Civic Consciousness
The Brotherhood aims to establish a group that serves the underserved in the community. It has achieved positive press coverage and brings together students from diverse backgrounds to become upstanding citizens through real-life experience and mentorship. The group serves to better the entire community by volunteering within organizations that improve quality of life. Through service learning and civic education, students participate in hands-on projects to help those in need while gaining skills and encouraging civic accountability. Strategic themes include accountability, service learning, civic education, engagement and identity. Short-term plans are to increase media presence, community networks and collaborations while ensuring consistent branding; long-term goals include developing a fundraising plan, enforcing volunteer hours, and promoting civic stewardship.
Civic Consciousness
- 1. The Brotherhood Civic Consciousness and Organizational Identity- Concept Paper Background- The goal has always been to establish a group that serves the underserved. Notable achievements have been a newspaper article in the Aurora Sentinel summarizing the positive impact of the group on the community. Students have ccome from all walks of life through to the group, and come outgraduate as upstanding citizens into the community. We have the opportunity to provide real life experience and mentorship to our members, which will prepare them for the next step, whatever that may be. Lessons Learned Visibility o Community and media engagement Branding and Identity o Strive for consistency between the larger nonprofit and chapters Telling our story o Streamlining the purpose and image we want to convey Clearly state goals and progress National Trends/External Picture: The Brotherhood serves to better the community as a whole beginning with the schools in which we are housed. We believe in returning the investment that our educators and mentors are providing our students by volunteering within community organizations, projects or events that serve to improve the quality of life for our community. The Brotherhood promotes and enlightens responsible citizenry committed to democratic principles as an organizational culture. Through service learning and civic education, students participate in projects to help or serve the needs of the community. By getting hands on experience, students experience the value and impact of giving to people and learn to be productive members of society. By encouraging civic accountability, students are afforded the opportunity to share and improve their talents while gaining new skills through helping those in need of assistance. Strategic Themes: Accountability (personal/organizational responsibility) Service Learning Civic Education Civic Engagement Civic Identity
- 2. Projected Costs: TBD Short and Long Term Plans: Increase media presence Increase community network Increase inter-charitable collaborations Ensure consistent branding Develop targeted marketing campaigns Long Term Plans: Develop a comprehensive development and fundraising plan Enforce minimum volunteer hours as commitment to the program/community Established identity as civic stewards and promoter of civic education Encourage students to pick an organization and create/implement action plans to help improve that organization. Encourage rotating volunteer commitments to organizations that each member has a personal interest in. Create visual portfolios to showcase the evolution of chosen organizational commitments