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BONNER NEWSCongress Reps, Bonner Interns & Student Leaders

M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R

Mar

20

11

“As I have said, the first thing is to be honest with yourself. You can never have an impact on society if you have not changed yourself... Great peacemakers are all people of integrity, of honesty, but humility.” - Nelson Mandela

March 201115th ed it ion

BONNER E -NEWSLET TER

appy spring everyone! Its been a rough winter and now its time

for the sun to rise and the flowers to

bloom. We are now wrapping up spring break and getting ready to push for a great ending to the school year. Another

fantastic thing that happens in the spring is the IMPACT conference. The conference brings hundreds of students together from around the world who are

passionate about social justice and making an impact in their community to network and share resources together.

Given that we are at the halfway point of the spring semester, this is a great time to assess and measure your own impact

with your service. What impact have you made? How can you make a bigger impact? Take the time reflect on your

service and what you can do to make a difference.

This edition of the newsletter features reflections and articles from your fellow Bonners on a variety of topics and social

issues. If you are interested in writing for the newsletter email mrichardson@bonner.org.

Take Action

Big Idea Check In!!As you progress through the school year, be thinking about ways in which you can strengthen and move forward with your Big Idea! Check in with your BAB member this month and let them know of your challenges and successes so far.

Reflections p. 1 - 4

Improving Community PartnershipsA series of reflections from staff and Bonner journalists

Alumni Highlight p. 5

What are Bonner Alumni doing now?The Bonner Alumni Highlight section is a great way to see what Alumni are doing now! Check out this months Alumni Highlight!

Bonner Highlights p. 6

See whats happening!Check out what Young Harris is doing on their campus and get ready for IMPACT!

Bonner Video Project p.8-9

It’s that time of the year!The Bonner Video Project is back yet again! Find information about the new changed to the Bonner Video Project and get started!!

Have an IMPact!!!

H

This month’sHot Topics

Michael RichardsonProgram AssociateBonner Foundation

Unsolved Community Issues SectionShanell Ransom, College of Charleston

The Freshmen and Sophomores from the Bonner Leader Program at College of Charleston decided to Spring Break 2011 to San Francisco, California. 12 Bonners and 2 staff took the journey to California to learn about nutrition issues. The Bonners picked the issue as an extension of the Big Idea for this year: Mission for Nutrition. This year the Bonners are looking at the Big Idea, locally, nationally, and internationally. 14 brave souls set out to see what knowledge could be gained in San Francisco.

The Bonners served with two urban farms, Alemany Farm and Free Farm, two gardens at local schools, Malcolm X Elementary and June Jordan School for Equity through Urban Sprouts, a rooftop garden at Glide, and served meals alongside the Glide staff to those in need. At the urban farms, Bonners gained a firsthand experience of farm life in a large city. The Bonners learned how to grow potatoes vertically, make raised beds, and the proper way to plant vegetables, just to name a few. At the gardens, Bonners learned how to make worm compost, garden in an unconventional space, the power of one person’s vision, and saw the works of dedicated volunteers and community members.

A highlight of the week came from something most take for granted: food. Bonners experienced the deliciousness of fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the Earth. At Malcolm X Elementary, Bonners saw the joy that a garden brought to young children. Many students simply ate out of the garden for lunch because they could not afford school lunch. The sad but true reality reinforced why gardens are needed in schools but also why nutrition programs too. The garden was also an outlet for students to release energy, be physically fit, and simply get fresh air. Most importantly the garden is incorporated into the science curriculum in Berkeley, California therefore all schools have gardens on site. Classes have a rotation schedule therefore students are in the garden on a regular basis.

A shocking experience for all was venturing to the grocery store and around town to see the wide variety of organic food and the affordable prices. Many Bonners wished Charleston would follow suit because consuming organic food is a goal however in Charleston finding it is difficult. On top of the difficulty of locating it, the price is outrageous and basically impossible for a college student to purchase. All Bonners admired California’s food market for having easy access to organic food and promoting healthy eating.

