Lynchburg College 2009 Annual Report

Page history last edited by Lisa Whitaker 4 mos ago

2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

Please add narrative text that responds to the questions in the four categories below.

  1. Implementation of Student Development
  2. Implementation of Community Partnerships
  3. Campus-Wide Culture and Infrastructure 
  4. Serve 2.0 
  5. Campus Issue Profiles

 

Implementation of Student Development

What was the structure and content for the implementation of the developmental model this year?  In particular, please share (no more than one page text needed):

 

The Structure for training, courses, & meetings

  • At the beginning of each month we intentionally plan the trainings that will be implemented at each weekly, 2-hour Bonner meeting. Our students meet all together and also periodically broken into groups (first-year Bonners, second-year Bonners, Leadership Team, and Site/Issue-Based Teams) which reflect different areas of the Developmental Model. All students help to develop and facilitate weekly meeting topics which consist of current events, common commitments, skill building, and presentations from community partners. Bonner students take GS 220 - Exploring Social Entrepreneurship in the spring semester of their first year in the program, in preparation for more intensive project work and responsibilities in the community. They are also encouraged to enroll in the Civic Engagement minor.

 

Cornerstone Activities including First Year Trip, Second Year Exchange, Third Year (and beyond) Leadership Roles, and Senior Capstone & Presentation of Learning

  • As done each year, during the end of LC's winter break, the majority of our Bonner Leaders attended our annual urban Pilgrimage. This year instead going to Washington, D.C., in conjunction with the Year of the Citizen, we traveled to Philadelphia where our Independence was declared. Our senior intern helped to orchestrate events such as a meeting with Lisa's dad, Gary Walker, former president of Public Private Ventures (PPV). We had the pleasure of being joined by Foundation staff Wayne Meisel, Bobby Hackett, and Gretchen Mielke. This trip also included a visit and discussion with members of U Penn's Civic House, a tour of a service-learning mentoring program at a local high school, and other historical aspects of Philadelphia.
  • University of Richmond rotated hosting the second year or sophomore exchange with the theme of Hunger and Homelessness this year. Ferrum students also joined participants from Lynchburg (with students from all years invited). Prior to service, Lynchburg created and presented a Policy Brief on Homelessness Issues that are facing those in a rural setting. Students from all schools were mixed and matched to a variety of sites in the surrounding Richmond area including service at a transitional living home, organic farm and homeless shelters. Post-service, Research Evaluation Director of Homeward in VA, Dr. Margot Ackermann spoke about some issues facing residents in Richmond. The day concluded with discussion addressing issues of hunger and homelessness in rural and urban settings, and brainstorming ways to raise awareness at individual institutions and communities.
  • In addition to our ever empowered leadership team, we have continued to have fantastic senior interns. We are so very excited to have multiple third year students returning next year. Former third year returner, senior intern Tyler Curtis has just been accepted into the Peace Corps and its masters program.
  • At this year's Bonner Graduation and Presentations of Learning, our keynote speaker was LC Bonner I Alumna, Nyosha Toler '07, current Executive Director of the non-profit Petersburg Senior Center in Petersburg, VA. Parents and community joined us to hear her insights and the presentations from each graduating Bonner Leader. The list of titles of presentations are as follows:

  • Kristin Bell • Making a Difference — One Step at a Time

    Tiffany Nious • Developing Leadership Skills through the Bonner Program

    Vincent Milone • The Non-Traditional Bonner

    Anel Coss • Foundation

    Laura Davis • The Bonner Lifestyle

     

     

    LaToya Scott • The Power of One

    Heather Morris • Learning Through Service

    Chevonne Booker • Growing, Learning, Giving—The Bonner Way

    Jess Slater • Kids, Criminals, and the Elderly

    Abraham Garang • Gratitude

     

     

 

Roles of Student Leaders in integration of the Serve 2.0 initiative (e.g., developing and using web-based tools for service)

  • Although we are not current Serve 2.0 grantees, we have a few initiatives students are taking the lead on. Angela Massino and Anahi Martinez created documentaries to bring awareness about social justice issues in the local community (see below for more details). Students Conor McFarland and Jess Slater work diligently on our Policy Options website as researchers, and Senior Intern Tyler Curtis contributed also. In addition to service, Dianna Borow facilitates our LC Bonner wiki web page. This upcoming year Maddie Coultrip and Laura Davis will be working on initiatives such as creating a working Google map of our service sites.

