The Bonner Beat, Spring Issue 2010

THE BONNER BEAT PREMIERE ISSUE SPRING 2010

welcome!

Why the Strange Name?

The Bonner Foundation is a nonprofit organization located in Princeton, New Jersey. Started

by Corella and Bertram F. Bonner, the original purpose of the Foundation was to help those who, like Mr. and Mrs. Bonner, grew up in underprivileged areas. In 1989, the Foundation began working with colleges and universities (like Lynchburg College), seeking a way both to provide scholarships to students who could not otherwise afford to attend college and to drive students and institutions of higher education to service in their own communities. The LC Bonner Leaders Program is behind this magazine, thus the name.

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ou’re reading the first issue of the Bonner Beat, a brand new serviceoriented magazine created by Lynchburg College students. Our goals are to inform students about how to make a positive difference in their community, introduce them to local service opportunities already available, and inspire them to join a non-profit’s cause or take on an issue of their own.

The creators of this magazine believe in community service as a defining part of our generation. When we turn on the news or pick up our local paper we are overwhelmed by the problems facing communities across America. How is it that we can ever change the course of what seems to be a downward slope in our nation’s prosperity? The answer lies partly in our ability as concerned citizens to

Calendar of Events Earth Day Lecture- April 22 “International Water Issues.”

Pulitzer Center journalists William Wheeler and AnnaKatrina Gravgaard.

Hopwood Hall Auditorium. 4 p.m.

Gifts for Gulu Jammin’ Jamboree -April 23-24 April 23: Soccer kick-off; April 24: Lacrosse, Big Brother/Big Sister Day in the Dell, service-learning projects, music, and educational tents. Information: 434/544-8491.

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Film:“No Impact Man”- April 28 Colin Beavan and No Impact Project, a year off the grid in New York City. Intersection of sustainability and human quality of life. Discussion following. Sponsored by the Lynchburg College Transition Group and Alliance For Energy Awareness (AFEA).

Hopwood Hall Auditorium, 6 p.m.

Bonner Beat Spring 2010

organize to address the needs of neighbors, non-profits, and the least well off in our society. So here’s our answer, a magazine that focuses our attention and shines a light on the issues holding back our community.

Our debut issue will take you around the globe to the slums of India and back home again to Lynchburg, Virginia. We have collected service stories from students at Lynchburg College working with non-profits, such as Head Start and the Red Cross, and have detailed how homelessness is as relevant to Central Virginia as it is visible on the streets of New York City.

There’s even an insightful Q&A with Lynchburg City Mayor Joan Foster on volunteerism and leadership.

So come along with us! Get to know Lynchburg and learn some cool ideas you can become a part of, or take with you to make a difference wherever you go.

Handpicked happenings to start your journey

Jennie Cutler Shumate Lecture on Christian Ministry- May 5 “Leadership and Reconciliation in a Divided World: Lessons From South Africa.” Dr. James Joseph, former U.S. ambassador to South Africa, and Professor of the Practice of Public Policy Studies, Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Duke University. Snidow Chapel, 7:30 p.m.

Bonner Graduation- May 13 Congrats to the Bonner Vs, we’ll miss you guys!!

Bonner 20th Anniversary at Berea College- June 2-5 More than just a party, it’s SLI too. http://bonnernetwork.pbworks.com/ Bonner-Summer-Leadership-Institute Serve the City Baltimore- July 7-10 Going to be in the Baltimore area this summer? How about doing a service plunge on steroids?

Check out servegreaterbaltimore. org for more info, or contact Brian at 704-942-6547.

A Tiger’s Tale

Cold Streets, Warm Faces

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Food For Thought

Q&A with Mayor Foster

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12 Table of Contents

6 I Refuse to Volunteer with Children

Jamie wasn’t the biggest fan of kids, but that was before she volunteered at a local preschool.

7 Flames Extinguished, Lives Rebuilt

Ever wonder who helps the victims of fire or a natural disaster? Richard Szymczyk is part of the answer.

