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Morehouse College 2009 Annual Report2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES Please add narrative text that responds to the questions in the four categories below. Implementation of Student DevelopmentWhat 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):
a. Implementation of Student Development
Of course, the objective of the college is to develop our students both academically and socially. While the Morehouse College faculty members approach their responsibility to educate and nurture learning outcomes, the Bonner Office of Community Service tackles the task of promoting citizenship through civic engagement and outreach. Working in concert, the pedagogical tools of Service-Learning and Community-Based Research become vital to our success.
While there is no official model for community service on our campus, the BOCS continues to impact students (Bonners and Non-Bonners) the importance of engagement. Bonners are introduced to the Bonner Model (5 Es) upon their acceptance into the program at Orientation and later receive more structured training at monthly class meetings and all-scholar meetings. What is noteworthy is that, this year, more seniors tied their experiences to the 5Es during their Presentation of Learning at the end of the year.
Non-Bonners, like a group called “Resurgence of the Crown,” sought the support of the BOCS as they formalized their efforts to adopt a Model for Service. The group of students affiliated with this initiative wish to “provide an atmosphere for all students to flourish into their maturation of successful Morehouse Men.” One of their efforts will be to build bridges through community service.
First Year Trip is always a great opportunity to inculcate the objectives of the 5 Es. This year, the freshman class went to Vidalia, Georgia to the Blount Youth Home, where they served about 20 young men who have come from abuse and/or neglected situations. “Our experience on this Bonner trip is one that in will go down in history as one of the most interesting and stretching weeks that the Morehouse Bonner Scholar Program has ever participated in. I can say that through this experience each student has a better understanding of what it means to be get out of your comfort zone, listen with your heart and not your mind, to be a team player, driven, and obedient. The interesting part about that was that each of these lessons were always taught by the most predictable individuals." Mr. Blount was well-pleased to receive a newsletter courtesy of the Bonner Scholars, and the connections we were able to make for a new website design and a business plan. We had a great time when we visited historic Savannah. While attending an off-Broadway show in downtown Savannah, Bonner Paul Daniels was actually pulled from the audience and performed like a pro when he accepted the tak to adlib a triangular love scene.
Spelman College, a Bonner School within our region showed outstanding leadership skill as they spear-headed the Sophomore Exchange. Joined by Oxford/Emory and Berry College, we met at the local YMCA in Lithonia. The Bonner Scholars connected well at they participated in ice-breakers, games and lunch.
The much anticipated Junior international trip to Costa Rico was “squashed” because of some compliance issues. The plan was to go to Earth University to look at their “green” approach to organic farming and energy conservation. Morehouse College Bonners learned a valuable lesson about being more conscientious of BWBRS, and the importance of being on time and more thorough in their reporting.
Members of the Junior Class did show extraordinary leadership in planning and hosting the Annual End of the Year Awards Celebration where they borrowed the theme from Reverend Joseph Lowery, a recent speaker at the college’s Crown Forum, “To Hell with Your Career!... What about Your Calling?” Bonner Intern, Henry Wynne was awarded Outstanding Senior.
The Senior Class did a great job this year with their Presentation of Learning, many inviting site supervisors and faculty to attend. Two seniors served as interns this year, Henry Wynne and Jwesley Johnson. Each intern proved to be essential in their roles, as they nurtured, motivated and lead the program to new levels of integrity and commitment to service.
Roles of Student Leaders in integration of the Serve 2.0 initiative has been slow. Although we organized a Media Team during the Fall Semester and with our Flip, we recorded events, but found that we did not have the skill sets to accomplish our initial goals. This coming year we have invited a staff from IT to head up our team. The good results that we had came from students using Facebook, twitter, and iphones to publicize service events and meetings.
Implementation of Community PartnershipsPlease share a summary of your work with community partners, highlighting your work regarding (no more than one page text needed):
It is the function of the Community Relations Liaison of the Bonner Office of Community Service (BOCS) at Morehouse College to guide, develop and manage communities of interest that attract and encourage conversation about Community Service and Civic Engagement as it impacts the campus and the surrounding community. The following is an assessment of what has been accomplished throughout the year on our On-Line Management System called TigerPoints:
Ø Signature Events Community Volunteer Fair - 80 Vendors Participated Community Partners Luncheon – 60 attended
Ø 2008 to 2009 Increased Partnership from 169 to 182
Ø Conducted New Partnership Workshops regarding the expectations and guidelines. New partners that attended were: Judy Raines, Boys & Girls Club Robert Lewis, Agape Com. Ctr. Heather Donohue, Fulton City Govt. Community & Housing Initiatives Corp Rep Jerrod Compton, Jr. Achievement of GA Mr. Brandon Robinson, NUUCP Jasma Stevenson, Hands On Atlanta Stephan Hall, Maktub After School Program
Ø Strategic Planning Meetings with MensWear, East Atlanta Kids, Shoot the Hoop, Arms of Love Grocery Relief Program, East Atlanta Kids Club concerning students’ participation in their trainings, leadership development, and recruitment.
