leadership & hunger

yesterday I was invited to be part of a panel of local non-profit leaders who are working to fight hunger in different ways. the presentation was to high school students from across the state who had entered competition and been selected to come to WSU for the Hugh OBrien Youth Leadership series.
They held a 'hunger banquet', which is a model similar to the break-outs sometimes used toward the end of NCCJ Anytown Leadership camp.
these were the 15% who got plated meals (the world's population who make more than $10,700 /year); the 35% who make between $875 & 10,700 a year. (they got beans & rice & lemonade or tea at a long table with no table covering and no plates, etc; plastic plates were used, and they had to serve themselves). The remaining 50% got rice and water, and had to sit on the floor.
then a few were moved from lower group to middle group, and vice versa, based on the precarious conditions of work availability due to weather, by using case studies. none, however, were moved because of being displaced due to war or weather disasters, which I thought was interesting.

and none of the 'privileged' were moved from their status to a lower group. Also not known was if the medical conditions of any students were considered in where they were placed (diabetes or hypoglycemia).
I also learned that the Lord's Diner, the main 'soup kitchen' in Wichita has constructed new space for a waiting area, so that people with medical conditions (especially those on lithium, she mentioned) did not have to stay out in the heat. So, they are recognizing the specific side effects and resultant behavior problems they have of the mentally ill. Wichita has a special task force on the homeless that is making changes to the services offered locally,and that is good.. .

How is this related to leadership?
well, some one has to be bold enough to either break the rules or willing to work very hard to change the rules in order for improvements to be made for those who can't speak for themselves. That is what these youth need to know, more than just having their hearts softened and being told they can change the world.
LM