Through participation in 4Boston students will:

1. Engage their communities beyond Boston College, through regular volunteering, civic advocacy, and professional discernment
   
   
2. Cultivate regular spiritual practices and habits of discernment and reflection.
   
   
3. Identify systemic pathways of injustice, consider their individual privileges and proximity to marginalized communities, 并将他们对这些系统的日常理解和经验融入日常选择中.

What is the volunteer application process?

有兴趣的学生应在通过校园部网站在线申请之前参加信息会议. 信息会议通常在每年8月底和9月初举行，提供机会了解更多关于各种社区合作伙伴和4Boston的日常经验.

所有参与者，无论是新的还是返回的，必须在每年秋天完成在线申请. The application asks for basic personal information, brief short-answer responses (for new applicants only), and schedule availability. From there, 申请将被审查，学生可能会被邀请或不被邀请参加面试，以与4Boston社区合作伙伴进行匹配. Due to the high volume of applicants and matching process, 学生在在线申请中报告的最大时间可用性是成功匹配志愿者的最大预测指标.

What is the time commitment?
参加4Boston是一个重要的，为期一年的承诺，从10月到4月. We ask all volunteers to dedicate a minimum of 5 hours per-week. Additionally, 我们要求所有参与者全年参加3 - 4个强制性项目活动.

How do volunteers get to community partners?
4Boston relies heavily on the MBTA for transportation to and from community partners, and annually distributes Charlie Cards to volunteers. 大多数4波士顿志愿者使用这些卡乘坐火车或公共汽车到他们的社区合作伙伴. 4Boston also distributes a select number of Lyft codes each year, 专门为在难以通过MBTA进入的站点服务的志愿者保留. A few 4Boston partners are within walking distance from BC’s campus. Additionally, 一些有车辆和停车位的学生可能会选择自己开车或拼车去他们的班次.

What do volunteers do?
4Boston’s community partners broadly span the categories of: Healthcare (i.e. Perkins School for the Blind), Social Service (i.e. St. Francis House), Education (i.e. EVKids).

Within these categories, however, the work of 4Boston varies widely, including a foot washing clinic, disability care and education, eldercare, preschool, adult education, prison education, after school mentoring, classroom support, shelters for adult men and women, and youth shelters.

Do I have to be Catholic to participate?
我们的志愿者工作和小组反思提出了关于生命意义和目的的普遍问题. 而波士顿依靠犹太教-基督教传统和依纳爵精神来解决这些和其他问题, 欢迎各种信仰和没有特定宗教信仰的人参加4Boston.

What paperwork do volunteers need to fill out in order to participate?
在志愿者开始之前，每个4Boston社区合作伙伴都需要一套不同的吸收表格, including, but not limited to:

• Vaccination records
• Background checks
• Fingerprinting

Once matched with a community partner, volunteers should confirm with their student leader what documents, if any, they need to submit. 所有志愿者必须参加9月份的第4届波士顿试运行，具体的现场文书工作和指导将在本次活动中进行.

What happens when my Charlie Card runs out?
Charlie Cards are distributed at the 4Boston Commissioning in September of each year.
如果您需要更换查理卡，您可以在办公时间从位于卡尼373的4波士顿学生办公室领取新卡.

To confirm 4Boston office hours, contact Joseph Citera

How do I get a 4Boston shirt?
Shirts will be available for purchase online. Shirts can be purchased or picked up during 4Boston office hours. All volunteer shirt pre-orders will be distributed at the 4Boston Fall Retreat.

To confirm 4Boston office hours, contact Joseph Citera.

What if I have a conflict and can’t attend a volunteer shift or reflection?
我们希望4Boston志愿者每年不超过四(4)次轮班或反思，或者每学期不超过两次轮班或反思.

If a volunteer knows they will be late/absent to a volunteer shift, 他们必须在48小时前通过电子邮件或短信通知学生领导和志愿者协调员.

If a volunteer knows they will be tardy/absent to a reflection, they must notify their Student Leader 24 hours before via email or text message.

如果发现志愿者缺勤超过分配的班次或反思次数, they will be asked to meet with the Program Director to determine whether their priorities are aligned with the 4Boston’s goals; extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration by the Program Director and Student Leaders during this discussion.

Who do I talk to if...?

• I need a letter of recommendation.
• I have a great idea for a new 4Boston partner.
• I have a great idea for a small group reflection.
• I have a great idea for a keynote speaker for a 4Boston event.
• 我想在我的社区合作伙伴网站上推广一个活动/筹款活动.
• There's been an incident at my volunteer shift or in my reflection.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

Joseph Citera, Program Director

For general inquiries, contact us at: 4bostonvolunteers@blairekidsarts.net