MarchNewsletter2011

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

Mar 2

011

“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 2011

15th ed it ion

BONNER E -NEWSLETTER

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 springis 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 fellowBonners on a variety of topics and social

issues. If you are interested in writing for

the newsletter email

[email protected].

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 BigIdea! 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

T hi s mo nt h’ sH o t T o p i c s

Michael RichardsonProgram AssociateBonner Foundation

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/memory/views/biography/

http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/memory/views/biography/



Unsolved Community Issues Section

Shanell Ransom, College of Charles ton

The Freshmen and Sophomores from the BonnerLeader Program at College of Charleston decided toSpring Break 2011 to San Francisco, California. 12Bonners and 2 staff took the journey to California tolearn about nutrition issues. The Bonners picked the issueas an extension of the Big Idea for this year: Mission forNutrition. This year the Bonners are looking at the BigIdea, locally, nationally, and internationally. 14 brave soulsset out to see what knowledge could be gained in SanFrancisco.

The Bonners served with two urban farms, AlemanyFarm 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, andserved meals alongside the Glide staff to those in need. Atthe urban farms, Bonners gained a firsthand experience of farm life in a large city. The Bonners learned how to growpotatoes 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 deliciousnessof fresh fruits and vegetables directly from the Earth. At Malcolm X Elementary, Bonners saw the joy that a gardenbrought to young children. Many students simply ate out of the garden for lunch because they could not affordschool lunch. The sad but true reality reinforced why gardens are needed in schools but also why nutrition programstoo. 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 havegardens 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 consumingorganic food is a goal however in Charleston finding it is difficult. On top of the difficulty of locating it, the price isoutrageous and basically impossible for a college student to purchase. All Bonners admired California’s food marketfor 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 toask 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 hadlearned so much from the Bonner family in Berkeley and formed a relationship with another program. This was anawesome surprise and an unexpected “Sophomore Exchange.” Being exposed to a new program gave Bonners theopportunity to reflect on personal experiences, learn how to enhance the College of Charleston program, and begrateful 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/SanFrancisco 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




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 inMinnesota is blisteringly windy), I get excited about a space, atime, allotted for a celebration of my history. This year, March 8marked the hundredth anniversary of International Women’s Day.As I think about the multiple generations of women acrossnational borders, I am reminded of the power of women. It’smore than “sisterhood,” it’s genealogies of strength of White andBrown women, rich and poor, mothers, daughters, sisters, lesbiansand straight women. It is the strength of acknowledging ourdifferences and finding unity through our varied and diverseexperiences.

! Everyday this month, I ask myself: what have I done formy fellow women? How can I make connections with otherwomen, share my history and learn theirs? Each week Ivolunteer at the Avanti Center for Girls, a residential treatmentcenter 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 fromdifferent student organizations. The hope is that if we can provide a safe space and positive role models forthe 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 coalesceeach week.

! On Macalester’s campus, the Women’s History Month Committee has intentionally and carefullyplanned 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 shareher story and experiences with us, and motivate us to become advocates against human trafficking. DuringSpring 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 ObamaAdministration, 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, andconnections do not end once April begins. My hope is that we can strengthen understandings of ourselvesand of others throughout the year. And hopefully we can think intentionally about our intersections, andwhere the end of March, Women’s History Month, and the start of April, Asian-Pacific American AwarenessMonth meet, for example. We are many things at once, and there is strength in acknowledging ourdifferences and finding unity through our varied and diverse experiences.

Happy Women’s History Month!




By Maverick Marquardt, Stetson Uni versity

A Political Sphere of Greek Activism

Servant leadership innately resides in every person on the planet; whether or not individuals choose to act onthat 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 thaneven, 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 astandard 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.