Implementation of Community Partnerships

Please share a summary of your work with community partners, highlighting your work regarding  (no more than one page text needed):

Arrangement and management of community partnerships and placements (orientation, site visits, meetings, strategic planning)

  • Students in their first year in the program are advised on a program of site exploration with emphasis placed on placement at five-seven service sites where long-term partnerships exist. 

  • Community Partners from organizations such as the Beard Center on Aging, the YWCA's YGYRLs mentoring program, and the Virginia Organizing Project presented at Bonner meetings

  • Smith Mountain Lake Good Neighbors community partners also presented to LC Bonners and over the summer 3 students are interning with their program to create activities, teach and mentor youth with remedial reading skills in preparation for the next grade level.

  • A Community Partners workshop was held on campus in the fall, and included an orientation to the BLP, discussions about research needs, and strengths and weaknesses in partnership relationships, which led to much collaboration for service and CBR.

  • Returning third-year students are very interested in becoming more active in site and issue-based team leadership this upcoming year which is being strategically planned for this summer

 

How partners were engaged as co-educators, including academic linkages, courses, and student advising

  • The Beard Center on Aging presented two different presentations to Bonner students about elderly population growth and our understanding of working with them (sites and in general)
  • The Virginia Organizing Project spoke with Bonners about issue awareness in the community, tools and skill sets to empower community members. 
  • Phoenix Project partners served as guest speakers for our course in social entrepreneurship. 
  • Long-term community partner Lynchburg Grows continues to educate our students (Bonners and non-Bonners) about sustainable agriculture, organic farming, the benefits of local food production, and working with people with physical and mental disabilities. In addition to onsite training, their staff members gave two presentations to the LC student body about sustainability, locally-grown food, and their various forms of environmental education programming.   

 

Partnerships managed through site-based or issue-oriented teams, as well as other issue-based organizing undertaken

  • Five issue-based teams (Youth Development, Project Equality (diversity), Hunger & Homelessness, Elderly Care & Healthcare, and Economics & Sustainability) were created this past year. Students discussed issues they had seen at their sites, brought in articles which reflected an aspect of their topic, and were challenged to create a product that would create awareness of their issue on campus or in the larger community. Products included documentaries, policy briefs, and program development initiatives. We are new at this and will continue to work with community partners and students on these team initiatives.   

 

Capacity building initiatives for community partners (such as workshops, policy research, or resource development)

  • As noted earlier, an annual workshop/orientation and discussion session was held for community partners in early fall. 
  • CBR projects and policy briefs were undertaken throughout the year, many in collaboration with Bonner students (with and without academic credit), and resulted in many products that we hope will help build the capacity of our community partners.  Examples include: a resource directory for staff members to use with their clients at Lynchburg Community Corrections and Pretrial Services to refer them to needed services and programs in the community; researching and writing a grant for Lynchburg Grows to build a Peter Rabbit garden at a school for children with special needs; ongoing projects with community health providers related to teen pregnancy and other health issues; program assessment information to support the Sexual Assault Response Program with its program accreditation process; and program model information for a community consortium dedicated to creating effective treatment programs for people with substance use disorders (our community lost its only residential treatment program).           
  • A Health Care Forum was held in the community meeting room at the public library this spring by our community partner the Virginia Organizing Project. Bonner students helped with set up and signing-in, and Bonner student Shannon Lynch presented on the panel. Their support was helpful to the success of the event, and therefore with engaging people in the grassroots efforts of VOP.

  • Students improved access for people with disabilities at the urban farm, Lynchburg Grows.  

 

Campus-Wide Culture and Infrastructure 

Please describe key activities and structures related to the development of campus-wide infrastructure and the role of the Bonner Program in enhancing (or being enhanced by) campus-wide culture and participation in service.  In particular, share  (no more than one page text needed):

 

Key activities for faculty engagement and academic connections.  In particular, note any connections to curricular offerings that are linked to the Bonner Program.