9 Local Non-Profit Spotlight

THE BONNER BEAT

14 Solidarity Sleepers

A few tips on event planning from our student activist expert, who convinced students to sleep outside for a week.

15 Bonner Alumni Spotlight

Some of our Bonners are here, some of them aren’t. Find out what they have planned for life after LC.

Editor In Chief Conor McFarland Graphic Design and Layout Maddie Coultrip Contributing Writers Jamie Flores Angela Massino Conor McFarland Ashley McHaney Mark Reiner Hannah Sizemore Richard Szymczyk

Puppets aren’t just for Sesame Street and little kids. Learn about the “kids” in Lynchburg who play with puppets.

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A Tiger’s Tale

he most striking detail about India is its duality. India has a majestic and colorful culture with an overwhelmingly friendly people. Yet trash is everywhere, poverty is rampant, and class divisions are blatant. Over this past winter break, I participated in a two-week study abroad to India with a small group of fellow Lynchburg College students. Reflecting back on the trip, the experience that most affected me was working with a charity organization.

The Hope Foundation works to provide education and care for underprivileged children. Hope schools provide an opportunity for development that is lacking in many communities. Education, especially English language education, is essential for improving the quality of life for the kids and eventually their communities. We had the opportunity to visit two Hope schools in Tamil

A slum, so it’s like a ghetto?

Not exactly. Ghettos refer to a neighborhood based on shared ethnicity, while slums are strictly based on socio-economic criteria. Right now about one billion people live in slums around the world, and that number is estimated to double by 2030. A slum is not simply the bad part of town like in the U.S., but a reality of daily life for many people around the world. Characterized by high unemployment and lacking in basic services like running water, these neighborhoods (small cities really) should be replaced with more suitable housing. Arm yourself with the knowledge to make a difference, check out the UN-HABITAT’s “Cities without Slums Campaign”.

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Nadu, a southeastern providence.

The first school we visited was in Chennai, located in the Kannagi Nagar Slum Rehabilitation Colony.

The Colony is essentially a housing project, where the local government moved slum dwellers from the city to the colony, which holds 15,000 families living in poor conditions. The school is very small and can only accommodate 205 children, yet I was amazed that the school could handle even that many. The building is about the size of a townhouse, with only a couple of rooms that are bigger than a dorm room here at college.

Right next to the school is a vacant lot covered completely with trash.

The first day we visited this humble place an adorable girl presented us with flowers and recited a welcome.

I think everyone in the group got a warm and fuzzy feeling at that moment. The students got a chance to tell us what they wanted to be and it was an admirable list: scientist, doctor, computer programmer, pilot. It was touching to see the kids had such high aspirations considering the place they are growing up. After introductions, the kids taught us a game called “quick quick” that involved hand movements and reciting of categories, both of which I completely and utterly failed at. Still the kids were all bright smiles and laughter. It was hard to leave that first day.

When we came back the next day my group was responsible for teaching health and nutrition by constructing a food pyramid. I was worried I had underestimated how smart these kids were as I found out they could name as many parts of the human brain as I could. We had a limited supply of crayons but the kids are very good about sharing and even forced crayons on me in order to complete the pyramid with them.

After the lesson, the group got a chance to visit the site of a possible new school. The Hope foundation

How a journey to India changed more than I expected Mark Reiner

wants to fulfill the needs of more children in the community by building a more suitable facility. The foundation has the land for the new school but not the funds. Looking across the large lot filled only with pools of stagnant water and rudimentary construction materials, our group decided to help build the school by promising to do fundraising activities back in the states.

After visiting the site, we got a chance to interact with the kids for one last time before we left. I let some kids use my camera and they were fascinated with taking extreme close ups of my face. The children are very inquisitive and asked many questions. I tried to explain the concept of tomato sauce and spaghetti to several kids who asked me what my favorite food was. The kids were easy to bond with and goodbyes took forever.

