly as they had seen Prof Daniels do so, over and over.

Everyone listened to the various viewpoints without interruption and came to a consensus, rather than a majority-rules decree. Another pillar of alliance-building was made abundantly clear.

With their goals firmly established and committed to paper, or Word Doc in this case, the process began to identify the organizations who would benefit from their alliance and the ones who would support it. They would work off the template breaking down those two important terms.

Implementation 

The social media and bulletin board outreach was an immediate success. The team added a dozen new members along with some parents of the university students. That parlayed into more rapid growth as the parental circles of influence connected to other people.

The outreach to the organizations that would be able to link the team to the people they sought to help was a smashing success as well. All these organizations faced the same challenges. Short supplies of funds, shelves that were lacking and a growing need for assistance.

Getting a foot in the doors of the business entities was more problematic. As Prof Daniels told them throughout the semester, begin with the goal and formulate a plan to succeed. Adjust the plan as needed and keep an eye on the goal.

Keeping this advice at the ready, the student group tweaked their presentations to demonstrate the value of this altruistic alliance in engaging the companies, their employees, and their specific customers in a win/win scenario.

This modified pitch swung from asking for help, to, "Please let us show you how our program can help build team unity, synergy, and enthusiasm among your employees." Without doubt their confidence in presenting their idea to the corporate decision-makers helped, but perhaps even more intriguing was their youth. What could this barely legal-adult contingent show them about team-building?

With their foot in the door, this perhaps a bit naïve bunch, advocated for an idea of employee-directed contribution drives to fill the needs of their service partners. They were so bold as to suggest an employer-matched contribution, and even further, a friendly competition between companies in close proximity.

Friendly competition is a wonderful thing. In their second interview, the CEO embraced their plan and added in a cash bonus if his employees brought in the most donations. He added fuel to the fire by letting out the word among his competitors about his bonus opportunity. Of course, they would not be out-done.

Prof Daniels intended to stretch his students thinking into embracing positive activity. Written exams designed to do nothing more than demonstrate short-term memory of rote study was of no value to the human experience. Said written text were destined for a dusty library shelf at best, a shredder at worst.

He created this exam for lasting value to the community. He developed this required group activity to put his lessons into action. Learned skills utilized and improved upon, last a lifetime. Those same learned skills directed in support of improving human life provide residual benefits that keep coming back, year after year.

The results were nothing short of remarkable as the collected donations exceeded the space set aside to store them all. The alliance of service organizations were swept away with emotion as they recognized how many people would be helped.

When it was over, the employees from all the companies got together at a local watering hole to celebrate. They decided that night to make this an annual event. Oh, and the team that won the friendly competition and earned the cash bonus? In another unanimous decision, they donated it to the altruistic alliance of which all of those employees now belonged.

The small group dedicated to assembling an altruistic alliance scored at the top of their class. But in testament to the real education they received from Prof Daniels, the grade didn't matter. They had collaborated as a team to create a movement that brought together diverse segments of society to improve the lives of fellow citizens.

They learned the value of honest work ethic and moral compass. They took their eyes off themselves and built something that would grow and flourish, long after they were graduates. Prof Daniels agreed to be the faculty advisor to their capstone project. The underclass members who had joined their team during the initial outreach took up the cause and kept the momentum growing.

This altruistic alliance didn't receive any federal grant money and wasn't looking for any. They used the blue collar values of honest work and service. They used their education from Prof Daniels. The next generation of leaders had entered the adult world-the real world.

They were prepared!

Written by T.O. Illustratio

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