The Bonner Program:

Community Partnerships, Bonner Developmental Model and Site-Based Team Model

“Access to Education~Opportunity to Serve”

A program of:The Corella & Bertram Bonner Foundation10 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540(609) 924-6663 • (609) 683-4626 fax

For more information, please visit our website at www.bonner.org

• Intensive

• Multi-year

• Reciprocal

• Strong staff with the capacity to host volunteers

Community Partnerships:Bonner Foundation’s Expectations

Community Partnerships:Advantages

• Access to motivated, supported and trained students serving at least 5 hours/week for multiple years

• Multi-level, team-based partnership

• Serve important role as co-educators

Bonner Developmental Model: 5 E’s• Expectation- Students apply and prepare for participation in

the program. Selected students have quality community service experience.

• Explore- First-Year students are involved in a variety of service sites and activities.

• Experience- Second-year students are encouraged to focus on a particular issue within an organization that enables them to develop a better understanding of community issues.

• Example- By the third year, students are expected to take on more expanded roles and responsibilities at the organization.

• Expertise- Seniors are encouraged to integrate their academic pursuits and career interests with their service activities.

Bonner Developmental Model:Bonner Skills Set

Personal Skills Leadership Skills Professional Skills

• Active listening• Balance/boundaries• Communication• Decision making• Organization• Planning• Reflection• Time management• Goal setting

• Conflict resolution• Delegation• Planning• Public speaking• Running a meeting• Teamwork• Working with

diverse groups• Civic engagement

(voting)

• Budgeting• Evaluation/research• Event planning• Fundraising• Grant writing• Marketing / public relations

• Mediation• Networking• Public education / advocacy

• Volunteer management

Bonner Developmental Model: The Service Road

Exploration - occasional volunteer (paid and unpaid)• Exposure to the neighborhood, agencies, issue areas and types

of placements• First-Year Service Trip

Experience - regular volunteer (paid and unpaid)• Development of greater focus

• Commitment to one agency and type of placement

• Sophomore Exchange

Example - site/project coordinator• Continued focus

• Project/Site Coordinator

Expertise - specialist• Culminating project or capstone

• Academic connection• Future-focused

Placements evolve to offer increasing complexity and responsibility

• Summer in the hometown

• Summer in a new geographical area

• Possible 3rd summer (international/career)

Site-Based Team Model

Site-Base

dTeam

Site-Based Team Model:Higher Level Community Partnership Work

Type of Work

Vision/Strategy

Fundraising

Research / Writing /Academic Work

Outreach / Public Relations

Project Coordination

New Program Development

Improving Existing Services

Regular Volunteer Work

One-time Service ProjectsExplor

e

Expertise

Research& Capacity Building

Direct Service

Site-Based Team Model: Team Roles

Team Roles Expectations

Agency Site Supervisor(lead agency/site administrator working

with site coordinator)

•attends Bonner Center’s Community Partner Meetings

•collaborates on developing annual site-based plan

•meets regularly with site coordinator

Student Site Coordinator(responsible for managing partnership with

the college & serves as link to campus director or coordinator)

•collaborates on developing annual site-based plan

•meets regularly with site supervisor•leads site-based student team meetings

Student Project Coordinator(responsible for particular project or event

at the site)

•meets regularly with site coordinator•develops project plan•recruits & supervises volunteers for project

Regular Volunteers (paid and unpaid)(responsible for particular project within the

site)

•attend site/project team meetings•volunteer at site

Occasional Volunteers (paid and unpaid)

(serve at one-time events at the site)

•volunteer at site

Site-Based Team Model:Advantages

• Easier to manage placements, partnership & trainings

• Clear path for student development

• Structure enables deeper partnerships

• Each year builds on prior year

Site-Based Team Model:Student Leadership-Best Practices

• America Reads

• Other Best Practices

• Leadership for Engagement in Activism and Direct Service

Site-Based Team Model:Best Practices- America Reads

Occasional Volunteer

Dr. Seuss Day

Regular Volunteer

Tutors

Project Coordinator

Coordinators and Liaisons

Site-Based Team

Collaborative, Problem-Solving Model

Team Building, Research,

Planning and EvaluationPlacement Model-

Volunteer Recruitment, Training, Placement and Support

America Reads Hierarchy

• Program Director, 8 student leaders, 68 tutors total– Eastwood Elementary– 24 tutors, Site Coordinator + 2 Liaisons

– Prospect Elementary– 24 tutors, Site Coordinator + 2 Liaisons

– Boys & Girls Club– 6 tutors, Site Coordinator

– Head Start– 7 tutors, Site Coordinator

– Langston Middle School– 7 tutors

Site Coordinator Job Description

• Have several training meetings before the end of May with the current site coordinator and liaisons to prepare for the position

• Assist program director with preparations for the upcoming school year upon returning to campus the last week of August/ first week of Sept.

• Assist with interviewing potential tutors in both the fall and spring

• Facilitate scheduling process of tutors • Help facilitate orientation of new tutors

Site Coordinator Job Description

• Attend weekly meetings with other site coordinators and program director

• Help plan for and facilitate large America Reads events (e.g. Dr. Seuss Day, Big Parade)

• Respond promptly to e-mails, questions, requests from tutors

• Plan an event (snacks after school, a lunch) once per semester for tutors to socialize and reflect

• Be a positive presence at the school and keep regular tutoring hours

Delegating Tasks• What is the task?• When does this have to be done?• Who is responsible for doing this?

– Primary responsibility:– Other people helping:

• Is a check-in required before completion of this task?– Check in with whom:– When:

• Where can you go for help if you’re not sure how to do this task?

Working Session

Working SessionHow can the Site-Based Team Model work at your site?

You will need:

Student position descriptions Defining the Level of your

Partnership

and Placements worksheet Best Practices Notes