ICOVA 2012 – CHICAGO, IL
Yangyang Zong, Program Manager, Project on Civic Reflection
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?
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What is Civic Reflection?
Sample Discussion
Benefits and Integration
Project on Civic
Reflection
Established in 1998 at
Valparaiso University
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Founding support from Lilly
Endowment
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Offices in Chicago and
Valparaiso, IN
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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.
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What We Do
◦ Lead reflective discussions
◦ Train facilitators
◦ Consult and coach reflection and dialogue programming
◦ Develop resources
◦ Make the case for reflection and dialogue
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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 Life
Scholarly
Civic
Presentation
Dialogue
Civic Reflection
Participants
Readings
Reading Group
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Service and Volunteerism
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Education
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Arts and Culture
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Healthcare and Social Services
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Faith and Interfaith
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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
COMMUNITY
COMMITMENT
Increases
understanding
of our own
values and
ways of seeing
the world
Improves
relationships
with colleagues
and with those
we serve
Sustains
engagement and
increases morale
Write down one question that you
have moving forward about your
own work or service.
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Civic Engagement
◦ Deeper understanding of one’s and others’ own purpose and motivation
◦ Increased understanding of the complexities of civic work
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Community Building/Development
◦ Stronger sense of connection, belonging and trust
◦ Create community among volunteers -> greater participation level
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Retention and Sustainability
◦ Improved morale
◦ Deepened commitment
◦ Improved relationships and stronger sense of connection to colleagues and
communities served
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All above…
Skill Building
◦ Facilitation and dialogue skills
◦ Improved interpersonal communication
◦ Improved listening skills
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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
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Make the time – be intentional
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Focus on integration
◦ Existing volunteering activities
◦ Monthly meetings, Service Days
◦ Flexible format – 15-45 minutes
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Monthly discussion among staff
◦ 6 staff members trained through Facilitation
Training in 2012
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Discussion between volunteers and clients
◦ 26 volunteers and clients at the St. Leonard’s House
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Discussion among volunteer
◦ Service Day
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www.civicreflection.org
Publications:
◦ Taking Action (Great Books Foundation, 2012)
◦ The Civically Engaged Reader (Great Books Foundation,
2009)
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People – staff at the PCR, a nation-wide network of
facilitators
Open-call facilitation training workshops 3-4 times
a year in Chicago
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October 18-19, 2012 – downtown Chicago
January 24-25, 2013 – downtown Chicago
Q&A Session
Thank you!