CAL CORPS PUBLIC SERVICE CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
2009-2010 BONNER LEADERS PROGRAM INFORMATION
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Cal Corps Bonner Leaders make positive change across campus and in the community by leading projects and
programs designed in collaboration with community partners. Bonner Leaders engage in social action, transforming their
own lives and the lives of students, their campuses, their local communities, and the world.
The Cal Corps Public Service Center at UC Berkeley is entering its eighth year of hosting the Bonner Leaders Program.
For 40 years, Cal Corps students have led public service and social change programs.
While Bonner Leader positions vary in scope and responsibility, the program is grounded in the following Cal Corps
philosophy:
* Social change for a healthy and just community starts with and within the individual, and proceeds with
action based on an analysis of unjust social conditions;
* Genuine partnerships with students, faculty, and community members are the key to developing and
implementing effective programs to meet the most pressing needs of our society; and
* Leadership is a relational process of people attempting to accomplish change together or make a
difference to benefit the common good.
For the academic year of 2009-2010, we are recruiting a group of 40 Bonner Leaders to serve as social change agents
by:
* Providing direct, hands on service to the surrounding East Bay communities – especially South Berkeley
and Oakland – for example through tutoring or mentoring;
* Coordinating and managing student volunteers and programs within Cal Corps, including advising and
supporting fellow students in their public service efforts;
* Organizing and connecting campus and community leaders and agencies; and
* Developing lifelong personal and hands-on practical leadership skills
Complete descriptions of all Bonner positions are available online at http://calcorps.berkeley.edu/bonner.html
BENEFITS
By participating in the program, students receive a number of benefits, including:
* A $1000 scholarship upon completion of 300 hours that can be used for future educational expenses
* Connecting with other Cal students committed to making change in their communities
* Leadership, personal, and professional skills training, including 1:1 advising, discussions of social
issues and opportunities to make academic and personal connections to service. Hands-on, practical
leadership skills you might develop include: the ability to work with diverse groups and critical thinking
* Membership in the nationally recognized Bonner Leaders Program, a network of student leaders that
spans 75 campuses across the country; and serve as one of the over 50,000 AmeriCorps members
nationwide
* 2 units per semester (optional)
COMMITMENTS
Student leaders participating in the Bonner Leaders Program are placed in an internship through Cal Corps under the
guidance of professional staff. As part of their placements, Bonner Leaders commit to:
* 6-8 hours weekly of coordinating social action work;
* Participation in 2 additional (Saturday) service days: Oct/Nov, 2009 (Berkeley Project, TBD)
January 18th, 2010 - MLK Day of Service
* Large and small group workshops, every Wednesday, 5:30-7:00pm, as part of 50 hours of personal and
leadership development that also includes:
- Pre-service Orientation, May 12th, 2009, 3:00-4:30pm
- 1-night/2-day overnight retreat, Thursday, August 19th -Friday August 20th, 2009
- Student Leaders in Service Retreat, Saturday October 16th, 2009 (tentative)
- 1 full-day mid-year retreat, January 17th, 2010
- Participation in Cal Leadership Symposium - Saturday, January tk, 2010
* Regular meetings with supervisor and Cal Corps staff advisor
* End-of-semester reflection papers
APPLICATION PROCESS
I. Thursday, March 12, 2009 by 11:59pm - Applications DUE
II. March 17-19, 2009 - Group interviews conducted
III. Friday, March 20, 2009 - Candidates Notified of Individual Interview
IV. Wed-Fri, April 1-3, 2009 - VM Cohort only: Individual Interviews with Community Site Supervisors
V. Saturday, April 5, 2009 - Program Managers Cohort Only: Individual Interviews
VI. Tuesday, April 7, 2008 - Offers Announced
VII. Tuesday, April 14, 2009 - Applicants must accept/decline offers
VIII. Wednesday, April 29, 2009, 5:30-7:00pm - Leadership transition meeting with out-going Bonner Leaders
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* Informational Sessions will be held at the following dates and times:
Thursday, February 19, 2009 5:00-6:00pm Madrone East, 4th Flr MLK
Thursday, March 6, 2009 6:00-7:00pm Madrone East, 4th Flr MLK
Monday, March 9, 2009 5:00-6:00pm Madrone West, 4th Flr MLK
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
* All positions are open until filled
* All applicants must attend a group interview
* Program information and application can be picked up in 505 Eshleman Hall or 102 Sproul or downloaded
from calcorps.berkeley.edu
* Complete descriptions of all Bonner positions are available online at
http://students.berkeley.edu/osl/calcorps.asp?id=1102
* Note that some positions require two-year commitments (900-hours, $2,362 education award)
* Students selected in the program will begin their placements in August 2009, but must attend BOTH a
Leadership Transition Meeting on April 29th (5:30-7:00pm) AND a Pre-service Orientation on May 12th
(3:00-4:30pm)
* Students cannot participate in both Bonner Leaders and Cal Corps Alternative Breaks OR Bluprint
Program offered through Center for Student Leadership within Campus Life and Leadership
Thank you for your interest in the Bonner Leaders Program. We look forward to reviewing your application!
If you have any further questions, please contact
Mike Bishop at 510.642.7811 or email bishop@berkeley.edu