  • Social Entrepreneurship course required for Bonner students and CE Minor students
  • Civic Engagement minor (not required)
  • Internships in social entrepreneurship 
  • Independent Studies in various programs have been based on CBR projects
  • Bonner students and community partners have presented at Senior Symposium (required course for all seniors at LC)   

 

Key relationships and activities involving other departments or divisions on campus (for example for recruitment, student wellness or retention, financial aid, and so on).

  • Academic Advising - provide academic support & planning, have recommended potentially strong Bonner prospectives
  • Student Employment Office - help with work-study program management
  • Public Relations Office - has taken great interest in Bonner work and provides press for community events when feasible
  • Admissions - Bonner staff annually provide Admissions staff with program information and materials
  • SERVE Office - for co-sponsoring campus-wide service and awareness projects, and for sharing service oportunities

  • Chaplain's Office - for working together on social justice concerns in the community, for spiritual life development for students 

 

Unique initiatives (such as events, assessment, or strategic planning) that have enhanced institutionalization of service and civic engagement on campus.

  • A successful new initiative this year were the Monthly Service Plunges with advisors: Bev Pfluger and Chris Gibbons (Serve/volunteer office). At least two Bonners and one non-Bonner student were empowered to facilitate Saturday service events which were open to the entire campus including places such as: Interfaith Outreach's furniture program, delivering furniture to needy community members; Lynchburg Grows spreading gravel to make greenhouses accessible to their volunteers who have disabilities; and collecting and delivering goods to elderly community members through the Beard Center on Aging.

  • YWCA and Sexual Assault Response Program (SARP) Bonner volunteer Laura Davis collaborated with local school counselors to provide prevention training for area youth in addition to facilitating a Red Flag Campaign on campus to build awareness of sexual assault.
  • Collaboration with YWCA youth mentoring program and AIDS testing and awareness event on campus with community and students
  • Dr. Todd Olsen and Human Disease course worked with multiple organizations such as: Bonner, Chaplain's office, Nursing students, Amnesty International chapter, Alliance for Energy Awareness to plan and facilitate campus and community-wide Global Gala which raised awareness of genocide through personal experiences from panel members such as our own Abraham Garang from the Sudan and explain how others may help.  

Serve 2.0 

Please highlight your key activities related to the integration of web-based tools as they are connected to the design, management, and outreach for service.  In particular, share  (no more than one page text needed):

 

Link to your campus-wide service center or Bonner Program wiki ,web-site, or Ning site. Please explain how it’s most used and by whom.

  • Our campus wiki-page has been worked on most by an intentional group of students. We are working to make the site more user-friendly, interactive, and accessible to our Bonners, potential students and possibly even community partners as stated in prior section. We are also exploring digitial media as a form of connecting with Bonner alumni and others through FaceBook and a possible online newsletter entitled the Bonner Beat.
  • http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Lynchburg+College  
  • http://lynchburgserves.pbworks.com/

 

Your integration with other social media tools (such as the Bonner Network Forum/Ning, Twitter, YouTube, the Bonner Video Project, PolicyOptions Wiki, or others)

Samples of Lynchburg Bonner Videos created this year:

  • Featured Community Partner:  Lynchburg Grows by Bonner student Anel Coss: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8ollQybpCM
  • Issue-area: The effects of MountainTop Removal in Wise County led and recorded by Bonner student Angela Massino (video in two parts):
    • Mountaintop Removal - Interviews with affected community members in Wise County, Va. (by Bonner Angela Massino & Friends):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDSnIDHZKd8&feature=PlayList&p=C60BF7BA329A5254&index=10 

 - and - The Process of Mountain Top Removal - Cartoon (by Bonner Angela Massino):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol_oEFUPAHI&feature=PlayList&p=C60BF7BA329A5254&index=11

 

  • Hispanic Community Documentary - Interviews describing immigrant experiences:

This video documentary by Bonners Anahi Martinez & Angela Massino is too large of a file for us to upload. The content is wonderful -- please contact us if you would like a copy.  

 

  • LC is also a PolicyOptions.org pilot site, with Bonner student researchers working in the CCDSJ on information for briefs, and integration into the GS 220 course.  

Campus Issue Profiles

Add links to your completed or draft campus issue profiles here:

 

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