In our ALA 174 class, we were tasked with creating a final project that would give back to and
engage the community. Our team, Hail Yeah!, rose to the challenge by hosting \u201cBond Beyond:
Boards and Buddies,\u201d an event centered around the theme of mystery. The goal was to facilitate
Inclusion, Connection, and Collaboration, the three pillars of our project, through fun and
interactive activities.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Event Highlights Leadership Growth Through BLI Habits Always Ask Expect Challenges Lessons for the Future Thank You! In our ALA 174 class, we were tasked with creating a final project that would give back to andengage the community. Our team, Hail Yeah!, rose to the challenge by hosting \u201cBond Beyond:Boards and Buddies,\u201d an event centered around the theme of mystery. The goal was to facilitateInclusion, Connection, and Collaboration, the three pillars of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":391,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,12,14],"tags":[64,93,219,221,322],"class_list":["post-2767","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-funding","category-project-grants","category-small-grants","tag-bli","tag-community","tag-leadership","tag-leadership-lab","tag-small-grant"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/391"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2767"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2911,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2767\/revisions\/2911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2767"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2767"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/courses.lsa.umich.edu\/studentvoices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2767"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/strong>To achieve our objectives, we designed three main activities that kept participants engaged while
encouraging meaningful connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
We kicked off the event with icebreakers designed to help participants connect beyond
surface-level interactions. In one activity, participants paired up to share fun personal facts,
sparking one-on-one connections. Another icebreaker involved teamwork, where groups worked
together to solve puzzles with mystery-themed elements. These activities set the tone for the
event, creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Next, we transitioned into a trivia segment with a diverse array of questions covering topics from
pop culture to history. We carefully balanced the difficulty to ensure it was challenging yet
accessible for everyone. The friendly competition encouraged collaboration within teams, as
participants pooled their knowledge to answer the questions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Finally, we hosted a \u201chow-to-play Euchre\u201d session, providing step-by-step instructions for
newcomers. For those already familiar with the game, this was an opportunity to help teach
others or jump straight into playing. To ensure everyone had options, we also offered other
mystery-themed board games, allowing participants to choose what resonated most with them.
This segment was particularly effective in fostering collaboration and deepening connections
among attendees.
Overcoming Challenges
Like any project, our event came with its share of challenges. The most notable was figuring out
how to use the room\u2019s projector system. Despite some initial hiccups, we resolved the issue by
arriving early and giving ourselves ample time for setup. This proactive approach ensured the
event ran smoothly and reaffirmed the importance of anticipating potential obstacles.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Throughout the project, we developed critical leadership skills by embracing two key BLI Habits:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Curiosity played a central role in our planning and execution. For example, during the free play
segment, we actively gauged participants\u2019 interest in learning Euchre. When we noticed some
preferred other activities, we seamlessly pivoted to a backup plan involving a large-group
mystery game. This adaptability ensured we met participants\u2019 needs without compromising the
event\u2019s goals.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>We also leaned into the habit of expecting challenges. From the start, we anticipated potential
hurdles and built extra time into our setup. This proactive approach allowed us to stay calm and
problem-solve effectively when we encountered technical difficulties with the projector.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>The lessons we learned through this project will guide us in future endeavors. First, we\u2019ll
continue to prioritize asking the people we aim to serve what they truly need, rather than
assuming or projecting our own ideas. Embracing challenges as a natural part of growth will
enable us to face obstacles with greater confidence and resilience
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>We are extremely grateful to everyone who attended \u201cBond Beyond: Boards and Buddies.\u201d Your
energy and enthusiasm made the event a success. We hope the connections you formed and the
experiences you shared inspire you to find meaningful ways to contribute to your own
communities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"