Creating FIRE through a Gen Z Student Leadership Model

Kennedy Union 311

Peer education at the Gender Relations Center, University of Notre Dame, is done by peer educators called FIRE Starters (Finding Identity and Equality in Relationships). FIRE Starters assist in developing and implementing programs that foster dialogue on identity, gender, and healthy relationships. They promote open and inclusive discussion and encourage their peers to respect the inherent dignity and equality of every member of the Notre Dame family. Over the past three years, the staff has had to respond to the changing profile of our students (Millennial to Generation Z) and the increasing demands for intersectional programming. As a result, the GRC developed a leadership model based on Catholic Social Teaching and the Readiness for Change social theory, which integrates different phases of leadership that promote ongoing formation and increased opportunities for engagement about challenging topics such as authenticity, LGBTQ inclusion, and violence prevention.