A Case Study of the Ellison Model's Use of Mentoring as an Approach Toward Inclusive Community Building

Authors

Claire Michele Rice, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

First Advisor's Name

Hugh Gladwin

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Chair

Second Advisor's Name

Deryl G. Hunt

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Third Advisor's Name

Stephen Fjellman

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee Member

Keywords

management, business administration, motivation, public administration, Christian, religion, compassion, love, core values, ethnography, educational leadership, professional leadership, social development, economic development, social change, structuralist, sensitivity training, structural functionalism, professional development, conflict resolution, race relations, ethnicity, transformational leadership, systems theory, multiculturalism, organizational culture, primary school, higher education, high school, higher learning, cognitive, social welfare, civic organization, psychological welfare, social work, apprentice, civic activism, ethics

Date of Defense

4-5-2001

Abstract

The Ellison Executive Mentoring Inclusive Community Building (ICB) Model is a paradigm for initiating and implementing projects utilizing executives and professionals from a variety of fields and industries, university students, and pre-college students. The model emphasizes adherence to ethical values and promotes inclusiveness in community development. It is a hierarchical model in which actors in each succeeding level of operation serve as mentors to the next. Through a three-step process--content, process, and product--participants must be trained with this mentoring and apprenticeship paradigm in conflict resolution, and they receive sensitivitiy and diversity training, through an interactive and dramatic exposition. The content phase introduces participants to the model's philosophy, ethics, values and methods of operation. The process used to teach and reinforce its precepts is the mentoring and apprenticeship activities and projects in which the participants engage and whose end product demontrates their knowledge and understanding of the model's concepts. This study sought to ascertain from the participants' perspectives whether the model's mentoring approach is an effective means of fostering inclusiveness, based upon their own experiences in using it. The research utilized a qualitative approach and included data from field observations, individual and group interviews, and written accounts of participants' attitudes. Participants complete ICB projects utilizing the Ellison Model as a method of development and implementation. They generally perceive that the model is a viable tool for dealing with diversity issues whether at work, at school, or at home. The projects are also instructional in that whether participants are mentored or seve as apprentices, they gain useful skills and knowledge about their careers. Since the model is relatively new, there is ample room for research in a variety of areas including organizational studies to dertmine its effectiveness in combating problems related to various kinds of discrimination.

Identifier

FI08081540

Recommended Citation

Rice, Claire Michele, "A Case Study of the Ellison Model's Use of Mentoring as an Approach Toward Inclusive Community Building" (2001). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 37.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/37