Academic Decathlon Judges
Description: The United States Academic Decathlon is an annual, nationwide competition that promotes academic excellence through teamwork by students of all achievement levels. CPS organizes two citywide contests to advance teams to the state and national competitions. The CPS Decathlon (CPSAD) involves a majority of Chicago high schools. Teams of nine students compete in 10 events on tests in Art, Economics, Language and Literature, Math, Music, Science, Speech, Interview, and Essay. Volunteers are needed to serve as judges, escorts, time keepers, and proctors for the city-wide and regional competitions.
Dates:
City-Wide 1st Round: TBD
City Championship: TBD
Contact:
Jennifer Williams, Program Assistant
Phone: (773) 553-2096
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Academic Decathlon National Judges
Description: The United States Academic Decathlon is an annual, nationwide competition that promotes academic excellence through teamwork by students of all achievement levels. Volunteers are needed to serve as judges, escorts, time keepers, and proctors for the national competition.
Contact:
Jennifer Williams, Program Assistant
Phone: (773) 553-2096
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Chicago Debate League
Description: The Chicago Debate League offers competitive debate to every high school in the District (that agrees to meet certain programmatic criteria). Argumentation and Debate is part of the school’s regular curriculum, and the course is taught at 26 of the 38 CPS schools in the CDL. Volunteers are needed to serve as judges, escorts, time keepers, and proctors for the competitions.
Contact:
Jennifer Williams, Program Assistant
High School Programs
Chicago Public Schools
125 South Clark Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone (773) 553-2096
Fax: (773) 553-3543
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Chicago HOPES
Description: Chicago HOPES (Heightening Opportunity and Potential for Educational Success) is an initiative of the Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program that empowers homeless students to succeed academically. They are seeking volunteers to help with fall and spring programs.
Length of orientation/training: 2 hrs
Average time commitment per volunteer: One day per week for the length of our fall and spring programs. The program generally operates from 3:30 p.m. -5 p.m. Monday –Thursday and 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m. on Sundays.
Contact:
Ebonie Tillmon, Volunteer Coordinator
Chicago Public Schools Homeless Education Program
125 South Clark Street, 9th floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone (773) 553-2242
Fax: (773) 553-2182
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Chicago Public Schools Student Science Fair
Description: The CPS Student Science Fair is an annual international competition that promotes excellence through the development of a science project, essay, or a symposium paper. Projects and symposium papers may be entered in one of 16 categories from aerospace to zoology. Volunteers are needed to serve as area science fair judges, symposium readers, symposium judges, city fair judges and mentors through the Advise-a-Student Program.
Dates:
Area Science Fairs: December and January
City Science Fair: March and April
Contact:
Angela Dumas Science Fair Coordinator
Office of Mathematics and Science
Chicago Public Schools
Medill TPDC, Room 103
1326 W 14th Place
Chicago, Illinois 60608
Phone: (773) 553-6318
Fax: (773) 553-6320
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Association House of Chicago
Description: Association House was established in 1899 to serve as a community resource to help families help themselves. It offers numerous programs in both English and Spanish in three service areas: community services, behavioral health services, and child welfare services. Volunteers would assist in the after school programs as a tutor or assistant, providing one-on-one tutoring and homework help for kids and/or assisting with other educational and recreational activities.
Number of volunteers: 75 program volunteers annually
Length of orientation/training: 1 hour (must also have two letters of reference and consent to criminal background check)
Average time commitment per volunteer: 2-3 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Contact:
Harriet Sadauskas, Executive Director or Jessica Graeser, Community Relations Coordinator
1116 N. Kedzie Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60651
Phone: (773) 772-7170
Fax: (773) 384-0560
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Cabrini Connections
Description: Workplace volunteers meet with 7th to 12th grade youth from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday or Thursday evenings for one-on-one mentoring, tutoring and group learning activities.
