Be one of the 5 in a kid’s life
I have worked as the Learning Edge Tutoring Marketing coordinator for just over two years. You may be thinking, “She’s paid to promote them.” It’s true! But I wouldn’t do this work if I wasn’t a super-fan. In fact, initially I didn’t know if I had the bandwidth to do the work, but I attended a single tutoring night and I was hooked.
I wish you could feel, as I did, the energy as dozens of students eagerly greet their mentor-tutors and get right down to work – and after a long day at school, no less! At one session, I watched a student come through the doors, squeal, run toward her mentor-tutor, and throw her arms around her.
Learning Edge is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides Chicago-area students free one-to-one tutoring and academic enrichment, enhanced by caring, mentoring relationships. Many of our students join tutoring when they’re young so they have an additional adult to keep tabs on them, to notice when they are struggling in certain areas. Like medical preventive care, proactively creating this culture of accountability and structure makes for stronger students.
Here are some things our mentor-tutors have said about this work: Barb says, “It’s so much fun to see the lightbulb go on.” Lloyd says his student brings out the best in him. Karen says, “The human connections go such a long way; I love the combination of ages – it works beautifully!”
As we approach a new school year, we are seeking additional adults to do this meaningful volunteer work. Our mentor-tutors do not need experience; we provide training and materials. While we do have educators in our ranks, we also have mentors who work in retail, textiles, medicine, IT, banking, etc. We also have high school students!
If you give it a try, we think you might just stick around. Our average tutor is with us for four years.
There’s a theory that five caring adults in the life of a child can make the difference between surviving and thriving. Are you willing to help kids in our community thrive?
learningedgetutoring.org/volunteer
Nancy Schroeder
Oak Park