Ø Increased Membership and Visibility of Tigerpoints to 1,003 registered students
Ø Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. Day of Remembrance, 150 attendees, special guest, Captain Marion Platt (Kroc Center Atlanta), Lonnie King,’69, Jeremy Cormier,’08
Ø Special Event “An Afternoon with Magic Johnson” student attendance approximately 1,000 (Media coverage by AJC, On Common Ground News, Maroon Tiger, The Champion News)
Ø Campus Wide Day of Service – March 28, 2009 Pre-registered 119 and covered by Black Entertainment Television (BET) (filmed for the BET NEWS Presents: A Call to Service segment featuring two Bonner scholars, Jonathan Collins & Markese Bryant).
Extended collaborations with Stars 4 Students, Inc., Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, PTA Councils, Fulton County Superior Courts, etc, Sustainable Atlanta, Earth Endeavors, City of Atlanta, Creyahtion, SEED, Green For All, Focus the Nation, National Federation of the Blind GA.
As a result of our funding for the PolicyOptions grant initiative that focuses on the issue of Homelessness, we have been able to improve the integration academic courses, community partners and student service initiatives. We plan to use this format as a model for other issue-based community partner’s service sites in the areas of Civic Engagement, Community Development and the Environment. In addition, we supported a community forum that was organized by one of our Bonner students on the “Green Job” movement, which is developing into another issue-based initiative.
It should be noted that the extensive list of community partnerships exists and primarily operates for the benefit of the entire campus. The Bonner Office of Community Service strives to narrow our partnership based to include sites that support specific social issues. First Year students are involved in site-based program that generally deal with education. Upperclassmen have a wider selection of agencies from which to choose.
With the start of the 2009 Fall Semester, service sites will be even more concise and will serve the following social issues:
Our 60 Bonner Scholars will have to select a service site within the range of the above mentioned issues. We have cultivated partnerships with a good many agencies that function within the frame work of such issues and can allow our students to develop teams that will prove more effective in their overall delivery.
Partners as Co-Educators Ø SBAN (Summerbridge Alumni Network) has been one of our most outstanding examples of partners as co-educators. Under the direction of Ken Sadler, Morehouse Alumni, SBAN envisions generations of community-conscious leaders from diverse backgrounds whose commitment to education, social justice, and youth development achieves equity for all. To accomplish this vision, SBAN promotes the lifelong learning, leadership and success of its members through the exchange of knowledge, opportunities, and resources. The mutual exchange of support among alumni is the centerpiece of SBAN. With this as its mission, SBAN works with over 20 Morehouse and Spelman students involving them in an intensive training program that prepares them to engage in summer teaching assignments all over the world. www.SBAlumni.org
Ø Following is a comment made by Heather Donahue, Director of Communications at one our agency sites, Court Ambassador Academy: “Your Morehouse Men have changed lives and had their lives changed. Each Morehouse Man has made an impact on the Court Ambassador Academy as well as made great connections with Judges and Court Staff! Specifically, Bonner AmeriCorps member Travonne Gross (who I would love to nominate for Volunteer of the Year or some other recognition) single-handedly developed and maintains the Joint Civic Education Program. This is an initiative that brings the Court, Judges, and Court Ambassadors (Court volunteers) to local, at-risk schools for tutoring, mentoring, and (coming in 2009-10) mock trial team help! Travonne has met with school administrators, the Sheriff’s office, and other organizations to ensure that we are effective in making a difference in the lives of young people! As a group, Morehouse Men have been involved in the training and recruiting of new Court Ambassadors. They also help us at the Courthouse assist the public in finding their way through the often complicated justice system. They have assisted in making the justice system more user-friendly and available for their community while learning about the inner workings of the criminal justice system themselves. The Men from Morehouse have impacted my life personally and I am honored and fortunate to work with them.”
Campus-Wide Culture and InfrastructurePlease 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):
Unique Initiatives:
On September 19th, 2009 another conference is being planned called “Fight for Light” for the purpose of educating the Morehouse community about energy conservation. We anticipate more faculty and community agencies involvement. One such agency is 2MDesign Consultants. The BOCS is currently creating a partnership with 2MDesign who will offer training to both students and community members in the area of energy auditing, etc.
Serve 2.0Please 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):
The Morehouse College BOCS continues to encourage students to take full advantage of media tools to promote a culture of service on our campus. To date, students twitter, use Face Book, and camera phones to capture service. Last fall we created a Media Team but will move further by connecting with the college’s IT department to learn how to better be engaged with the wiki, bing, ning and other tools available through Bonner and the world wide web.
Campus Issue ProfilesAdd links to your completed or draft campus issue profiles here:
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