Involved schools: Jenner, Wells, Lincoln Park, Lane Tech, Payton, Whitney Young
Number of volunteers: 80
Length of orientation/training: 2 hours orientation; ongoing training throughout the school year
Average time commitment per volunteer: 2 hours/week; one-on-one tutor/mentor program
Contact:
Daniel F. Bassill, President or Christina J. Rodriguez
Cabrini Connections
800 West Huron Street
Chicago, Illinois 60622
Phone: (312) 492-9614
Fax: (312) 492-9795
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Chicago Cares
Description: Chicago Cares provides opportunities for individuals and businesses to improve the Chicago community through creative structured group volunteer programs designed to address Chicago’s most pressing needs. Chicago Cares has partnered with over 300 Chicago Public Schools on one-day and on-going projects.
Involved schools: McCormick, Henderson, Bethune, Piccolo.
Total number of volunteers: More than 90,000 have participated in various projects
Length of orientation/training: 45 minutes
Average time commitment per volunteer: Flexible
Contact:
Laura Eilts, Executive Director or Kris Smart, Director of Programs
300 West Adams Street, Suite 300
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Phone: 312-780-0800
Fax: 312-780-0801
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Chicago Foundation for Education
Description: For the past 20 years, the Chicago Foundation for Education (CFE) has been dedicated to improving and enhancing the educational experiences provided to Chicago's public elementary school children. CFE increases instructional quality and directly benefits students through four grant-based initiatives, two of which are offering upcoming volunteer opportunities. Volunteers are needed to serve as Study Group Liaisons throughout the next few months. Each Liaison will have the opportunity to observe and connect with one of CFE's 2008 Study Group Teams by attending one group meeting and visiting Team Member classrooms.
Number of volunteers: 50
Average time commitment per volunteer: 5 hours over several months
Contact:
Sarah E. Hoppe, Program & Outreach Coordinator
Chicago Foundation for Education
400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 720
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 670-2033
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Chicago Metro History Education Center
Description: CMHEC sponsors the History Fair, a program that encourages students in grades 6-12 to become historians by selecting a topic in Chicago history and doing research that connects them to authentic documents, witnesses, scholars, and places around the city. Students then produce mini-museum exhibits, performances, documentaries, and research papers about their discoveries.
Involved schools: Citywide
Average time commitment per volunteer: Flexible—weekday office work, program work at CMHEC, public libraries, and classrooms (week days and weekends), judging at History Fair events with students on weekdays, evenings, and Saturdays.
Contact:
Pauline Kochanski
Chicago Metro History Education Center
60 W. Walton
Chicago, Illinois 60610
Phone: (312) 255-3661
Fax: (312) 266-8223
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Community Resources Network
Description: Community Resource Network’s mission is to strengthen communities throughout metropolitan Chicago by informing and educating the community regarding health and human services and to mobilize people and resources through community involvement.
Contact:
Jocelyn S. Dionisio, Director of Volunteer Resources
Community Resources Network
300 N. Elizabeth, Suite 610-C
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Phone: (312) (312) 491-7800
Fax: (312) 491-7830
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Constitutional Rights Foundation
Description: The Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC) helps schools foster critical thinking skills and responsible civic action in students. Through the Lawyer in the Classroom program, CRFC partners attorneys with elementary classes to help students understand the U.S. Constitution and our legal system. CRFC trains attorneys to lead interactive lessons, provides teaching materials, and matches them with schools. Attorney teams are asked to visit their partner school a minimum of three times throughout the school year. Trainings are held at Chicago area law firms and lessons are conducted at the partner schools.
Involved schools: CRFC works with over 70 Chicago public elementary schools for the Lawyer in the Classroom program.
Length of orientation/training: 2 hrs
Average time commitment per volunteer: Minimum of three times throughout school year.
