ICOVA 2012 – CHICAGO, IL

Yangyang Zong, Program Manager, Project on Civic Reflection

What is Civic Reflection? Sample Discussion Benefits and Integration

How do I engage my volunteers more deeply?How do I provide meaningful experiences that sustain my volunteers?How do I help my volunteer administrators to grow personally and professionally?

Project on Civic Reflection

Established in 1998 at Valparaiso University

Founding support from Lilly Endowment

Offices in Chicago and Valparaiso, IN

Our Mission: To deepen understanding, build

community, and strengthen commitment by helping people think and talk together

about the meaning of the good work they do in the world.

We do this through the practice of reflective discussion.

What We Do◦ Lead reflective discussions

◦ Train facilitators

◦ Consult and coach reflection and dialogue programming

◦ Develop resources

◦ Make the case for reflection and dialogue

A practice of reflective discussion that helps people think and talk across difference about their identities, communities, and commitments.

3 Elements◦ A group of people◦ A shared civic activity (i.e. volunteering,

service, teaching, nonprofit work, etc.)◦ A reading, image, or video

Civic Reflection

Civic Life

Participants

ReadingsReading Group

Scholarly Presentation

Civic Dialogue

Service and Volunteerism

Education

Arts and Culture

Healthcare and Social Services

Faith and Interfaith

Philanthropy

Board members and volunteers at the Indian American Heritage Center

Illinois Campus Compact – Students in Service

Maryland Humanities Council

Community Discussion at WBEZ

CLARITY

Increases understanding of our own values and ways of

seeing the world

COMMUNITY

Improves relationship

s with colleagues and with

those we serve

COMMITMENT

Sustains engagement

and increases morale

Write down one question that you have moving forward about your own work or service.

Civic Engagement ◦ Deeper understanding of one’s and others’ own purpose and motivation◦ Increased understanding of the complexities of civic work

Community Building/Development◦ Stronger sense of connection, belonging and trust ◦ Create community among volunteers -> greater participation level

Retention and Sustainability◦ Improved morale◦ Deepened commitment◦ Improved relationships and stronger sense of connection to colleagues

and communities served

All above… Skill Building

◦ Facilitation and dialogue skills◦ Improved interpersonal communication◦ Improved listening skills

Leadership Development◦ Stronger collaboration skills and ability to develop,

sustain, and support relationships with others◦ Increased understanding of diverse perspectives and

ability to work across differences◦ Stronger strategic capacities – asking the “why”s

Make the time – be intentional

Focus on integration

◦ Existing volunteering activities

◦ Monthly meetings, Service Days

◦ Flexible format – 15-45 minutes

Monthly discussion among staff

◦ 6 staff members trained through Facilitation Training in 2012

Discussion between volunteers and clients

◦ 26 volunteers and clients at the St. Leonard’s House

Discussion among volunteer

◦ Service Day

www.civicreflection.org Publications:

◦ Taking Action (Great Books Foundation, 2012)◦ The Civically Engaged Reader (Great Books Foundation,

2009) People – staff at the PCR, a nation-wide network

of facilitators Open-call facilitation training workshops 3-4

times a year in Chicago

October 18-19, 2012 – downtown Chicago January 24-25, 2013 – downtown Chicago

Q&A Session

Thank you!