CC TrainingJanuary 21, 2012

FOCUS GROUP

Great Job Northeastern!

INTRO, MISSION, MEASURABLES

Please share:• Your Name• Your College• Your Major• How Long Have You Been CC’ing?• 1 Reason Why You Stay Involved in Generation

Citizen

Welcome to S12 CC Training!

• The mission of Generation Citizen is…• Generation Citizen’s mission is to empower

under-represented youth to become active participants in the democratic process.

GC’s Mission

Theory of Change (Pg. 4 CCHB)

CCs

CCs

CCs

CCs

Measurables (Pg. 7 in CCHB)

Recruitme

nt and Retention

# of college students at their chapter that apply to be Mentors by each recruitment deadline

Number and deadline determined semesterly

Demographic diversity of applied and placed mentors At least as diverse as campus demographic

% of Mentors retained over the course of the semester At or above 95%

% of eligible Mentors who participate in GC more than one semester At or above 50%

Mentor

Engageme

nt

% of placed Mentors that attend initial Mentor training At or above 95%

% of placed Mentors that attend any given chapter meeting or face-to-face event At or above 80%

% of placed Mentors that receive individualized feedback throughout the course of the semester At or above 95%

% of Mentors that complete all required surveys, including pre-survey, post-survey, and 2 self-surveys At or above 95%

Outcomes

% of Mentors that submit and work from an Action Plan aligned with advocacy training At or above 95%

% increase in student civic knowledge, skills, and motivation, as measured by student pre- and post- surveys See footnote

Self-surveys show an improvement in Mentor preparation, collaboration, and implementation over the semester

Improvement in percentages in footnote

Today’s Training

• The objective of today’s training is to help prepare you to achieve, and in fact be able to exceed these Measurables this semester.

• “Senior Chapter” Status (Pg. 5 in CCHB)• Knowing the above, share out: What Do You

Hope To Get Out of Today’s Training?

Training Goals

• Get to know one another and GC’s program staff• Clarify the CC role in the context of Generation Citizen’s mission• Identify sophisticated Mentor Recruitment strategies, and

finalize next steps for S12 Recruitment• Plan out S12 weekly events and ongoing Mentor coaching so as

to support strong outcomes• Learn what makes an effective Action Plan and practice editing

Plans• Become adept at using relevant documentation and systems

and locating resources

Anything we should change?

Training Agenda

12:00-12:30: Intro, Mission, Measurables12:30-1:40: Mentor RecruitmentBreak

1:50-3:00: Mentor Coaching and SupportBreak

3:10-4:10: Action Planning4:10-4:30: Review Scavenger Hunt4:30-5:00: Conclusion and Next Steps

Anything we should change?

MENTOR RECRUITMENT

Facebook and Twitter

• Facebook Page:– www.facebook.com/generationcitizen

• Facebook Group for Mentors:– Generation Citizen Mentors

• Any additional chapter pages/groups you would like

• Twitter:– Handle: GenCitizen – Hashtag: #GCspeaks

Let’s Make a Recruitment Plan

• As a group, let’s make a recruitment plan in Google Docs

• Call out: what type of Recruitment activities you have done or you are planning to do? List as many as possible

Now Let’s Make a Better Recruitment Plan

• Break up into chapter groups• Discuss and notate on paper/on the Google Doc:

– 1) Prioritization: If you could only do half the things on this list, which would you choose to ensure the highest-quality candidates?

– 2) Institutionalization: For as many tasks as possible, how could you develop a system or partnership so that this takes less time in future semesters?

– 3) Delegation: How could you divide responsibility on these tasks or delegate to others (Mentors/GC friends)?

– 4) Pacing: How could you start these activities earlier or time activities more efficiently to avoid last-minute scrambling?

StrategiesPrioritization Institutionalization Delegation

• Tabling because lots of emails generated, pinpoint different students (if have good tabling spots with traffic)

• Online information (because it’s easy, can add links, and students go)

• Partner organizations where students need community service hours

• Make sure that we are branding GC so that we stand out/are selective/are attractive

• Keeping track of who we contact and the message that we send to reference later

• Documents detailing what we do so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel (share with GC staff)

• Formalizing informal partnerships (student orgs, professors)

• Stock pictures that CCs can use (on google docs)- Civics Day, classroom

• Involve Mentors in social media (change profile pictures, share website and application link, statuses)

• Use Mentors’ skills, i.e. videography skills

• Ongoing recruitment: make sure Mentors are talking about GC throughout the semester (staff will formally collect surveys)

• Finding professors who can send it out

• Involve other networks (i.e. Mentors’ sports teams)