The second school we visited was at Pudupattinam. We had the opportunity to interact with an even larger group of children across several grades. Pudupattinam is a fishermen colony that was badly affected by the 2004 tsunami. The school in Pudupattinam is a model school for the Hope Foundation and has more completed facilities than the school in Chennai. I found that boys I played with insisted on calling me “uncle” and displayed an odd obsession with WWE superstar John Cena.

After a very impressive dance routine by some of the students, we were given a chance to walk a few of the kids home and visit their families. Despite living in such humble dwellings every family member I met displayed incredible hospitality and friendliness by offering food, drinks, and conversation. Spending time with the Hope children gave me faces to visualize whenever I think about social justice problems in our world. And now that I am back in the states, I think less about my visit to the Taj Mahal and more about walking through those children’s neighborhood.

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photos by Mark Reiner

The school is very small...about the size of a townhouse, with only a couple of rooms that are bigger than a dorm room here at college. Right next to the school is a vacant lot covered completely with trash.

�

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I Refuse to Volunteer with Children Jamie Marie Flores

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hen I was first interviewed to be a Bonner Leader I said I refused to volunteer with children because I could not deal with their nuisance. But when my full class schedule did not allow me the time for service sites that I wanted to visit, I had to look outside my comfort zone in order to fulfill my service goals. When a fellow Bonner told me about Head Start, a non-profit government funded pre-school for disadvantaged children, I decided I would give it a try. The teachers work hard to enhance the students’ comprehension, speech, etiquette and social skills. The program has two different classes, in the morning and evening. Pre-school classes are essential in preparing children for elementary school, so that when enrollment for kindergarten starts, the students will not be behind their peers.

When I first started volunteering at Head Start the children really did not care much for me at first. It was as if they thought that I was just going to leave anyway. But when they saw that my friend and I came back the following day they began to ask us questions such as, “Why are you here�?

Hearing that question shocked me, like they were used to having people leave them. But I wanted to show them that I cared for them and was willing to give them my time and attention.

So my fellow Bonner and I worked diligently on activities that reinforced their lessons; activities such as making puppets: drawing Christmas cards, and coloring outlined characters helped them understand the concepts behind their lessons. As I became more familiar with the school I got a real feel for how important Head Start is to the low-income families in the community, especially since I grew up in a low-income neighborhood myself.

I truly wish that I could have had this kind of opportunity as a child. And I wanted to help teach these children so they could have the education to do great in life. Time started to really fly by as we bonded more with the children. Even the teachers were starting to rely on us to bring different games and activities for them.

After almost five months of volunteering at Head Start I feel as if the students have truly learned something from us. They used to question our interest and call us liars when we said that we loved them.

Now they run to us when they see us and ask us to stay longer. The students and teachers at Head Start have truly made a difference in my life, and I feel like a better, more caring person whenever I think of them. To go from someone who is impatient when around children to someone who does not mind their occasional tantrums in a few short months is a magnificent feeling. I will always keep a special place in my heart for the bonds that I have made at Head Start.

Flames Extinguished, Lives Rebuilt A night spent with the Red Cross Richard Szymczyk

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became involved in the Red Cross Disaster Relief team in October 2009, and after several training sessions provided by the Red Cross free of charge I became an active member.

I learned how to fill out the paperwork necessary to get supplies and housing for disaster victims and also how to assess affected housing for damage. The Red Cross continually offers free courses to its members to increase their training. After a few years one can be qualified to go all around the country and even abroad. My most extensive call occurred only a few months ago.

The phone rang and I was told there had been a major fire that had left two families homeless; I was then given an address and told whom to report to on the scene. I drove down dark streets, eventually finding a bright light in a distance. The spinning flashing lights of fire trucks were all humbled by the light cast by even more flames. As I got closer the bellow of sirens and squealing of trucks and equipment went from a faint rumble to a deafening roar.

The road was barricaded by a police officer. After telling him I was with the Red Cross and flashing my I.D., I was allowed through to the family taking shelter from the cold.

