Section 1: Strategic Initiatives
Below are the Corporation for National and Community Service’s Strategic Initiatives. Please give at least one example of activity that addresses at least one strategic initiative that your program has addressed. Describe the activity, including the need that was addressed; local collaborations or partners; service activity; and results.
Ensuring a Brighter Future for America’s Youth
Teamwork and communication can be taught hands-on.
That's what roughly 40 students from Hedgepeth/Williams, a K-8 school in Trenton, learned Saturday by way of group activities ranging from an obstacle course, a long jump, 50-yard dash, relay races, and more.
The Youth Development Institute, funded by a grant through Comcast, is part of a year-long initiative between the school and the Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement at The College of New Jersey.
The Bonner Scholars, along with TCNJ freshmen, led Hedgepeth/Williams students in grades 2-8 through various activities at the college that can be linked to teamwork and effective communication, among other important skills. The groups of students then tied those links to life lessons.
After a pizza lunch, the elementary students attended part of a TCNJ basketball game before heading to the college's track, where they participated in the TCNJ Olympics.
This is one of many Bonner-sponsored events that have brought Hedgepeth/Williams, as well as other Trenton students, to the TCNJ campus. In addition to teaching life skills and lessons, the Youth Development Institute also gives youth a glimpse at college life, and is meant to encourage them to envision college as a part of their futures.
Earlier this week on April 14, two sixth-grade classes from Hedgepeth/Williams School came to campus for their last day of a project that began in September 2009. Once per month, TCNJ Bonners and freshman have worked with the students on writing workshops on campus. Wednesday's event included the Hedgepeth/Williams students reading their written works aloud to freshmen and Bonner Scholars.
YMCA "Healthy Kids Day" Spotlights the Importance of being Active
April 17, 2010
TRENTON -- Get up and get outdoors!
In part of a nationwide effort to get kids off the couch and out exercising, the Greater Trenton Area YMCA hosted a "Healthy Kids Day" today that drew the interest of 200 community members and dozens of students from The College of New Jersey.
“Keeping kids healthy is at the core of what the Trenton YMCA stands for,” said Trisha Odoms CEO, Trenton YMCA. “The word ‘exercise’ doesn’t sound very enjoyable to many people, especially kids, but getting them to move more through play that requires physical activity is the key to building healthy habits that last a lifetime. On YMCA Healthy Kids Day, both kids and grown-ups will have the opportunity to get moving, to play and to have fun.”
The day is known for being the nation's largest health day for kids and family, and is filled with fun, engaging activities meant to foster healthy living.
At today's event, Trenton YMCA staff and local TCNJ freshmen provided resources to help educate adults about making healthy choices for their families, and help activities such as healthy living workshops, face painting, hula hoop contests, a musical chairs competition, and more.
What do the experts say about healthy living?
Kids should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity -- which includes active play -- every day. Doing so lends to children being happier, healthier, and more skilled with it comes to motor activities, social situations, problem solving and being creative.
Engaging Students in Communities
Park Clean-up Becomes a State-wide Effort
April 17, 2010
CAMDEN – When veterans walk the ground of their namesake park, they should be able to find peace in the beautiful scenery.
What they shouldn’t stumble across is garbage: fast-food bags, cigarette butts, and other debris needlessly strewn across the grass.
In a statewide collaboration effort, students from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and its Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement teamed up with school children and staff from the city’s Woodrow Wilson High School to bring beauty back to the park.
"It was a privilege to be able to create change in an inner-city community," wrote one TCNJ freshman who participated in the clean-up.
"I liked bonding with the high school students," said another.
Ramon Sanchez, a TCNJ alum and teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, spearheaded the event known as “Operation Slice” – Student Leadership Involvement and Community Engagement. He is also the lead teacher of the school’s ninth-grade academy.
"The park clean-up would not have been as successful without your dedication and those students who you lead, guide, and mentor. Please tell them that they all special individuals and that the world will be a better place with them as future leaders!" Sanchez said after the event.
The cleanup took place April 17th from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the city’s Eldridge R. Johnson Cemetery Park, located at the corner of 36th Street and Federal Street.
Roughly 25 students from TCNJ, in addition to Bonner Scholars, attended. The college students were able to fulfill their community service graduation requirement by way of this event.
Mobilizing More Volunteers
Harnessing Baby Boomers’ Experience
Section 2: Great Stories
Highlight member activities which are especially reflective of the impact the program has in the community, or which illustrate an innovative or highly successful aspect of program operation. Please provide at least one story.
EWING – The effort began a year ago, and is closer to reaching fruition.
Last year, the staff at TCNJ’s Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement dreamed of having a garden to harvest vegetable for area soup kitchens.
With a garden, the students and staff could get even more hands-on with their year-long, hunger relief efforts.
On Saturday, TCNJ Bonner Scholars and students helped bring that dream closer to ripening.
The Community-Engaged Learning event took place at the future site of the garden, located between the two lakes near the backside of TCNJ. Already there are big plans for the first harvest.
“In this garden we hope to grow vegetables and flowers and create a space to build community, support lessons in the environment, and learn,” said Paula Figuero, associate director of the Bonner Center.
The CEL event included TCNJ freshmen, a group of fraternity brothers, and students from the Youth Build program at the nonprofit group, Isles. Together, they were able to complete 25 percent of the fence, tilled the soil, and created the layout with paths formed with nearby rocks.
Work on the garden project began last year when Dr. Janet Gray visited the
Bonner Center to create a project for her “Ecofeminism” class in spring 2009. Their work can be seen at
http://sustainabletcnj.pbworks.com/Ecofem%3A--Class.
Also, Dr. Janet Morrison of TCNJ had her fall 2009 class test the soil in two possible locations proposed for the garden. Their report can be viewed at http://sustainabletcnj.pbworks.com/.
Earlier this week, on April 20, a volunteer committee comprising TCNJ staff and students, held an open forum about the community garden.
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