Enriched, Enlivened & Engaged: Creating Community Among Volunteers Tricia Brooks and Allison...

Enriched, Enlivened & Engaged: Creating Community

Among Volunteers

Tricia Brooks and Allison RuncheyMinnesota Literacy Council

November 4, 2011

•Overview

•Elements of Community

•Reflection and Self-assessment

•Discussion

Overview

• What is “community”?

•What are the benefits of community?

• What happens when there isn’t a strong community?

Elements of CommunityFrom McMillian and Chavis (1986)

Integration and Fulfillment of Needs

Membership

Shared Emotional Connection

Influence

Membership

•Boundaries

•Emotional safety

•A sense of belonging and identification

•Personal investment

•A common symbol system

Membership

Ideas

- Welcome new members and creating a welcoming environment

- Regular and ongoing communication

(in person, newsletters, email, phone, mail)

-Nametags

-Using symbols and logos

-Certificate and materials from training

- T-shirts

Influence

• Members of a group are motivated to participate because they can influence the group.

•A group is cohesive because it has influence over its members.

InfluenceIdeas

-Placement Decisions

-Surveys/Evaluations

-Sharing successes with group

-Creating Structure

-Providing leadership opportunities for experienced volunteers

Integration and Fulfillment of

Needs

•Members are an integral part of the group and their motivations for volunteering are fulfilled.

•The tools and knowledge required to be effective.

Integration and Fulfillment of

Needs

Ideas

- Tour and introductions

- Placement based on their interests and goals

- Sense of purpose or worth

- Trainings

- Recognition events and awards

- Resources (library)

Shared Emotional

Connection“’It seems to be the definitive element for true community’” (McMillan & Chavis 1986)

Members support each other and have a history of shared experiences or events.

Shared Emotional

ConnectionIdeas

• Make a personal connection with each volunteer

• Movie nights and book discussions

• Require sustained commitment

• Training workshops

• Social Networking: Facebook, Ning, Blog

• New idea

Reflection and Self-

assessment

Strengths

Challenges

Scenarios

Thoughts and Evaluations

Tricia Brooks tbrooks@themlc.org

Allison Runchey arunchey@themlc.org