This is a presentation for Bonner Programs who are working to do issue briefs, especially in a co-curricular context. This covers some of the main purposes, steps, and strategies.

1. ISSUE PROFILES AND BRIEFS
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

2. THE BIG PICTURE
Bonner Scholars and Leaders
did 284,165 hours of
community service in
2008-2009
We worked in schools,
shelters, soup kitchens, parks,
art centers, youth centers,
and many other non-profits
How did we make a
difference?

3. OUR WORK IS A MOVEMENT
Bonner Programs at
80+ colleges &
universities
Each one works
with 10-100
students
Each has 10-200
community partners
We work across
common issues to
make a difference

4. PRESSING, COMPLEX ISSUES
Arts and Culture
Criminal Justice and Violence Prevention
Economic Development
Education - Adult and ESL
Education - Early Childhood
Education - Elementary
Education - Middle and High School
Environment
Health and Mental Health
Homelessness and Hunger
Immigration and Refugees
Poverty Reduction
Youth Development

5. LOTS OF ACTIVITY IS
HAPPENING
On a campus,
many different
individuals and
groups may be
working on
Clubs &
projects that Faculty &
Organizations
can help Departments Students
communities
and address
these issues
Partners,
Administrators Alumni,
Families

6. IN MANY
FRAGMENTED AREAS
The work can
happen in
many settings
and take
many forms. Course
Forums
Community
based
service
projects
Resource
Development
Institutional
Policies

7. HOW CAN WE BRING IT
TOGETHER?
What if we work to
understand the pieces
of our work and their
interconnections?
What if we go
deeper to find out
how we might make a
long-lasting and
systemic difference?
What could we achieve
if we collectively
take action to
address these issues?

8. FIRST, LET’S MAP WHAT’S
HAPPENING ON CAMPUS
Campus Profile
Types of Service
Academic Work
Education & Training
Campus &
Organizational
Capacity Building
Research, Policy
Analysis &
Deliberative
Democracy

9. NEXT, FOCUS IN ON
ONE ISSUE & TOPIC
An Issue Brief
Topic
Discuss ideas with
community partner
Focus on a program
model or a related
set of policies
Get input from
Bonner staff
Narrow and make a
decision

10. NEXT, FOCUS IN ON
ONE ISSUE & TOPIC
The Topic Should
Be:
Real
It matters to
someone (a Forum or Town Meeting Improving a Program
partner, agency,
individual or group)
Use feedback
Besides the issue
brief, what will be
the products? Public Education or Advocacy Developing a Proposal

11. NEXT, DO POLICY RESEARCH
Use the resources
Visit http://
policyoptions.org
You can post your
topics and notes on
Davidson Working
Group Page
Check out other
examples

12. NEXT, DO POLICY RESEARCH
Use the resources
Detailed Research &
Writing Guide
Divide up the work
Make a research
plan that fits your
timeframe

13. WHAT RESEARCH TO DO
Who to Consult
Community Partners & Experts
Professors & academic departments
City and local government
Sources of Information Phone call interviews with topic experts
Internet Searches
Library Research
Interviews
Keep a Bibliography
Face-to-face meetings on and off campus

14. YOUR ISSUE BRIEF CAN BE
SHARED ONLINE
You’ll be able to:
Share research with
others addressing a
similar topic
Have multiple
editors
Help build out our
collective
knowledge of this
work

15. SO NOW WHAT?
Let’s share questions, ideas, strategies....