The family and my captain were far down the road. I walked behind the firemen blasting the fire hoses toward the house to extinguish the flames.

My captain handed me a manila envelope, and inside was all the paperwork that needed to be filled out. Some of the family members were warming up in the fire truck, so I gathered their information first: their ages, what medical needs they had, how much was lost in the fire.

Unfortunately, this call was simple: everything had been lost. All the fire left them were the clothes on their backs. I had been expecting a devastated inconsolable group of people to be waiting for me in the back of that fire truck, but what I found was a family who pulled together and told each other everything would be ok. There were only a few adults to care for many children and they would need as much help as we could provide. We called hotels to put them up for a few nights and gave them a card to Wal-Mart so they could buy food and clothing.

I was only there about four hours but I think I had a major impact helping those families get through their tragic situation. The Red Cross really is making a difference for the people they serve and hopefully will get many volunteers to help them.

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L Food For Thought Hannah Sizemore

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Bonner Beat Spring 2010

ast December I was inspired to become a vegan after reading Alicia Silverstone’s new book, The Kind Diet.

Interestingly enough, The Kind Diet has nothing to do with dieting at all. It’s about learning to eat compassionately by being kind to your body, animals and the earth. I was already a vegetarian so I was convinced that I was ready for a trial run with veganism.

I knew my parents wouldn’t be too psyched if I sprang this vegan thing on them for the holidays so I decided to start the first day of the new semester.

That’s right, three months on a plant based diet. No cheese, no eggs, no milk and definitely no hamburgers.

My motivations for trying veganism were overwhelming. Dairy and meat have both been linked to cancer and other diseases (partly from all the antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, and additives that the animals ingest).

The environmental reasons exist, too, for anyone who is going “green”.

The UN stated in 2006 that more environmental damage is caused by the agricultural industry than all of the transportation industry. But my main reason was definitely because of the disturbing things I have read regarding factory-farmed animals, such as dairy cows and egg-laying chickens.

I couldn’t possibly enjoy an omelet if I had to think about a chicken living its whole life in a cage, with its claws wrapped around the metal because it never gets to move. I think that if more people were aware of the treatment of the animals used for food, there would be a lot more vegans.

So how’s it going? In one word: amazing. I have actually never felt better. I have so much more energy, my skin is becoming close to flawless, and I lost a few pounds without even trying. The one question I am always asked is “but where do you get your protein?” Many people think that without gnawing on a chicken bone I’m at risk to fall over any minute.

But it’s easy to find protein in so many delicious ways, like bagels with veggie burgers, vegan cream cheese, bean burritos, quinoa, hummus, tofu stir-fry’s, tempeh, soy products, etc. My boyfriend Jesse decided in February that he wanted to try going vegetarian (hey, it’s a start!) and he’s loving it too. He keeps telling me about how much better he feels. It’s easy to find vegetarian options. We went to Moe’s in Lynchburg this weekend and ate two “Homewreckers” (with tofu of course), and he mentioned that he thinks he could eat tofu burritos forever. Me too, Jesse, me too.

Puppets Alamode No, they don’t come with ice cream Who they are:

Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

A non-profit made up of community members from college students to lifelong Lynchburg residents, led by director Barb Franz.

One of my favorite vegans is Isa Chandra Moscowitz. Her books are staples for any vegan starter. Here’s one from Vegan Brunch.

Because really, who doesn’t love muffins?

Makes 12 muffins INGREDIENTS: 2 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cups sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 5 teaspoons poppy seeds ½ teaspoon salt ¾ cup soy milk (or almond milk, or rice milk) ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ½ cup canola oil 2 tablespoons lemon zest 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Mission:

To allow individuals with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities the opportunity to be creative through music and the arts.

What they do:

Through partnerships with other community organizations, such as Lynchburg College, the Arc of Central Virginia, and Lynchburg Grows, Puppets Alamode works with individuals with disabilities to put on local puppet shows.

