Civic Engagement at Mary Baldwin College

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Civic Engagement at Mary Baldwin College

• Tips for Having a Successful
• Service-Learning or
• Community Service Experience

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Workshop Agenda

• 1. What is Civic Engagement?
• 2. Reasons to Participate
• 3. Selecting the Right Community Partner for
  You
• 4. Approaching Community Partners
• 5. Tips for Success
• 6. Ethics and Responsibilities
• 7. Remember to Say THANKS
• 8. Contact Information

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• Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
  committed citizens can change the world indeed,
  its the only thing that ever has. --Margaret
  Mead

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What is Civic Engagement?

• Civic engagement means working to make a
  difference in the civic life of our communities
  and developing the combination of knowledge,
  skills, values and motivation to make that
  difference. It means promoting the quality of
  life in a community, through both political and
  non-political processes.1
• 1 Thomas Ehrlich, Ed. Civic Responsibility and
  Higher Education, Phoenix Oryx Press, 2000, vi.

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Service Learning vs. Community Service

• From Learning Through Serving A Student
  Guidebook to Service-Learning Across the
  Disciplines
• Service-Learning Students engage in community
  service activities with intentional academic and
  learning goals and opportunities for reflection
  that connect to their academic disciplines.
• Community Service Students Engage in activities
  to meet actual community needs as an integrated
  aspect of the curriculum

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Service-Learning

• Connect course content with actual experience
• The point is for you to grow your skills and
  knowledge because you are bringing your
  capabilities to REAL WORLD problems, and benefit
  the community in the meantime.

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Service-Learning

• Students engage in community service activities
  with intentional academic and learning goals and
  opportunities for reflection that connect to
  their academic disciplines.
• Service-Learning Community-Based Learning
  Experience

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Reasons to Participate in Community Service/
Service- Learning

• Make a difference in your community and in the
  lives of other people.
• Cultivate new skills.
• Gain practical experience in a potential career
  field.
• Learn about the working of non-profit
  organizations.

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Selecting the Right Community Partner for You

• What are your interests?
• What are your skills?
• What do you care about?

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What are your interests?

• Identify your INTERESTS - the things that you
  enjoy doing, discussing or daydreaming about
  often.
• Hobbies
• Sports
• Academic subjects
• Work activities
• Issues
• (these will make sure you are satisfied with your
  choice, and motivated to achieve your/your
  communitys goals)

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What are your skills?

• Identify your SKILLS
• Learned - tangible things weve learned to do
  (computer skills)
• Innate - aptitudes/talents (artistic abilities)
• Personality character traits such as
  hardworking, motivated, creative,
  detail-oriented, etc.

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What do you care about?

• Identify your VALUES
• Family
• Social Justice
• Freedom
• Ethics
• Fun/leisure
• Job security
• Religion/Spiritual

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Before Calling Potential Agencies

• Dont procrastinateit may take a couple of WEEKS
  to get this project completely set up!
• Consider what you/your group would like to
  learn/gain from your service-learning experience
  and how this ties in with the course
  goals/objectives.
• Consider what population you/your group would
  like to work with during your project (i.e.,
  young children, teens, elderly people, people
  with mental/physical disabilities, people who are
  low income, etc.)
• By doing something that you find interesting,
  everyone involved will benefit. Dont just do a
  project to get it done and out of the way. This
  will reflect in your work and ultimately on MBC
  students as a whole.

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Come to the Spencer Center!

• Come into the Spencer Center and meet with the
  director of civic engagement to research some
  potential non-profit agencies and/or projects. If
  working in a large group, send one or two
  representatives to do some research, rather than
  going as an entire group.
• You can also research agencies online by visiting
  www.mbc.edu/spencercenter/communityservice.asp

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During Your Initial Call

• Ask to speak with the Volunteer Coordinator for
  the agency and tell them the name of your
  professor/course.
• Clearly explain the entire scope of your project
  and your learning objectives (have something
  prepared if it makes you nervous).
• Dont be alarmed or disgruntled if they are not
  able to utilize your services at this time..
• Find out if there is any necessary training
  involved and let them know about YOUR
  skills/experience.

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Note

• Do not be alarmed if the person on your list is
  not there. There tends to be a higher turn over
  rate in non-profit organizations. If the listed
  contact person is not there, just ask for the
  Volunteer Coordinator.

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During Your Community ServiceBe A Good Volunteer

• Be flexible
• Show up!
• Arrive to work on time
• Call if you are going to be absent or late (these
  agencies are counting on you)
• Carry out work assignments in a conscientious
  manner
• Be aware of expectations office culture

• Meet deadlines
• Be professional
• (Maintain confidentiality code of ethics)
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of the
  organization
• Dress appropriately
• Show initiative and interest in your work

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Ask Questions, Clarify, and Learn . . .

• Treat your volunteer/community service as an
  opportunity to learn
• Think critically and ask questions
• Clarify work assignments to know what is
  expected.
• Pursue opportunities to learn more (special
  projects/events, committees, etc.).

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Tips On Keeping A Journal

• Dont procrastinate!
• Reflect on your experiences daily.
• Document observations experiences.
• Formulate questions.
• Record reactions.
• What are you learning?
• What skills have you used and/or acquired?
• How does it inform what you are learning in
  class?

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Ethics and Responsibilities in Service-Learning

• You are representing Mary Baldwin College!
• Be drug and alcohol free during your
  servicelearning project
• Conduct yourself with integrity (be honest, show
  respect for individuals and property)

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Ethics and Responsibilities cont

• Be on time!
• Carry out all assigned tasks, follow through
• (Dont over commit or make promises you cant
  keep)
• Carefully plan your time, agencies will work with
  you around your class schedule

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Ethics and Responsibilities cont

• Dress and Act appropriately
• Be flexible!
• Keep confidentiality about clients
• In the event of problems, call me!
• Suspected child abuse must be reported to the
  Department of Social Services

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After Your Service-Learning ExperienceRemember
to Say THANKS

• THANK the people with whom you have workedthey
  will have helped you with YOUR project!

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More Opportunities

• civicengagement_at_mbc.edu
• 540-887-7111
• The Spencer Center in Wenger Hall