Why become a Horseshoe Farm Fellow?

An important question we face today, as people have faced at all times in all places, is who will lead and where will they lead us. If recent history serves as a reliable guide, people pursuing health and human services careers should expect an upcoming period of significant change in the structures and systems in which they will be working coupled with shifts in the broader society. One possibility that this changing landscape presents is the opportunity for a generation of service leaders to play a role in helping to shape the ways health and human services will be provided in communities in America and around the world.

Those who have the potential and inclination for leadership in the service to others will need to pursue educational paths that prepare them to thrive amidst shifts in traditional organizations, or potentially, to function effectively outside of the bounds of established structures. A strong sense of social responsibility and a heart for service to others will be prerequisites for any type of service leadership, but increasingly, it will be important that service leaders’ education and experiences prepare them to recognize, understand, and wrestle with the complexities of interacting forces and processes from a broad range of disciplines. In addition, it will be important that service leaders be exposed to practical skills and experiences geared specifically to help them navigate and take effective action in the varied and changing environments they likely will face.

No one or two year experience can fully prepare you for these challenges, but our hope is that beyond giving you the opportunity to do valuable service work in a real world setting, the Horseshoe Farm Fellowship will introduce you to ideas, skills, and experiences that when taken together, will be an important educational step along a path towards your becoming a more discerning and effective leader in the service to others.