While in Berkeley the College of Charleston Bonners received a special treat… a visit with the University of California-Berkeley Bonners. Bonners toured the Cali Corp office which houses the Bonner Leaders, where able to ask questions about their program, school, and service sites. At dinner, Bonners had time to share Bonner experiences while obtaining more information about Berkeley. By the conclusion of the night, all Bonners had learned so much from the Bonner family in Berkeley and formed a relationship with another program. This was an awesome surprise and an unexpected “Sophomore Exchange.” Being exposed to a new program gave Bonners the opportunity to reflect on personal experiences, learn how to enhance the College of Charleston program, and be grateful for the Bonner Leader Program at College of Charleston.

The week-long trip to California was a success!!! The Freshmen and Sophomores gained a new perspective of Bonner, learned how to farm and garden, strengthened relationships with each other, served the Berkeley/San Francisco community and most importantly gained a new perspective of nutrition. The much needed break from Charleston encouraged Bonners to come back to Charleston ready to serve with the new ideas learned, and finish the year strong.

We be Servin’ San Francisco

Unsolved Community Issues Section

By Emily Schorr Lesnick, Macalester College Bonner Senior Intern

Reflections on Women’s History Month

I am a woman, a feminist, a womanist, a queer woman. Each year, when March rolls around and shocks my system (March in Minnesota is blisteringly windy), I get excited about a space, a time, allotted for a celebration of my history. This year, March 8 marked the hundredth anniversary of International Women’s Day. As I think about the multiple generations of women across national borders, I am reminded of the power of women. It’s more than “sisterhood,” it’s genealogies of strength of White and Brown women, rich and poor, mothers, daughters, sisters, lesbians and straight women. It is the strength of acknowledging our differences and finding unity through our varied and diverse experiences.

Everyday this month, I ask myself: what have I done for my fellow women? How can I make connections with other women, share my history and learn theirs? Each week I volunteer at the Avanti Center for Girls, a residential treatment center for girls with severe emotional and behavioral disorders. Many of the girls are at Avanti as part of a court sentencing. A

group of Macalester women visits the young women every Thursday night, and we bring guests from different student organizations. The hope is that if we can provide a safe space and positive role models for the girls, we will get them excited about their futures, and potentially see college in their futures, disrupting the schools-to-prisons pipeline that disproportionately affects working-class people and people of color. And instantly feminism, education and social justice intersect, as our identities and circumstances coalesce each week.

On Macalester’s campus, the Women’s History Month Committee has intentionally and carefully planned a month of lectures, dialogues, film screenings, and activities about “HERstory: Reflections of Mind, Body, and Spirit”. This month we are welcoming Minh Dang, Bonner Coordinator at UC Berkeley, to share her story and experiences with us, and motivate us to become advocates against human trafficking. During Spring Break, a group of students are volunteering locally at Women’s Advocates. The Department of Multicultural Life is partnering with professors to facilitate discussions about Women in the Obama Administration, Reproductive Health, and Feminist Science. Hopefully the reflections during this month address our varied perspectives and the many ways of being a woman.

But, like with all History or Heritage months, it is important that these thoughts, dialogues, and connections do not end once April begins. My hope is that we can strengthen understandings of ourselves and of others throughout the year. And hopefully we can think intentionally about our intersections, and where the end of March, Women’s History Month, and the start of April, Asian-Pacific American Awareness Month meet, for example. We are many things at once, and there is strength in acknowledging our differences and finding unity through our varied and diverse experiences.

Happy Women’s History Month!

Unsolved Community Issues SectionBy Maverick Marquardt, Stetson University

A Political Sphere of Greek Activism

Servant leadership innately resides in every person on the planet; whether or not individuals choose to act on that primitive obligation is another story. Typically when looking for volunteers, a majority of the able-bodied activists come from service-based organizations like: Bonner (of course), Rotary Clubs, Key Clubs, and any other organization with community service as their founding principles; but that’s it… right?? Wrong, in our efforts to change the world, we have left out one of the most powerful agencies our schools have to offer; The Greek System. I know… you must be experiencing some doubt with this allegation, mainly due to the stereotypical frat-boy persona imprinted in our minds by Hollywood but please continue reading and let this vision overwhelm your misconstrued mindset.

The Greek system, by far, is the most organized and powerful force on any school’s campus; so why aren’t we using this strength for service? Operating like mini corporations, with strict rules and guidelines; controlled by hierarchal powers for the betterment of their members; the Greeks have more potential power for good than even, yes I dare say it, The Bonner Foundation itself. Whether or not you agree with my hypothesis, the truth on the matter is, that since practically forever, the Greeks have been an untapped resource of limitless potential good.