Contact:
Jessica Chethik, Program Director
Constitutional Rights Foundation
407 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 1700
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Phone: (312) 663-9057
Fax: (312) 663-4321
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Girl Scouts of Chicago
Description: Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to encouraging, challenging, and supporting girls, ages 5-17 to build character and skills for success in the real world. Volunteer opportunities include: Girl Scout leader (year-round or 6 weeks), assistant leader, and volunteers willing to share their area of expertise on a short-term basis.
Involved schools: Citywide
Total number of volunteers: More than 2,400
Length of orientation/training: 1 hour orientation 3-6 hours training
Average time commitment per CPS volunteer: 1-2 hours per week
Contact:
Gwen Ferguson, Director of Volunteer Services
222 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2120
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Phone: (312) 416-2500, Ext. 235
Fax: (312) 416-2932
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Field Museum
Description: The Crown Family PlayLab is a 7,500-square-foot section inside of the Field Museum that encourages a child's innate curiosity in a family-friendly environment. Children aged 2-8 can discover the wonders of nature and learn about diverse cultures. Volunteer assignments include greeting and checking-in visitors at the reception desk, supervising and interacting with children in the Arts & Crafts Studio and answering questions and assisting visitors throughout the Crown Family PlayLab.
Involved areas: Chicago
Average time commitment per CPS volunteer: Weekdays – at least one regular day per week; Weekends – at least two days per month; Shifts are scheduled 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Contact:
Kate Cary, Crown Family PlayLab Manger or Melissa Mayer, Employment Specialist
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60605
Phone: (312) 665-7280
Fax: (312) 665-7272
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Junior Achievement of Chicago
Description: Junior Achievement (JA) uses corporate volunteers to bring relevant economic education to students of all ages, preparing them to become better consumers, citizens, employees and leaders.
Involved schools: Attucks, Brennemann, , Brown, Burley, Burr, Byrd, Byrne, Chopin, Gladstone, Galileo, Howland Herzl, Grant, Goudy, Mayo, LeMoyne, LaSalle, Libby, Nash, Newberry, Sabin, Stockton, Pritzker, Paderewski, Woodson, Pulaski and many more
Number of volunteers: 1,700
Length of orientation/training: 2 hrs
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1 hour/week for 5-8 weeks or 4 hours/day.
Contact:
Maria Ramos, Vice President of Program Operations or Lucretzia Martin Jamison, Senior Director of Program
Junior Achievement of Chicago
651 West Washington Street, Suite 404
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Phone: (312) 715-1300
Fax: (312) 715-0694
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Juvenile Court Mentoring Network
Description: Mentors provide volunteer services to minors who are on probation or wards of the state through the Cook County Juvenile Court probation department. There are three programs: Friendly Visitors, Group Mentorship and One-On-One Mentoring.
Involved areas: All of Cook County
Number of volunteers: 75
Length of orientation/training: 2 ½ hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1 hour per week; 6 months to a year commitment
Contact:
Helen Warner, Marcus Spencer or Vanessa Jones
Juvenile Court Mentoring Network
1100 S. Hamilton
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Phone: (312) 433-6628
Fax: (312) 433-6744
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Sit, Stay, Read!
Description: Sit, Stay, Read! is the leading literacy organization in the United States utilizing therapy dogs to improve reading skills and foster the love of learning in disadvantaged children. Innovative programs bring much needed reading help to 2nd and 3rd graders in Chicago’s poorest neighborhoods. The organization trains fluency volunteers and certified therapy dog teams to make reading less intimidating for the children and, in doing so, more fun. The goal of every program is to improve reading fluency.
School programs require a weekly one hour commitment for 6-8 week sessions. Volunteers without dogs are needed to serve as “Book Buddies” in the classroom to facilitate reading and writing projects. Volunteers with dogs are needed for classroom reading. The dogs must pass a basic obedience test and human volunteers must attend a literacy training session.
Involved schools: Sumner, Hendricks, Manierre
Number of volunteers: 50
Length of orientation/training: 1 hour and ongoing
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1 hour per week in the classroom, plus travel time
Contact:
Mary Ellen Schneider, Executive Director
Sit, Stay, Read!