How to get involved:

Visit puppetsalamode.org to see what’s going on, send Barb an email, or help support this new community organization. New volunteers and puppeteers are always welcome!

DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat the oven to 375.

Lightly grease a muffin tin.

2. In a large mixing bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, poppy seeds, and salt. Make a well in the center and add milk, lemon juice, oil, zest, and vanilla. Mix just until all wet ingredients are moistened.

3. Fill the muffin tin threequarters full and bake for 23 to 27 minutes, until muffins are lightly browned on top and a toothpick or knife inserted through the center comes out clean. When cool enough to handle, transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

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Warm Faces, Cold Streets

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Ashley McHaney

magine walking down a New York City street on a frigid blustery night; Christmas is less than a week away. In your hand you are holding a blanket, toiletry bag, bottle of water, and sandwich.

You come upon a seemingly lifeless pile of blankets, cardboard, and newspaper. Someone walking with you gives you a nudge, letting you know that there is a person lying underneath those layers, trying to stay warm. You stop to unwrap and then unfold the blanket, gently placing it over the man lying on the cold hard sidewalks of New York. Startled, the man rises from underneath his makeshift shelter, curious why someone would be lending a kind hand to him during the late hours of the night.

Your eyes cannot help but be drawn to his bare hands and then to your own, clothed in warm gloves.

This is not a made up tale or a story I heard from a friend. This story was

part of my own visit to New York three months ago. I had the opportunity to travel to New York City, not to shop or see the sights, but to serve.

We spent our time with children, the homeless, and any other persons we saw in need on those six emotionally and spiritually stimulating days.

A month later on a trip to Washington, D.C. with my fellow Bonner Leaders of Lynchburg College, we were all ready to learn and experience whatever was thrown at us. The main mission of our trip, besides a great opportunity for bonding, was to learn about social media. But, during our first night at the youth hostel, our group of about thirty witnessed an event that opened our eyes. A panel of currently or formerly homeless people shared their testimonies and provided insights on how the homeless live. I discovered the definition of homelessness was not quite what I had thought. The federal definition of a homeless person

is “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence�. Our group also learned about the smaller issues troubling many homeless people, such as finding dry socks and being generally ignored.

We started to ponder, ask questions, and come up with ideas of how to take part in fighting for the homeless.

Some of our Bonner students have started to collect socks on campus, while others have been inspired to get an internship working with the homeless this summer. Maybe it will take seeing a homeless person faceto-face or hearing the personal story of a homeless person, or both, to spark a passion for this issue. Whatever it takes I hope that you will take a stand and fight for this issue, if that means buying a pair of socks and donating it to a homeless shelter or serving at a shelter regularly. Maybe you know someone that is or will be homeless, how could you help him or her?

Don’t see many homeless people in Lynchburg?

While the homeless are most visible in urban settings, about one quarter reside in rural areas. Rural areas have almost double the number of unsheltered persons in families compared to urban areas.

Despite being near Lynchburg City, our area of Central Virginia is considered mostly rural. And that means the nature of homelessness is quite different from what it is like in a major city. There are more children, women, and families using unsuitable shelters (like cars) rather than sleeping on city streets.

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Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence

16%

of the homeless population suffers from mental illness

1. Organize a clothing drive and donate the items to a local shelter.

A report by the US Conference of Mayors designated the five

“meanest cities”

in the United States based on the number of anti-homeless laws in the city, the severity of the penalties for breaking those laws, the general political climate toward homeless people in the city, the homeless local advocate support, and the criminalization legislation that has taken place in the city. Their findings were:

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Ways to do something about homelessness

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1. Sarasota, FL 2. Lawrence, KS 3. Little Rock, AR 4. Atlanta, GA 5. Las Vegas, NV

From January-June of 2008, there were

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reported assaults against homeless people and

of those have resulted in death.