By Chaz Barracks, University of R ichmond

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, WestVirginia, 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 beoverseeing, 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 toNigeria, 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




By Chaz Barracks, University of R ichmond

We serve our communities feeling like we are making a difference; that without us, without our impact, service wouldgo unfinished and the issue would continue to rise. Although our service work can get frustrating at times, we as theyouth 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 issueof 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 recentevents. Looking at Japan in such a weak state and not the bright, energetic, futuristic culture that’s been portrayed isdevastating. The damage to Japan which has taken over 10,000 lives, destroyed hundreds of schools, and transformedfarm 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 busyindustrial 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 andHyde”, 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 beforethe US takes spotlight inaiding Japan through ahighly unexpected crisis(Matsukata, 2011).

Japanese culture takespride in rapidness,growth, and internationalrelationships; thereforethe world should notdoubt the potential inthis process to createcross-culturalconnection.Communities around theworld through embracing

the power of Japan toovercome will solve thiscommunity issue. Ourhumanitarian assistancewill hopefully bring agreater awareness of global suffering and theadvantages of unifyingour service around theworld.

Japan Now, A Global, Political andBonner 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 createdthese institutions, and accordingly, people have the ability to maintain and change them.

However, the recent series of earthquakes and the resulting tsunami that sweptthrough and devastated the north eastern coast of Japan, serves to remind us thatthere are some things in this world over which have absolutely no control. The damagethat has occurred is nearly unthinkable. Tens of thousands of people were swept awayby the massive wave and are unaccounted for, millions are without electricity. Japan hasnever 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 elderlywoman saved after being trapped in her home still make headlines alongside the videosof houses being swept up like driftwood.

Sometimes, it feels as though in our service we are working against the effects of aterrible tsunami with recovery far off in the future, seemingly unattainable. Yet throughthis, we must cherish the small successes, the individual lives touched. There are manythings that are out of our control, but just because we are working against things overwhich we have little power and on a grand scale, the size of the problem does notdiscount 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 yearinstitution with their first Senior class graduating this May. Thischange, 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 theBonner Program is integrating issue based groups. These issue basedgroups meet once per month and are led by our Leadership Panel,made up of two Bonners from each year. These Bonners have takenon issues ranging from Education, Environment, Relationships, andAppalachia. 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 justthe folks in our program. With these outside perspectives we've worked to bring inadvisors who have an expertise in the fields. Our Education group is partnered with alead professor in our college's Education program. This partnership allows the Bonnersto 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, andadvisors is our first step to becoming more politically active in our North Georgiaregion.

MatthewKammerer

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, fromMarch 31st - April 3rd. Stetson joined the Bonner Foundation family in 2005 and is the only Bonner School inFlorida. Stetson is very excited to host this wonderful conference and welcomes service leaders fromthroughout 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 withrepresentatives 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 dinnerhosted by the Sophomore Stetson University Bonners!

Stetson University welcomes you to join us as we learn, grow, and develop in ourroles as mentors, organizers, developers, leaders, and world changers. Can’t wait tosee 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

http://www.impactconference.org/





!

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. Thisyear, 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 storiesfor the themes below. "Each video in the series can be 2 to 5 minutes long — but the length should be dictated bywhat you, the director, are trying to accomplish.

The Bonner Video Project (BVP) is part of the Bonner Network's Serve 2.0Initiative, using"social media tools to enhance and expand the culture of community service and social justice among college students and thecommunities 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 theBonnerNetwork YouTube channel to view entries from the 2009 and 2010competitions."

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 ( orstudents 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 Global Pick an issue or topic around which you serve ( like water quality, food access, immigrants' access tocollege 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 a ff ecting the local one.

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

Reps in Action Show us how students in your program identified and took action on a big idea to strengthen theirBonner Program, campus, or community. This one should be connected to your CongressRepresentatives' big ideas or their work in Regional Teams! Here, we're trying to see student voiceand 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 thatexhibit Bonner Love. Here are the details:

Your video should highlight how your Bonner Program or service center fosters the “belovedcommunity” 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 moreopportunities 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 Sing le Video Competition!

Bonner Love

http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/w/page/28224488/BVP%20-%20Bonner%20Video%20Liaisons

http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/w/page/34538227/BVP%20-%20Bonner%20Video%20Liaisons%202011


http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Bonner-Video-Project




http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/Bonner-Summer-Leadership-Institute












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