4900 N. Francisco
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Phone: (773) 936-6054
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Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network
Description: The Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN) provides comprehensive care and treatment to abused, troubled, or neglected children.
UCAN volunteers can get involved in a variety of ways, most commonly as mentors or tutors. Volunteers work with clients in many of our programs including: Residential Treatment Home (9-18 years old; California/Addison), Foster Homes (8-18 years old; throughout Chicago- primarily West and South side); Independent Living Arrangements (18-21 years old, includes teen mothers; throughout Chicago- primarily West and South side), and the Uhlich Academy (K-12; 3110 W. Grand).
Number of volunteers: 80
Length of orientation/training: 1 hour and on-going
Average time commitment per volunteer: 2 visits per month
Contact:
Thomas Vanden Berk or Allison Winton, Volunteer Coordinator
Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network
217 N. Jefferson
Chicago, Illinois 60661
Phone: (312) 669-8200 ext. 2316
Fax: (312) 669-1107
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Chicago
Description: Through a school-based mentoring program, CPS students are matched with a mentor for the school year, meeting two to four times per month in a school setting. Along with individual volunteers, corporations, universities and other organizations partner with BBBS to provide mentors to CPS students at schools in their neighborhoods and communities. Activities can range from homework help and reading to playing games, talking and listening.
Involved schools: Budlong, Ray, Ravenswood, Jordan and Jenner
Number of volunteers: 261
Length of orientation/training: 3 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1 hour per week
Contact:
Melanie Lerchen, Director of School Programs
28 East Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Phone: (312) 427-0637
Fax: (312) 427-0760
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Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago
Description: Boys & Girls Clubs give young people a safe place of their own to make better choices for their lives. At a Boys & Girls Club they find a sense of belonging with their peers and caring adults through fun activities that capture their interests, teach them valuable life skills and build relationships. Volunteer opportunities include one-on-one mentoring, tutoring, art assistance, computer aids, coaches/referees, leadership aids, college advisers or special event helpers.
Involved schools:Armour, Beethoven, Englewood, Fiske, Frazier, Grant, Jahn, Kanoon, Stockton and Suder
Number of volunteers: 300
Length of orientation/training: 1-2 hours orientation with ongoing training and online resources available throughout the school year.
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1-2 hours per week
Contact:
R. Wallace Watson, President & CEO or Angela Zirles, Director of Volunteering
550 West Van Buren Street, Suite 350
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Phone: (312) 235-8000
Fax: (312) 427-4110
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Casa Central
Description: Casa Central’s mission is to transform lives and strengthen communities, with a special focus on Hispanics. Volunteers can become tutors/ mentors for our school-age (5-12 years old) or Youth Options Unlimited (12-20 years old) programs. Tutors/ mentors provide a positive relationship with a child or teen and help them to improve their study habits, academic skills and attitudes.
Involved neighborhoods:These programs are center-based and most of our children and teens live in or around the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Number of volunteers: 25
Length of orientation/training: 1 hour and ongoing.
Average time commitment per volunteer: 2-4 hours per week
Contact:
Cheryl Debusmann-Serra, Resource Development Associate
Casa Central
1343 N. California
Chicago, Illinois 60622
Phone: (773) 645-2465
Fax: (773) 645-2475
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Chicago Lights Tutoring Program at Fourth Presbyterian Church
Description: Chicago Lights provides academic support to children living in underserved neighborhoods on the near north and west side of Chicago. Each year, 400 children in grades 1-12 are enrolled in the tutoring program. Adult volunteers are needed to encourage success through homework assistance and personal development.
Involved schools:Manierre, Jenner, Schiller, Ogden, Lincoln Park, Wells, Chicago Military and Crane as well as 52 other CPS schools.
Number of volunteers: 385
Length of orientation/training: 1.5-hour orientation and various trainings scheduled throughout the year.
