SERVICE-LEARNING THROUGH
MINDING OUR BUSINESS
1997-2015
PRESENTED BY
SIGFREDO HERNANDEZ
Student Engagement Through Civic
Engagement
 Rider students have a chance to make a difference in
the community by advancing the development of lowincome youth.
 This is a pure service-learning course. Civic
engagement is the course and entrepreneurship,
leadership, and team facilitation are embedded in the
learning experience.
Service-Learning Program
 Rider University students mentor groups of
Trenton public school students
 Trenton students in MOB:




2/3 female
11-14 years old
Black or Latino
Poor
 Training conference, field experience and a class
experience.
Program Objectives
 Improve Academic Involvement
 Improve Communication, Team, Leadership and
Entrepreneurship Skills
 Improve Self-Efficacy/Self-Confidence
 Increase Interest in Going to College
 Increase Interest in Becoming an Entrepreneur
LDP 220 Course Objectives
Objectives
1. Develop a strong sense of social responsibility for the
youth of the Trenton middle-schools
2. Become a more effective team player.
3. Develop mentoring and team facilitation skills.
4. Improve leadership skills, in terms of the ability to take
actions that help the group complete its goals and
maintaining effective working relationships.
5. Improve communication skills, in particular active
listening.
6. Develop sensitivity and respect for social class, ethnic and
racial diversity.
7. Apply the basic concepts of entrepreneurship to a student
run business.
9. Facilitate the process of starting and running a business.
10. Set up a projected income statement for a small business.
Level of Thinking
Affective/Moral
Skill Development
Skill Development
Skill Development
Skill Development
Skill Development
Affective/Moral
Application
Application
Application
Class Experience
 Three knowledge areas: entrepreneurship, leadership
and team facilitation
 Team Learning (Michaelsen 1994). Mentors in their
teams apply concepts in class and in the field.
 Reflection is where the learning takes place – weekly
journal writings and collective class reflection.
Training Conference
Training Conference
 Mentors receive 17 hours of training at Weekend-Long
Training Conference
 Mentors learn their role as mentors-facilitators.
 Mentors learn how to facilitate the 12 week
entrepreneurship curriculum.
 Mentors get to know their co-mentors.
THE FIELD EXPERIENCE
Field Experience
The MOB Roadmap

 Session 1: Building a Team
I

 Session 2: Building a
Team II

 Session 3: Introduction to
Entrepreneurship

 Session 4: Selecting &

Naming Your Business
 Session 5: Pricing &

Promoting Your Business
 Session 6: Advertising

that Works
Session 7: Your Business
Plan
Session 8: Business Plan
Presentations
Session 9: Getting Ready
for Market Fair
Session 10: Market Fair
Session 11: Sharing
Successes & Challenges
Session 12: Visit to Area
Businesses
Session 13: Reflection
&Next Steps
Long-Term Impact on Trenton Alumni
1997-2005
AREA
IMPACT
Became better students
More interested in college
College degree or in college
Developed important work
and life skills
Started businesses
90%
66%
50%
66%
Planning to start a business
50%
33%
Long-Term Impact on Rider Alumni
Mentors 1997-2005
AREA
MOB learning experience
better than other courses.
Community service
important after graduation
Favorable impact on career
plans
Helped prepare them for
the world of work.
Development of important
work/ life skills
IMPACT
87%
62%
70%
79%
75%
End-of Semester Mentor Journals –
Selected Quotes
 “This class is based around a life changing program.”
 “I learned that I’m capable of helping others… that I
have some things in common with all the children… I
am definitely not the same person I was.”
 “In the future I would definitely like to work more with
kids at some point, whether is coaching or teaching or
mentoring, the experience you get from kids is like none
other.”
 “I feel that MOB is the best thing that happened to my
life, overall, in quite some time. The things I will take
away from this class have and will continue to change
my life.”
 “My life plans are still to own my business, and MOB
has helped me realize that I cannot see myself doing