The perpetrators of these crimes are youth, with the youngest reported age being

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years old.

of homeless men have served in the armed forces

2. Write your congressman or representative and urge them to support legislation that will benefit homeless people. If you are in the Washington, DC area, set up an appointment with a staffer in the congressional office and discuss the issues surrounding homelessness and poverty.

3. Volunteer with a local shelter or food bank 4. Organize a Faces of Homelessness Panel—The NCH has a speakers’ bureau consisting of formerly homeless or currently homeless individuals who come to speak about their experiences.

Contact Michael O’Neill, the Speakers’ Bureau Director at 202462-4822 ext. 223, or email him at moneill@nationalhomeless.org 5. Participate in a Homeless Challenge—spend 24 or 48 hours on the streets with homeless guides and learn about the challenges of being homeless first-hand. Call the National Coalition for the Homeless for more information at 202-462-4822.

National Coalition for the Homeless 2201 P. St. NW _ Washington, DC 20037 Phone: (202) 462-4822 _ Fax: (202) 462-4823 Email: info@nationalhomeless.org |Website: http://www.nationalhomeless.org

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Q&A With Lynchburg City Mayor Joan Foster LC alum‘69,’70 M.A.T., ‘85 M.Ed. Interview by Conor McFarland

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CM: What do you enjoy most about your job?

MF: The people, the interaction, and the relationship building. And that means not only here in this building, City Hall, but out in the community. I’m a people person, so being with all the members of our community-the policemen, and the firemen-and working with each group, that’s what I find most interesting.

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CM: Lynchburg has been going through a lot of its own changes over the past few years; the downtown revitalization is one example. What advice do you give to someone who wants to institute change in his or her community?

MF: You first have to see it yourself; you have to envision it. And you have to have the ability to take other people along with you on that vision. We have a wonderful city manager who I think got excited about the possibilities when he came here about downtown, and he certainly has had that ability, that leadership, that ability to be a visionary, to see, but to also be a realist. It also has to be contagious vision; it has to be something you present and throw out there so others can capture it too.

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CM: What part do you see volunteerism and community service playing here in Lynchburg?

MF: It’s extremely important. I think volunteers in this community have given us a tremendous leg up, particularly during the down economic times that we’ve gone through the last few years. Our community people will just respond either with equity like they do with habitat homes or with their own resources or by gathering a band of people around them. Like Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” So I think that a small dedicated band of people, be they volunteers or just committed to public service, can change a community into just a wonderful place. To me the Leaf project on the expressway is an example of someone who had a vision and expressed that vision to other people. As you’re passing through our city there are these little plantings and green spaces that make our city attractive and that can actually change a thruway that could be just a really “blah” place to something that is attractive. I actually have a couple living on my street that passed Lynchburg going back up north, and they said,

“Whoa, look at this place! Someone really must care.” They were driving on the expressway and seeing the plantings and the different companies that have financed it. They said, “Let’s get off and see what this community is really all about.” And when they got off, they said what excited them was the different revitalization going on in the normal parts of the city. And it actually made them move from Northern Virginia and retire here in Lynchburg. So, I think the community speaks volumes.

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CM: If you were starting over again, either back in college or starting your first job, what would you like to know?

What advice would you give yourself?

MF: I think like all college students, I had a really good time. I was an ok student, but probably would have studied harder. I went into education, but I probably would have liked to have been more involved in the community when I was going to college. That I did not really do. I actually worked at a store and helped put myself through college, but I didn’t have a lot of time to really give back. And it wasn’t until my senior year, when I volunteered to go to a school that more or less was a more challenged school, that I realized the importance of giving back and

6 How has service changed you, the way you see the community, the way you’ve been a part of it?

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When you volunteer you give a part of yourself, but you get back so much more. It’s even hard to put into words, a child’s bright eyed expression when they’re excited when you’ve just read something to them. Or when you ask a question that makes them think a little bit, or the gratitude of a family when you take them some food, a simple basic need that I take for granted. It’s priceless, what I get from it. I work everyday at a non-profit; we aren’t lingering or making the problem worse by giving them handouts. We’re actually showing them that here’s a new way that maybe I can help you if you want to get on this path toward education and finding self-sufficiency.