Well, at least until now… allow me to Introduce the Greek Service Initiative.

The GSI, under the direction of Greek affiliated Bonners, Savannah Griffin and myself, has begun to completely restructure the policies and guidelines regarding community-based service and philanthropic fundraisers. Political change, created through the governing Greek powers of IFC and Pan-Hellenic, has ignited service based activism here on Stetson’s Campus unlike anything seen before. The GSI and the council’s community-engagement chairs have recently introduced many new bylaws into the Greek governing constitution. Overnight these amendments have: revamped the community partners program by adopting a more accountable model from FSU, created a standard for what constitutes as a community service hour, created new ways of recording these hours and has implemented large scale Greek-wide projects in conjunction with our local Bonner program. These changes, install a sense of servant leadership and true service learning into the hearts of our Greeks; this will eventually create the much-needed bond between the chapters and their community partners. Locally, these constitutional rectifications have made unimaginable improvements to our service events, due to an overall increase in Greek volunteerism. As good as this sounds, it is only the start to something Great!

The GSI will eventually reform the national standard for Greek Activism in the US. As shocking as this may be, the existing national service policies are ambiguous and centered on fundraising quantity; neglecting community engaged quality. With the help of Bonner nationals and the Association for Fraternal Leadership and Values, community engagement in the coming years will synchronize the service world and the Greek world; creating a celestial alignment of momentous power. Imagine, millions of Greeks added to our relatively small population of activists; the potential power to make an impact for a cause would be unimaginably limitless.

Unsolved Community Issues SectionBy Chaz Barracks, University of Richmond

What is one of your best Bonner memories?Having left my family and friends in Nepal to study in the United States, the Bonner group at Tusculum College was my home away from home. One of my best memories in the program was taking the trip to Caretta, West Virginia, where we worked to build a library at the local community center. Being in the town of Caretta was already an eye-opening experience for me, as I realized how poverty knew no bounds, even if it was in one of the richest countries of the world. During my two trips to Caretta, I was able to bond with the local community and build a lasting relationship with my fellow Bonner comrades as we worked to finish the library that our senior Bonner class had begun. Working with the local high school students in Greeneville, Tennessee was also one of my best experiences. I used to help students in their English and Math classes, and toward the end of the semester, I got a note from one of students saying how working with Dexter Carr, a fellow Bonner leader, and me, had helped him get into University of Tennessee to pursue his college career. These experiences made being in the Bonner program very much worth it.

What kind of work have you been involved with since leaving college?After leaving college, I went on to graduate school to study journalism. After finishing graduate school, I moved to Washington D.C. to work as a digital media fellow for the Atlantic magazine. There I spent a year and half working on online journalism projects, helping conceptualize and build sites like the Atlantic Wire, which have become a staple reading in online journalism now. I also traveled to Afghanistan, where I embedded with the British soldiers and reported on the efficacy of their partnership with the Afghan security forces. I joined the Washington Post in November 2009 to work as an online producer. During the last year, I traveled to Nepal twice for the Post -- once to report on the ongoing political stalemate after the peace agreement with the Maoist rebels, and in December again to report on issues of sex trafficking as well as Nepal's effort to become the world's newest gay tourist destination.

I have recently started working as the online editor for World and National Security desk, where I will be overseeing, among other things, the Washington Post's coverage of the war in Afghanistan, the unrest in the Mideast and Arab world and the drug war in Mexico.

How has the Bonner Program impacted your life?The Bonner program taught me the basics about working in a team, and then leading a team of a very talented group of people. I realized that the little things we did, and the few hours we put into serving the community made a big difference in the lives of those we helped.

What is one piece of advice that you would leave for current Bonner Scholars?The friends you make in your Bonner program will become your friends for a lifetime. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work with an amazing group of young people, from countries as far as Jamaica to Nigeria, and from Ohio to Florida, who taught me a lot from their life experiences. I advise current Bonner leaders to go out and get involved, do the things you've wanted to do, speak up for a cause you believe in and believe that your smallest help will make a difference. Make the best out of your experience as a Bonner leader, because once you graduate, life comes at you very fast.

