Democracy Housecenter for Community Engagement & Service Learning

Democracy HouseCenter for Community Engagement & Service Learning

Raritan Hall 005A, 2600 Woodbridge Avenue, Edison, NJ 08818

P: 732-548-6000 ext. 3262; E-Mail:

September4, 2012

Dear Student,

Welcome To/Welcome Back To Middlesex County College! If you are eligible for Work Study/Financial Aid, we would like to invite you to apply to the College’s nationally recognized community service scholarship program as your Work Study placement. The Bonner AmeriCorps program at Democracy House focuses on engaging students in meaningful community service and leadership activities. Our Bonner AmeriCorps program, is a part of a national network established by the Bonner Foundation located in Princeton, NJ and includes more than seventy-five campuses across the country, many in which MCC Bonners have transferred to, some even receiving full scholarships. See a list of Bonner Schools.

Here at MCC, we call the Bonner AmeriCorps program our ‘domestic Peace Corps’. Each year, we select a small, diverse team of students and connect them with service opportunities in the local community. This year students will be working with two community partners located in New Brunswick, NJ: Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen and the EMPOWER mentoring program. The former works on issues of hunger, homelessness and poverty, the latter works with New Brunswick high school students on mentorship, college readiness and general life skill training. Democracy House is also involved with various other service opportunities including adult literacy, youth development, the environment and immigration. Bonners gain critical experience and knowledge that enhance both their collegeportfolio and future professional opportunities.

If you are interested in applying, please complete the enclosed application and recommendation forms by Friday, September 21st, 2012. You may drop it off in person at Raritan Hall 005A or email it to . Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview to take place in late September. This will count as your work study placement and you may also receive an additional AmeriCorps education stipend. If you have any questions, please email our staff at .

Thank you for your time and good luck in the upcoming semester.

Sincerely,

Jessica Gulutz, Bonner Coordinator, Democracy House

Dr. Jennifer Altman, Faculty Director, Democracy House

NOTE: You must be eligible for Work Study/Financial Aid to apply for this program.

I. BASIC INFORMATION

Name: ______Student Identification Number:______

Home Address:______

Home Telephone: ______Cell Phone: ______Email Address: ______

Major: ______Number of classes this semester: ______GPA: ______

Expected year of Graduation: ______Are you eligible for work study/financial aid? _____ (MANDATORY)

*If you are not sure whether you are eligible, please contact the Financial Aid office at x3520

Do you have available transportation? ______(not required)

II. PROGRAM DETAILS AND MANDATORY DATES (Dates subject to change)

The Bonner AmeriCorps Program entails 300 hours of community service and related activities during the 2012-13 academic year (on average 10-12 hours per week). It includes: 1) weekly meetings with the Bonner Coordinator; 2) service at a local community partner and 3) trainings, conferences, and other educational opportunities related to community engagement and the Bonner Program[1].

The Mandatory Dates (as determined by the Bonner Foundation) include the following:

Weekly All Corps Meeting - Every Monday, 11:00a.m. -12:30 p.m. - Raritan Hall 005
Orientation, Early October
Elijah’s Promise Turkey Trot, Sunday, November 4th, 1:00 p.m.
NJ Bonner Leader Program Summit – January 2013
MLK Day of Service – January 2013
End of the Year Bonner Event - May, 2013

Would these days/times conflict with your schedule? If yes, explain.

Will you be able to serve 10-12 hours a week consistently throughout the year? Yes ____ No ____

Do you have any major commitments planned for the upcoming year?

III. SITE PREFERENCE

Bonners will be placed with one of the following community partners. Please circle your preference.

Elijah’s Promise – 18 Nielson Street, New Brunswick, NJ

(Related Service Issues: Hunger and Homelessness)

Elijah’s Promise, which started as a small soup kitchen in New Brunswick, has evolved into one of the leading antipoverty organizations in the area. Their programs include the soup kitchen, a culinary school, job training, community gardens and a community café. This team will also work closely with the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance and students will be placed with one of the Alliance’s five working groups.

EMPOWER – MCC New Brunswick Center, 140 New Street, New Brunswick, NJ

(Related Service Issues: College Access, Youth Development, Immigration and ESL)

EMPOWER (Encouraging & Mentoring Peers on Work and Education Readiness) serves New Brunswick High school students hoping to attend college. Volunteers mentor and tutor the students in schoolwork, English as a Second Language and college preparation. Bonners assist in workshops on issues including banking, healthy relationships, preventing domestic abuse, etc. The high school students will also be linked through our EMPOWER Bonners in community service opportunities with the New Brunswick Community Food Alliance.

IV. PERSONAL STATEMENTS

1. Describe two skills or talents that you can bring to your service work. Also, please describe one or two areas of yourself that you would like to improve. How are you working to improve these areas?

______

2. Short Essay - Please use additional pages to respond thoughtfully and honestly to the following:

One-page typed statement explaining why you should be accepted into this program. Please include the following themes, as well as anything else you would like to share:

Relevant work/volunteer experience
Social/Community issues that interest you the most
Goals/expectations you would like to fulfill as a Bonner

V. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION- Please provide two recommendations (use attached form) from a former teacher, community member, advisor, guidance counselor, etc.

Application and Recommendations due Friday, September21st, 2012

Democracy House Center for Community Engagement & Service Learning

Middlesex County College, Raritan Hall 005A

2600 Woodbridge Ave, Edison, NJ 08818

Phone: (732) 548-6000 x3262 Fax: (732) 932-1207

Middlesex County College Bonner AmeriCorps Program[2]

Recommendation Form due Friday, September 21st, 2012

The individual named below has indicated that you have stated your willingness to serve as a reference for his or her application to the Bonner AmeriCorps Program. This is a competitive Federal AmeriCorps program that looks for highly committed students to perform approximately 300 hours of community service with a local community agency. We are seeking students with the necessary academic, social skills, and high level of commitment to perform effectively as agents of change in thecommunity. Your insight will be invaluable to our decisions and greatly appreciated. Please fax or email completed form by Friday, September 21st, 2012 to (732) 603-7049 or . Any questions may be directed to the Bonner Coordinator, Jessica Gulutz at (732) 548-6000 x3361.

Name of Applicant: ______

Name of Recommender: ______Position/Relationship: ______

E-mail: ______Phone: ______Fax: ______

Please answer the questions below, using the scale provided (1 being lowest; 5 being highest).

5 = Excellent, top 5%; 4 = Very good, top 20%; 3 = Good to average top 50%;

2 = Average to poor, bottom 50%; 1 = Very poor, bottom 20%

Please assess this student's: / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 / Can’t Assess (explain)
Reliability and follow-through
Concern for others
Oral communication skills
Overall intellectual ability
Seriousness aboutwork
Initiative
Ability to work well with others

Would you recommend this student for the program? Yes______No ______

Please explain and provide any relevant comments below:

*This recommendation will be held in strict confidence.