And I don’t even need a thank you for that.

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volunteering and being involved in the community that you are in. I would have loved to have a program like you all are involved in at Lynchburg College.

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CM: What’s your favorite type of service that you’ve done, or enjoy doing?

MF: Working with children. And as mayor I have drawn attention to early childhood literacy and how important that is. Also preschool nursery programs.

I have the Mayor’s Book Club and the Amazing Book Race through which I ask people in the community to give me books, brand new books, to give to children who do not have books in their home, their very own books, and to encourage their parents to read to them.

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CM: What’s one issue in Lynchburg that you think deserves more attention?

MF: I think it’s the family, and that some children never have the opportunity to have the security that a family may bring them. That children have family, that there’s a committed individual that truly loves and cares for them; that for me is just a problem-that whole family dysfunction.

If we as a community and as non-profits could all work together, instead of working on our own little islands doing our own little things, that would be excellent to me.

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CM: What’s an aspect of leadership that you think is often overlooked or underutilized?

MF: I think our interpersonal skills, our ability to interact. To put your inhibition down and just listen. And, if you are totally opposed to someone else’s thought, think, “Okay, how can we at least learn to reach an agreement to disagree and not hate one another.”

The ability to walk in another person’s shoes and to truly understand, that’s hard to do; I don’t do it all the time. I have my own preconceived notions and bias coming in, but we need to have an attitude adjustment.

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CM: What do you enjoy doing?

MF: I enjoy hanging out with my family, particularly with my mom who is soon to be 85 years old. I enjoy antiquing with her and just sitting down and listening to what life was like in her day and not to be worried about I’ve got this to do, I’ve got this to do, and I’ve got this to do. I wish that I would have more time to do that family thing. I think sometimes you are led to get into public service, you are led to be a volunteer. I really enjoy the time I have with my family.

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photos by Kim Davies

Solidarity Sleepers A guide to running a totally awesome event!

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Angela Massino

hy hello there. If you don’t know me, I’m Angela Massino. I’m rather eccentric and forgetful, but very passionate.

And I plan overly ambitious events like “Solidarity Sleepers.” If you saw about 22 smelly students sleeping out on the Dell or inside the Chapel with dirty spray painted shirts in November, then you saw a Solidarity Sleeper. The weeklong event was focused on giving students an opportunity to experience a simulated homeless situation, while simultaneously raising money for the two local shelters, Miriam’s House and Gateway. When I first came up with the idea I figured that maybe five people would sleep out survivor style and hopefully raise maybe 100 bucks. But when two dozen people showed up on the first night and raised nearly $2,000 by the closing night,

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I was gleefully surprised. One small idea spawned in my freshman year, turned into a surprising success two years later.

So here are a few tips, to save you from embarrassing moments, like sending out a campus-wide e-mail with a false fact that half of Americans live below the poverty line (totally not true).

event that pops into your mind. Then open up a new Word document and start categorizing things like ‘Name,’ ‘Summary,’ ‘Logistics,’ ‘Prizes,’ ‘Cost,’ and so on. Not only does this help with your own planning process, but you also look totally legit and prepared to use the school’s money wisely.

Numero Uno: An Idea. You must be very passionate about your idea and willing to work hard to bring the idea to life.

Just remember, if you are passionate about your idea and driven to make it happen, then you have the two key ingredients to starting your awareness raising for an awe inspiring event.

Step Number 3: Coalition Building. Okay, so Dean Eccles is super impressed, loves the idea, and even gave you funding.

Go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back, but, hold up, you’ve got a huge test this week, a group project, and, oh yeah, next weekend you signed up to volunteer at that 5K. When are you ever going to have enough time to pull this event together? That’s when you pop in the song “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and start recruiting. So how do you find people? If you are not already affiliated with an organization like >ahem< Bonner, then start looking for one that could really connect and benefit from the event. Coalition building is key. Just remember, when you tell them about the event make it relatable for them so they can feel good about their organization being a part of something significant.

