Celebrating The Work of James Shields and Bonner!

As many of you know, our beloved James Shields, ’00 , and Susan May,  of the Bonner Center for Community Service & Learning,  were recently let go as part of a large round of layoffs at our alma mater, Guilford College. As a collective of former Bonner Scholars and “Honor Bonners”, we are truly outraged at the decision, and heartbroken that not only is Guilford choosing to lose an institution of a man, and the work and legacy of the Bonner Scholars over the past 30 years, but we have also lost the opportunity to publicly and joyfully celebrate all of the incredible work that James supported and did in his 20+ year career with Guilford. To rectify this we are raising $20,000 for three service sites to honor James’ 20 years as director, and 30 years of Bonner at Guilford College. Read below for more.”

“In more than 20 years, James…has made a difference in hundreds of lives of students, faculty, staff and other Greensboro community members. James is committed to community building, diversity, civic engagement, social justice, international perspective and spiritual exploration and is the epitome of Guilford’s commitment to providing hands-on learning experiences for students to learn critical problem-solving skills to thrive and make a difference as you serve the world's greater good.” – Bonner Foundation profile of James


To know James, to know Bonner,  means that you know what Guilford’s core values look like in action. A fierce and loyal advocate for equity, a deep commitment to community and diversity, a steward of service and leadership, a dedication to justice, and above all, integrity seeping out of his James’ very being. Bonners, non-Bonners, faculty, staff,  and the larger Greensboro community can attest to how he made students of color, first generation college students, Bonner Scholars, and everyone in between feel safe and accepted at Guilford-- an institution that doesn’t always welcome students equally. 

The loss of James is immeasurable in particular to students, staff and faculty of color, and to the anti-racism work he helped lead at Guilford. To say that his firing, and the dismantling of the Bonner Scholars program, goes completely against the core values that Guilford supposedly stands for is an understatement; James’ work is the heart of the core values, and his presence as one of the only Black male leadership figures on campus was crucial to many. The loss of yet another staff member of color, and one who was known to be outspoken for justice and a key figure in anti-racism work, sends exactly the wrong message to alumni, current students, and the wider Guilford community.


Despite all that is being lost, we as a collective would also like to make space to celebrate and honor the innumerous accomplishments of James over his 20+ years, and make space to remember all that we have gained.

Calling on the spirit of generosity, service, and that good old Bonner Love, we would like to honor James by raising $20,000 for three community organizations chosen by James; $1,000 for every year of service as Director. We hope you will join us in thanking James for everything he has done by contributing what you can. The donations will be split among the following organizations (click each link to learn more):
 
Elimu Empowerment Services 

Montagnard American Organization 

Student Action for Farm Workers 

 We are asking former students, staff, Bonner Scholars, ‘Honor Bonners’, Hunger Fellows, AIDS Fellows, Community Scholars, Project Coordinators, and friends of the Bonner Center at Guilford to join us in celebrating James Shields’ 20 years as Director, and 30 years of the Bonner Center shaping hearts, minds, and shifting both the global and Greensboro landscapes.

Let us demonstrate that our spirit of service and generosity cannot be dismantled along with the program, by making a contribution to this public tribute financially if you are able, and by sharing a memory from Bonner. Let us show James, Susan, the invaluable staff over the Bonner program history, how much they have meant to all of us over the years. Let us show Guilford what it TRULY means to live by our values.