The Wildwood Institute Model & WISL
The Institutes at Wildwood are experiential centers that tackle complex social, scientific, and interdisciplinary problems. Led by experts with extensive academic and field experience, institute members work collaboratively to organize, manage, and design their projects and research.
WISL collaborates with individuals and organizations on social issues in Los Angeles to problem solve and strengthen their work, operating as a collaborative consultancy whose mission is to address social issues by conducting community investigations and field research resulting in both deep understanding and concrete plans to actively create positive change.
Now in its fourth year, WISL has grown immensely in terms of both membership and participation. For the 2022-23 school year, WISL is leading Wildwood’s third consecutive Institute-run Senior Seminar entitled SPA (Social Problems in America), a natural extension of WISL’s work to continue to develop the Wildwood Institute Model.
WISL’s AREAS OF CONSULTATION
Since August 2019, WISL has been tackling the issue of educational equity by connecting with both nonprofit organizations and local Title 1 schools in LAUSD to research their diverse needs and implement customized solutions and programs based on findings. WISL has realized that many social issues fall under the educational equity sphere and as such, will also work within many other areas of need for increased youth-led social leadership (i.e. homelessness, systems of incarceration, foster care, etc.). The overall goals of WISL are for all members to:
Collaborate with peers and others to fulfill the goals for all WISL projects and events.
Keep a log of daily work within WISL to inform and support current and future WISL members.
Promote WISL to the Wildwood Community while also making sure individuals understand the mission of WISL.
Develop fluency and a level of expertise in a variety of social issues.
Be respectful of the opinion of other members and those of WISL’s external partners.
Use all Institute time effectively and efficiently.
Show initiative to the roles chosen throughout the year.
Always share ideas and insights.
WISL’s Theory of Action
Meet the Director
Dr. Liza Bearman, Ed.D.
Dr. Liza Bearman is the Director of the Wildwood Institute for Social Leadership (WISL). She has spent the past 25+ years working to transform K-12 education by co-creating learning environments that address the unique lives and interests of students through real-world, community rooted, project-based and personalized teaching and learning. Liza grew up in Los Angeles and spent years living and working in both Washington, DC and New York City. She earned her B.A. in English and Political Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Education (M.Ed.), and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degrees from Columbia University’s Teachers College.