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1.5 hours, one evening per week. Program runs from October through May on Monday through Thursday evenings from 6 p.m.–7:30 p.m. each evening. Volunteer tutors choose one evening they prefer to volunteer and are then matched to work one-to-one with the same student each week.
Contact:
Meghan Stegemann, Tutoring Services Manager
Chicago Lights Tutoring Program at Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 787-4570
Fax: (312) 787-4584
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Christopher House
Description: Christopher House is a catalyst for strengthening and empowering low-income children and their families by providing a web of support that helps families become self-sufficient and resilient and communities become stronger. Our areas of greatest need are: college prep tutors, youth tutors, ESL tutors, adult literacy childcare aides, teen mom tutors and new members for our Associates Board.
Number of volunteers: 15-30 tutors on any given day
Contact:
Laura Sakiyama
Christopher House
2507 North Greenview
Chicago, Illinois 60614
Phone: (773) 472-1083
Fax: (773) 472-7292
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Innovations for Learning (online tutoring program)
Description: Using cutting edge computer technology in classrooms, as well as online tutors, Innovations for Learning currently helps 8,000 students in grades K-2 improve their reading skills.
Each volunteer tutor is paired with one student to work with throughout the school year. No experience or travel is necessary. Volunteers tutor right from their offices or homes. All tutors need is a telephone, a computer with an Internet connection, and 30 minutes once a week during the school day. Volunteers select tutoring times convenient for their schedules. Training and curriculum are provided.
Involved schools:Aldridge, Beethoven, Burr, Cather, Chalmers, Chase, Chappell, Dumas, Field, Gallistel, Haines, Henson, Jenner, Locke, Manierre, Ravenswood, Sherwood, Smith, White, Wright
Length of orientation/training: 1-2 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 30 minutes per week October - June
Contact:
Caryn Weiner or Barbara Goodman
Innovations for Learning
649 Michigan Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
Phone: (847) 363 6252 and (847) 274 7784
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Inspired Youth Tutoring Program
Description: Inspired Youth helps low-income elementary and high school students from Uptown/Edgewater with homework, including reading, writing, and arithmetic. Tutors help individual students with all their subjects and are needed.
Involved schools:Alcott, Disney, Goudy, Hawthorne, Mather, Mayer, Senn, Stewart, Sullivan
Number of volunteers: 65
Length of orientation/training: 6:30-8 p.m. on Mondays for high school students; 6:30 p.m. - -8 p.m. on Tuesdays for 5th-8th graders; 3 p.m. -4:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays for 1st-4th graders; and 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. on alternate Saturdays for elementary students.
Average time commitment per volunteer: 1½ hours per week
Contact:
Beth Struck Palmer, Executive Director
Inspired Youth Tutoring Program
1226 W. Ainslie
Chicago, Illinois 60640
Phone: (773) 561-4759
Fax: (773) 561-4759
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Jewish Children’s Bureau of Chicago
Description: Jewish Children's Bureau of Chicago (JCB) is a non-sectarian, comprehensive, social service agency that provides child-centered and family-focused services for children and families. The volunteer program provides support to the agency and its clients by placing volunteers as mentors, tutors, childcare helpers, cooking coaches, exercise buddies, Mitzvah Makers, and special project volunteers.
Involved area: West Rogers Park neighborhood
Number of volunteers: 60 (ongoing)
Length of orientation/training: 3 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 6 hours a month
Contact:
Bob Bloom, Executive Assistant or Amber Egelston, Coordinator of Volunteers
Jewish Children’s Bureau of Chicago
3145 West Pratt
Chicago, Illinois 60645
Phone: (773) 476-9746
Fax: (773) 467-3799
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Kids Off the Block
Description: Kids Off The Block’s (KOTB) mission is to provide positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence, and the juvenile justice system for at-risk, low-income youth. KOTB’s services include tutoring/mentoring, music, drama, sports, and local/out of town travel are available to young people between the ages of 12-19-years old. All programs are based on work, recreation and training.