In the end, this early recruitment will make the job easier on you and ultimately more successful because you are targeting a larger audience.

Step Number 2: Turn Your Idea into Action. This is where knowing people like Dean Eccles and Deborah Brown comes in handy, and, if you don’t know them, you should introduce yourself. While you may have a fantastic idea, you need strong backing from an administrator to get (A) support and (B) funding. Without these two things you will find yourself in creative limbo, with nowhere to turn but your imagination, daydreaming about this potentially great event.

Step Number 2.5: Pitching Your Idea.

Have you ever gone to class and realized “I totally forgot to prepare for this test”? Yeah, it’s a really sucky feeling. Maybe you haven’t had this experience. But I sure have and take my advice: being unprepared not only guarantees you an epic fail, but also makes you seem uncommitted.

First write down everything about the

And Step Number 4: Advertising. Too many ridiculously awesome events go unnoticed because of poor advertisement. And let’s be real, how many e-mails do we actually read from D. Brown. My favorite paperless, eco-

Bonner (Almost) Alumni Spotlight Some Bonners (all currently seniors) answer our questions Q1: When did you last do service and where?

Q2: What would you tell a new Bonner?

Q3: If you were starting a new non-profit, what would it be?

Angela Massino

friendly advertisement assault is video.

Although time consuming, if shown in the right arenas to the right people, it can be very effective. So experiment with creative advertising and the handy- dandy posters, Facebook events, and YouTube videos. Among college students, one of the most effective ways of getting the word out is by creating hype through person-to-person contact.

For example, if your friend is psyched about going to go see this movie that you have never heard of (even though you may have a paper due), you are more likely to go see the movie, right?

So spread the word, get pumped, get others pumped, and stay pumped.

Because that’s how you will really get people mobilized and excited to help and participate in the activity.

So this sounds like a lot of work and, I’m not going to lie, it definitely is. However, if you divide tasks effectively between people’s talents and stay relatively organized, becoming stressed is less likely to happen. While the event itself is always a fun time, especially if people show up, it is this journey of brainstorming, planning, and organizing that makes the outcome worthwhile. So give yourself a banana split for venturing into this unknown territory of student event planning. It’s not for everyone, but if you get energized and excited just thinking of potential ways to help local community members or educating others on important issues, then I say jump on the “Activism Express” and get rolling.

Because, who knows, the next great event you go to could be your own.

Kristin Bell A1: I would tell them to try out new volunteer places and to not just limit themselves to certain areas of service.

You might end up surprising yourself with what you really like to do. There are so many great opportunities and networking abilities within the program that I would advise Bonners to take advantage of.

A3: I think I would start a non-profit geared towards early education and child enrichment. I firmly believe that education and exposure to good values/ morals at an early age help to provide a firm foundation for good citizens in our society. The non-profit would be titled the “Stars” Program.

Laura Davis A2: I am volunteering with the Sexual Assault Response Program so I am on call six shifts a month. Otherwise, I last volunteered at Rebuilding Together in September.

A3: If I were starting a new non-profit, it would probably be a program to help women and children escaping domestic violence situations get back on their feet and find affordable and safe housing. Since I am interested in the legal field, I would also be interested in starting an organization centered on giving legal advice to those unable to hire a lawyer.

Vince Milone A3: I would start a non-profit learning center. It would help teach people life skills such as resume-building, budgeting and job interviews. My non profit would help the homeless as well as youth who need help getting out of an unsafe situation.

Tiffany Nious Joe Dicerbo

A1: Last semester I helped to teach a piano class for middle school students, created by the Jubilee Center and Amazement Square.

A2: Bonner is awesome; just make sure you have a planner and develop your time management skills.

A3: Music Therapy for youths in detention centers.

Joe Dicerbo, Elizabeth Brown, Angela Massino

Bonner Beat Spring 2010

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