• Former Mentors

Recruitment Next Steps

• Make GC sound sexy– “service learning” vs just volunteer opportunity– Civics education “program”rather than just volunteering– Make sure what you say is straightforward– Talk about projects that students have done– Teaching opportunity – that they will be teaching in a classroom, esp. education majors– Resume-building experience– Tailor your message!– Possibly noting that we are selective – are you up to the challenge?– We are much more than volunteering/mentoring– We are different– We are Civics Ambassadors!– Way to see how to make a difference on a local level, if you are interested in issues of social justice – this is what you

actually get to see– Chance to meet politicians/elected officials– “civics” is not sexy, but reframing it – maybe “social justice” “education activism” “empowering youth”– Action-based, and student driven – emphasize student’s role– Learning experience: learn about yourself, your city– Shapes who you are in college – shapes your interest– Though be clear about commitment, hard work, expectations (make sure to sell it like it’s a privelege to be part of this,

that it is a challenge – “you might not make the cut” – emphasize our culture of high expectations and that we ask a lot– Personal recruitment – meet them 1 on 1, have coffee, make them feel special– Part of something that’s growing (but also recognize that we are not totall y ephemereal)– Can we have a name other than Mentor (Mentor is not unique, sounds like glorified babysitting)

MENTOR COACHING AND SUPPORT

Mentor Coaching and Support

CCs support positive civic engagement outcomes for both students and Mentors

Mentor

Engageme

nt

% of placed Mentors that attend initial Mentor training At or above 95%

% of placed Mentors that attend any given chapter meeting or face-to-face event At or above 80%

% of placed Mentors that receive individualized feedback throughout the course of the semester At or above 95%

% of Mentors that complete all required surveys, including pre-survey, post-survey, and 2 self-surveys At or above 95%

Outcomes

% of Mentors that submit and work from an Action Plan aligned with advocacy training At or above 95%

% increase in student civic knowledge, skills, and motivation, as measured by student pre- and post- surveys See footnote

Self-surveys show an improvement in Mentor preparation, collaboration, and implementation over the semester

Improvement in percentages in footnote

Coaching and Support Best Practices

• Veteran CCs share out:• What types of coaching and support activities were

most effective in supporting student outcomes?• What types of coaching and support activities were

most effective in helping Mentors grow their skills and become more civically engaged?

• What structures or systems made weekly meetings most effective and meaningful?

• What structures or activities most contributed to community-building within your chapter?

Maker and Cohen Evaluation Study

Characteristics of Successful Mentors:• Person-oriented

– Connect with your students as fellow humans– Think about teaching as a relationship between

mentor and student• Aligned with GC’s mission

– Review and internalize the GC mission. How does participating in GC relate to your interests in education/politics/social justice?

• Constantly honing their craft of mentorship– Reflect on areas for improvement– Set goals and seek assistance in meeting them

Read Maker and Cohen (under review) to learn more! Elena Maker has been a mentor and CC with GC in Providence, and did this as an independent study at Brown!

Coaching Expectations & Resources

STRUCTURAL CONTENT

• Mentor Training and Civics Day• 1 weekly face-to-face• Consistent 1-on-1 conversations• Action Plan review• Weekly call with all regional CCs

• Required topics from Training Menu• Additional topics as needed• Administer surveys• Adjust based on feedback

Advanced:• Lesson plan review• Classroom observations• Additional special events

Advanced:• Sophisticated coaching• Special projects for Generation

Citizen

RESOURCES:CC Handbook Pg. 22 Menu of Options, Rest of CC Handbook, i.e. Curriculum Framework and FAQs (Pg. 13-18), Mentor Handbook, Weebly CLC Section,Weekly Tracker (Chapter Trackers in Mentor Recruitment Support Documents)

Plan Out Your Semester

• 20 minutes: With these expectations and resources in mind, plan out your semester:– What topics will you deliver when?– Go into detail on Mentor Training: How Will You

Use Those 45 Minutes?• 10 minutes: Pair up with another group and

share out your plans. Give one another feedback.

ACTION PLANNING

Root Cause(s)

SMART approach

Specific?

Measureable?

Actionable?

Realistic?

Timely?

What is the CC’s Role?

• Your root cause is the reason behind your focus issue. It describes why the problem exists. (There may be more than one root cause, of course, but it's better to pick just one to work on right now.)