Volunteer duties include:
- Computer basics (email, Internet)
- Tutoring (math/reading)
- Mentoring
- Music (instruction/vocal lessons )
- Sports (coaching)
Number of volunteers: 25
Length of orientation/training: 2 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 4 hours per week; 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday thru Friday during school months; and 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. during the summer.
Contact:
Diane Latiker, Executive Director or Joseph Strickland
Kids Off the Block
116621 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60028
Phone: (773) 995-9077
Fax: (773) 995-1055
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Mercy Home for Boys and Girls – Friends First
Description: Friends First, the mentoring program of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, offers volunteers the chance to serve as positive role models for at-risk youth. Mentors are matched with a child in their community between the ages of 9-17. We provide comprehensive training and support to the mentor and child throughout the relationship.
Involved areas: Chicago
Number of volunteers: 75
Length of orientation/training: 4 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 3-4 hours, 3-4 times a month for a year.
Contact:
Jim Close or Barbara Steck
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls – Friends First
1140 W. Jackson Blvd
Chicago, Illinois 60607
Phone (312) 738-7552
Fax: (312) 738-9251
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New Concepts Tutor Mentor Connection
Description: New Concepts T/MC’s mission is to impact lives through mentoring. New Concepts operates four programs: a one-to-one program, a team mentoring program, an e-mentoring program, and a high school transition program.
Involved schools: Andersen, Austin, Clark, Mayer, Otis, Peabody, and Wells
Number of volunteers: 75
Length of orientation/training: 3 hours
Average time commitment per volunteer: 2 hours per week
Contact:
Kenneth King, Executive Director
New Concepts Tutor Mentor Connection
17700 South Dixie Highway
Homewood, IL 60430
Phone: (708) 647- 8440
Fax: (312) 738-9251
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Saturday Scholars Program
Description: Saturday Scholars is a college and workforce readiness program. The program meets two Saturdays a month during the school season and students and mentors attend teacher facilitated classes in math, writing, public speaking, life and leadership skills, goal setting, resumes, interviewing skills and current events to name a few.
Mentors attend classes with the students on Saturdays, help them through the college application process under the direction of the program staff and generally act as adult role models. Mentors are not paired off with students, but rather work as a team with the other mentors and scholars. They usually follow their group through their senior year.
Involved schools: ACT Charter, Beethoven, Crown, Dyett, Herzl, Jenner, Marshall, Pulaski, Revere, Sabin, and 60-70 CPS high schools
Time commitment per volunteer: Two Saturdays per month
Contact:
Margo F. Weiser, Program Manager
Saturday Scholars Program
Columbia College Chicago
33 E. Congress Parkway, Room 503
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: (312) 344-8880
Fax: (312) 344-8432
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Working in the Schools
Description: Working In The Schools (WITS) promotes literacy and the love of reading among Chicago’s youth by providing one-on-one tutoring. WITS involves community members, area businesses and government agencies who volunteer to support the literacy education and development of children in the Chicago Public Schools. WITS offers five distinct tutoring programs: Power Lunch, Workplace Mentoring, Early Childhood, Saturday Tutoring and Classroom Assistants.
Involved schools: Bon Temps, Brown, Cameron, De Diego, Drake, Fermi, Haugan, Hibbard, Holden, Jenner, Jordan, Manierre, McLellan, Medill, Peabody, Peirce, Ruggles, Schiller, Talcott, Tilton, Walsh, West Park Academy and Woods Academy.
Number of volunteers: 2,320
Length of orientation/training: one hour
Average time commitment per volunteer: Business/Government: 1-1.5 per week; individual volunteers, 2-15 hours per week
Contact:
Jenné Myers, Executive Director Program Coordinator or Lindsey Giacherio
Working In The Schools (WITS)
27 East Monroe Street, Suite 1400
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Phone: (312) 269-4514
Fax: (312) 269-4525
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