Anticipatory Set:

Places of work or learning are most effective when people trust and feel safe speaking up and being themselves. Ask the learners to imagine what a "community of trusted learners" would be like and how it would be different than a traditional classroom of students. One idea is when misunderstandings arise, group members make the effort to work them out. When people hold in their differences, it results in resentment or conflict. In a community built on trust, learners promote communication and understanding as they try to be fair and cooperative.
Project the following questions on the board as categories to brainstorm. The learners use these as a guide to describe what a "community of trusted learners" would look like.
- What are the facts?
- What are the benefits?
- What are the judgments (what could be wrong)?
- What are the feelings?
- What creative new ideas are possible?
- How can we put ideas into action?
Have learners stand on a line from one to ten to show where they think their group falls in trustworthiness from 1 (unsafe) to 10 (extremely trustworthy). Discuss the outcome and how their group could move along the continuum to become more trustworthy.

Philanthropy Framework

Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
  1. Benchmark MS.4 Give examples of how individuals have helped others.
Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
1. Standard PCS 01. Self, citizenship, and society
  1. Benchmark MS.1 Define the phrase <i>community/social capital</i> and discuss how it relates to all communities.

Community of Trusted Learners