Understanding Root Cause

• Students feel unprepared for college requirements– Current course offerings lack relevant college prep– Information, materials, and opportunities available through

guidance counselors’ office are insufficient • Bullying is widespread between racial groups

– School lacks sense of community between diverse populations

– Appropriate consequences for it are vague and vary across the district

• Teen unemployment is high– Jobs are not easily accessible by public transportation– Students aren't getting jobs because they lack the skills local

employers desire

From Focus Issue to Root Cause

• Your goals are broad aims within your focus issue which are accomplished and measured in terms of your strategies.

• Sample goals include:– Get a voting student representative on the

academic affairs committee that starts meeting in March

– Reduce (by X%) the incidence of bullying in your city

– Boost teen employment by increasing job readiness for students in your neighborhood

Creating Goals

• Your strategies are the means by which you accomplish a goal.

• Sample strategies include:–Lobbying school board officials to create a

permanent student position–Convincing city council members to support

an important bill on bullying–Working with local employers to create an

after-school job training program

Choosing Strategies

• Your tactics are the tools by which you will accomplish your strategies.

• Sample tactics include:– Jointly publish op-ed with PTA president advocating

for student voice in local and school papers– Meeting with a councilman to present a list of

recommendations for bullying legislation– Survey local employers to find gaps between

students’ skills and employers’ needs

Choosing Tactics

Guided Practice

Root Cause(s): Abandoned lots enable gangs to congregate

SMAR

T Ap

proa

ch

• Hang posters with pictures of students who died due to drug use/gang violence• Use crime data, surveys, and videotaped evidence to compile report on dangers of these lots, their effect

on absenteeism, after-school participation• Get local churches and community organizations to publicly support campaign, turn out to public

meetings/hearings, accompany to lobbying meetings

Raise awareness of dangers of drug use/joining a gangLobby City Council to turn lots into community gardensSet up school gardening club to demonstrate interest in and readiness to care for gardensGenerate and demonstrate public support for land use changes

Independent Practice

• Pair up and practice editing Action PlansSMART

approach

Specific?

Measureable?

Actionable?

Realistic?

Timely?

Root Cause(s)

Independent Practice

Root Cause(s) Lack of job preparation and training

Independent Practice

Root Cause(s) Students do not have other opportunities to feel like a member of a community

Independent Practice

Root Cause(s) Students have to weave through heavy traffic unattended and with no protection

Independent Practice

Root Cause(s) School regulations concerning bullying are not enforced

Action Planning Resources

• Your CC Handbook, Pg. 32-39• Weebly: Advocacy Training slides• Weebly discussion forums• Other?

REVIEW SCAVENGER HUNT

10 Minutes To Submit An Email With:

• A list of 3 items that are measured on the Mentor self-survey• The number of Hispanic American students your chapter

should be aiming to recruit• The number of Mentor applications your college has at this

moment• A list of 2 things we look for in assessing a Mentor’s ability to

civically empower their class• One activity you might use as part of a weekly meeting on

“Understanding Your Community”• A tweet you might use to recruit that includes our Twitter

handle and our hashtag• The email addresses of 5 academic departments at your

college

Answers

• A list of 3 items that are measured on the Mentor self-survey Find in CCHB Pg. 7, 2nd footnote

• The number of Hispanic American students your chapter should be aiming to recruit Controlling Calendar CampusDiversityStatistics, then calculate as a % of your application goal (also Controlling Calendar)

• The number of Mentor applications your college has at this moment Salesforce Mentor Application Number report

• A list of 2 things we look for in assessing a Mentor’s ability to civically empower their class Classroom observations, CCHB

• One activity you might use as part of a weekly meeting on “Understanding Your Community” Weebly pull from CLC Trainings

• A tweet you might use to recruit that includes our Twitter handle and our hashtag something that includes @gencitizen, #Gcspeaks and appropriate text (uses correct language of our mission)

• The email addresses of 5 academic departments at your college Recruitment Channel Database

CONCLUSION AND NEXT STEPS

Training Goals Revisited

• Get to know one another and GC’s program staff• Clarify the CC role in the context of Generation Citizen’s mission• Identify sophisticated Mentor Recruitment strategies, and

finalize next steps for S12 Recruitment• Plan out S12 weekly events and ongoing Mentor coaching so as

to support strong outcomes• Learn what makes an effective Action Plan and practice editing

Plans• Become adept at using relevant documentation and systems

and locating resources

Did we accomplish our goals? Any lingering questions?

Next Steps

• Break up and make sure your group is clear on next steps. These should include the things you worked on today:– Recruitment next steps– A plan for the semester, including what you will

say at Mentor Training– Plans to update or involve anyone who wasn’t

here

Evaluation

• Quick go around: a word or phrase that describes how you feel going into S12 with Generation Citizen

• Please complete our exit survey

Thank you! Please join us for our social event!