If you had one word to describe Bonner, what would it be?"Empowering" -- we enable change in the community by giving our energy and strengthening our beliefs that small things can make a difference.

Alumni Highlight: Anup KaphleTusculum College Class of 2007

Unsolved Community Issues SectionBy Chaz Barracks, University of Richmond

We serve our communities feeling like we are making a difference; that without us, without our impact, service would go unfinished and the issue would continue to rise. Although our service work can get frustrating at times, we as the youth of community work do have the power to make a difference, to improve the wellbeing of our communities, individuals, and polices that create lasting change.

In Japan, the recent catastrophe has set back the difference that individuals like us have worked so hard to make. Rebuilding a community after such tragedy is beyond overwhelming and the ability of scholars like us. The political issue of the Japanese tsunami involves our attention to realize the impact they too can make. It is a Bonner issue.

Personally inspired by Japanese culture and the countries rapid innovation, I feel incredibly shocked by the recent events. Looking at Japan in such a weak state and not the bright, energetic, futuristic culture that’s been portrayed is devastating. The damage to Japan which has taken over 10,000 lives, destroyed hundreds of schools, and transformed farm land into acres of debris will never be forgotten no matter how much community service is dedicated to the aiding the effects. Right now communities that were once overpopulated where one can barely walk down the busy industrial streets without bumping into another person are now darkened and silent.

As countries around the world begin efforts towards supporting a place that is rarely on the receiving end of detrimental aid and assistance, we shall find ways to continue to uplift the inspiring culture of Japan. Naotaka Matsukata, a CNN Specialist described the relationship between Japan and the US as a kind of “Jekyll and Hyde”, with clear efforts to corporate on issues such as security in spite of clear problems but also economic friction. Japan is competitive in their industries, and market success, so now we must wait to see such “pause” will occur before the US takes spotlight in aiding Japan through a highly unexpected crisis (Matsukata, 2011).

Japanese culture takes pride in rapidness, growth, and international relationships; therefore the world should not doubt the potential in this process to create cross-cultural connection. Communities around the world through embracing the power of Japan to overcome will solve this community issue. Our humanitarian assistance will hopefully bring a greater awareness of global suffering and the advantages of unifying our service around the world.

Japan Now, A Global, Political and Bonner Issue.

As Bonners, many of us serve under institutions such as government and education, and for those of us who do, we may take comfort knowing there will always be an aspect of control to the work we do. Control in the sense that people have created these institutions, and accordingly, people have the ability to maintain and change them.

However, the recent series of earthquakes and the resulting tsunami that swept through and devastated the north eastern coast of Japan, serves to remind us that there are some things in this world over which have absolutely no control. The damage that has occurred is nearly unthinkable. Tens of thousands of people were swept away by the massive wave and are unaccounted for, millions are without electricity. Japan has never faced an a natural disaster such as this. Yet through it all, hope prevails. Stories of a newborn baby rescued after three days of being hidden under debris, and an elderly woman saved after being trapped in her home still make headlines alongside the videos of houses being swept up like driftwood.

Sometimes, it feels as though in our service we are working against the effects of a terrible tsunami with recovery far off in the future, seemingly unattainable. Yet through this, we must cherish the small successes, the individual lives touched. There are many things that are out of our control, but just because we are working against things over which we have little power and on a grand scale, the size of the problem does not discount the work we do and the successes, however small the may be, of our service.

Starr Miyata-Bonner Congress Rep. Univ. of Richmond

Young Harris College is in the midst of growth to a four year institution with their first Senior class graduating this May. This change, along with a young Bonner Leader Program creates a busy environment for myself, the Senior Intern, and our director.

One thing we are doing different in our second year of running the Bonner Program is integrating issue based groups. These issue based groups meet once per month and are led by our Leadership Panel, made up of two Bonners from each year. These Bonners have taken on issues ranging from Education, Environment, Relationships, and Appalachia. In our program this is the first time we've gotten into

political issues. Sure, we've seen how regulations can change our area, but we've never studied them closely. Our issue based groups have three components: Bonners, one community partner, and one faculty or staff advisor. This trifecta brings in perspectives from many different angles.

This is the first time that our systemic issues are being addresses from a more global perspective than just the folks in our program. With these outside perspectives we've worked to bring in advisors who have an expertise in the fields. Our Education group is partnered with a lead professor in our college's Education program. This partnership allows the Bonners to see how regulations and guidelines set by the state can effect the children they work with in the school system.

