Online Master of Arts in International Community Development

My name is Robert Katende, the founder of SOM Chess Academy and the Robert Katende Initiative, and I do community development work in the slums and remote communities in Uganda. And I've been able to also share my philosophy to other places in the world. I've used sports to impact those I have been able to connect to in the communities, and that's how I introduced just in the slums and I founded SOM Chess Academy in 2004.

Two of my lanas I traveled with to come to the U.S. at least—that's how I got connected to Northwest—and that's when I also got to learn more during the interactions we had about the ICD program. And because I found myself in community development work, I felt like this was something I would pursue, but I didn't have what it takes. Before I was flying blind folded. But going into the program, it actually opened up a lot of more insight, getting more theories to know how I can even better my work. So going through the formal training, I think that gave me a better understanding, not only to better the work, but also timesaving, because, you know, the concept, the principles that you can apply in certain situations and you see how everyone's involved and continuing to impact more lives.

It was my first time all the way to do an online kind of program. I had never done it before. I didn't know how it works. I was wondering how will we connect and how will we be able to know each other. The program is well organized, that there is a first week of interaction physically and we've got to connect to whoever is going to be in that class. So we've got to know each other at least. So the next two or two years that follow in the course, you're already at least have an image and a picture of someone you're talking to.

But it's been so impactful and interactive. Even right now, I feel I miss it, but I'm just so appreciative of the online class because I could even work in transit. I can even be on a plane, I mean like you fly and you have connection. And it's not limited to a location that has somehow made it a bit more convenient, especially for people who tend to be so busy and traveling that you are not bound to be in class and to sit in one location. Having this done, you can do it from anywhere you are.

I think if anyone is interested in the ICD program, number one, it is a bit scary. You feel like, oh, maybe I know. Or if not, is it worth it? Is it kind of too much? But I went to tell anyone who is willing to do it that overcome that fear and dive in it, you will never regret. Because even personally having been in the field I felt like is it worth it? Is it worth my time? But I'm so grateful that I overcame that and I chose to endure. And I want also to encourage those, especially maybe those still in school and those who are willing to enroll that before—sometimes we think being a missionary or going for missions is going abroad. No, mission starts from your vicinity, right from your home with you or your neighbor with those around you. And then you see how you can really impact them. You can be an agent of change relief to share and encourage them to work through their challenges.

I'm Bonita Broadnax, I'm from Chattanooga, Tennessee, and I graduated with a Master's in International Community Development in May of 2021. I currently work in the field of affordable housing and I decided to pursue this degree in international community development because of a passion I developed for community development while working at a nonprofit, affordable housing organization.

The "co-heart", and you usually have a cohort, a group of people that graduate with you, that walk with you through the degree. We didn't—early on we didn't even call them cohort—we decided to call ourselves the "co-heart". That's how bonded we became. That's how connected we became. And we became more than just a group of people pursuing this degree at the same time in the same space. We became connected and it was an amazing experience because of the friendships that we formed with each other, early on when we first came together, all the way through the degree. The support that we gave each other, they are what made the experience extraordinary. Some of the highlights of the International Community Development program, it would definitely be first going to Europe, traveling to Europe, specifically to England for the convocation. And then thereafter, like visiting in London, walking through Oxford, experiencing the community in Oxford, and also experiencing them with the people from my "co-heart", people from the Congo, people from Colombia, people from Mexico. It was awesome just to just to get to experience them and to experience it with them. So it was definitely one of the highlights of the degree.

Also, the experimental, the teaching, the experimental teaching. It wasn't monotone. It wasn't boring. It wasn't top-down. It was, they were teaching you based on what your passion was. So it kind of made the degree all the more enjoyable. The degree itself and the program contributed to my career, specifically a career in affordable housing. So I've been in the field now going on five years. To actually have a program hone in specifically on culture, having cultural brokers, the importance of culture. What happens if you ignore culture? Helped me to really have a relationship with my residents in my affordable housing community. And instead of going in and telling them these are the programs we're going to bring in and this is what you're going to do and this is how we're going to help you. The program kind of pulled me back and allowed me to listen to them so they could tell me what they needed for their community, instead of me dictating it to them.

If you ask me what sort of person should join the International Community Development program, I would say someone who is passionate about seeing and effecting change in their own community. They love it when they get to experience transformation, they get to be around it. They're in the same space with it. Like it makes their life sing. That's the sort of person that should definitely check into the International Community Development degree program.

Someone who's just thinking about it or considering it. Call and talk to someone about the program, tell them what you're passionate about, tell them what gets you excited, and then they're going to tell you how the program connects with that, how the program can enhance that. Give you the tools to be better about bringing your passion into the world. About finding the field that excites your passion.

The last thing I would like to share, I was able to actually speak and my May graduation. And I said, you need something that makes your life sing. The International Community Development program, it's not what makes your life sing, it's what's going to help you decide what makes your life sing. And I think everybody needs that opportunity. So I would definitely say that if that's something that you're looking for, this is the program for you.

I'm Jason Love from Atlanta, Georgia, well actually Griffin, but nobody knows where Griffin is, so I'm from Atlanta, Georgia.

So my name is Susie Walter.

My name is Katie Cannon.

But my name is Edward.

My name is Stephanie Robinson. And I'm originally from Alabama. But I work in Haiti. I've worked in Haiti for most of, gosh, the last eight years.

I live and work in Jakarta, Indonesia.

And I'm from Chicago, but for the last 10 years I've lived in Tijuana, Mexico, working as a missionary, a full time missionary.

When I first moved to Indonesia, I didn't know a whole lot about community development. And over working in different slum communities, over a couple of years, I realized that what I wanted to do in the communities and my knowledge wasn't sufficient to be able to really make an impact in the lives.

I think a lot of people have a heart for ministry. You have to have more than a heart in order for your ministry and mission to succeed. And I feel like I understand a little bit more about the business side of things. I feel like I understand how to evaluate programs. How to make real lasting change in a way that I can contribute and collaborate with local leaders.

During my time working as a missionary. I really felt like I was to play more of a role in teaching and training practitioners. And so I wanted to find a program where I could get in-depth knowledge about community development that could be applied internationally so that this is the perfect program for that. And because I am a full time field practitioner. I wasn't able to participate in any sort of on-campus program. And so because the ICD program only has the orientation and the final thesis defense as an on-campus, that's how this program worked out perfectly for me.

The depth of experience that a lot of the professors at Northwest had, it was really a no brainer for me, especially also because it was an online program. I could continue to do my ministry. I didn't have the stop and sign on and do all that stuff I knew in my assignments or do that was really, really helpful.

I think one of the main takeaways that I've learned from this program is an affirmation that valuing local partners is essential. What I love about ICD is it's not just about theory. It's not just about what just some random study and some random books say that no one will ever read. It's about Annie, it's about Linda Watke. It's about real lives and real people. And how can we make an impact in their lives? It's practical. It's useful, it's challenging. But it's such a supportive community to me.

To me, ICD is a worth while investment.

The investment of your time and your resources is in the international community and that matters more than our own personal comfort.

You need tools, you need to understand the world of development because ICD gives you a wider world view, it opens your eyes to very small things that people ignore. So ICD is invaluable. If you have a passion to make a difference in a community, you need the ICD.