This basic connection we are forming between community partners, Bonners, and advisors is our first step to becoming more politically active in our North Georgia region.

Matthew Kammerer

Young Harris College

Getting into Politics, One Toe at a Time by Matthew Kammerer, Young Harris College

This year’s 26th annual IMPACT conference will be held at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, from March 31st - April 3rd. Stetson joined the Bonner Foundation family in 2005 and is the only Bonner School in Florida. Stetson is very excited to host this wonderful conference and welcomes service leaders from throughout the nation to our campus. Workshops will range in focus from international issues, education, and youth empowerment, to everything in between. There will also be a networking fair with representatives from national and global non-profit agencies and plenty of time for service and bonding with fellow servant leaders. Bonner students, specifically, will be invited to a dinner hosted by the Sophomore Stetson University Bonners!

Stetson University welcomes you to join us as we learn, grow, and develop in our roles as mentors, organizers, developers, leaders, and world changers. Can’t wait to see you in April! B-LOVE!

For further information please contact your Bonner coordinator or impactconference.org

Making an IMPACT at Stetson Universityby Tiffany Walker, Stetson University

Tiffany WalkerStetson University

What is different about this year's competition?

In the past, the Bonner Video Project has focused on the creation of single videos through a variety of themes. This year, we are making a change.  We are looking for high-quality video series.  Think powerful, concise documentaries — in short, illustrative series.  We want you to create a video series with 3 (ideally) short videos that tell the stories for the themes below.  Each video in the series can be 2 to 5 minutes long — but the length should be dictated by what you, the director, are trying to accomplish.

The Bonner Video Project (BVP) is part of the Bonner Network's Serve 2.0 Initiative, using social media tools to enhance and expand the culture of community service and social justice among college students and the communities they serve throughout the nation.   Over 100 videos have been produced through the BVP. Now in its third year, the Bonner Video competition will be more exciting than ever! Check out the BonnerNetwork YouTube channel to view entries from the 2009 and 2010 competitions. 

What are the categories for this year?

What is the Bonner Video Project?

Issues to ImpactPick an issue (homelessness, youth development, immigration) and show us how your Bonners (or students doing service) Bonner Program, campus, and community work on it - and make an impact! Think about the process of learning about an issue, working with it in the community, and then making and measuring the impact related to your work. 

Local to GlobalPick an issue or topic around which you serve (like water quality, food access, immigrants' access to college education) and show us how your Bonners (or other students doing service), program, or campus is connecting their local work with global issues or needs.  Or show us the global situation is affecting the local one.   

Service to PoliticsShow us how students in your program (and campus more broadly) make the connection between their direct service work and politics — through advocacy, public policy, and public education. 

Reps in ActionShow us how students in your program identified and took action on a big idea to strengthen their Bonner Program, campus, or community.  This one should be connected to your Congress Representatives' big ideas or their work in Regional Teams!  Here, we're trying to see student voice and leadership in action for change!  What does it take?  Who do you network with and why? How do you get things done?

Bonner LoveBack by popular demand, the Bonner Video Project 2010-2011 will also accept single video entries that exhibit Bonner Love. Here are the details: Your video should highlight how your Bonner Program or service center fosters the “beloved community” through a sense of community building, appreciation for diversity, and the promotion of acts of peace, unity, and human rights.

Bonner Video Project 2011

BONNER VIDEO PROJECT 2011

Check out the Bonner Video Project homepage to

learn more about this year's competition. All

entries are due by Friday May 5th at 5pm.

All campuses must select

their Bonner Video Liaison and

upload their information to the BVL

Roster page by this Friday, January

14th.

e sure to connect is information“We don't just make videos; We make change”.

 

Videos are due by 5pm on Friday, May 6, 2011

It's that time of year again! The competition is

back and better than ever, with even more

opportunities to get your video into the annual

Bonner Film Festival at the Summer Leadership

Institute at Siena College in Albany, NY from

May 31 to June 3.

This year's Bonner Video

Project focuses

on documentary series of

3 videos. 

Categories are:

Issue to Impact

Local to Global

Service to Politics

Congress Reps in Action

 

And a Bonus Single Video Competition!

Bonner Love