Just Two Hours a Week To Help a Child
With the specter of a shorter school year, larger classes, and tighter budgets, our schools are having a tough time. And we, as members of the community, have to step up with the “extras” – like tutoring, mentoring, reading aloud, and the many other tasks that can make a huge difference to a student. Just two hours a week can have a positive impact on a young person struggling with learning English or understanding a new math concept.
Please join us for our Fourth Annual Volunteer Fair in September 2012. Details will be announced shortly.
The Fair gives a wide variety of agencies and non-profits an opportunity to meet with potential volunteers. Each agency trains and supports their volunteers and the Oakland Literacy Coalition will be with us offering volunteers additional training opportunities, and vouchers for finger printing and TB testing.
Share the experience of one volunteer who found her niche at the Volunteer Fair.
Brothers on the Rise: A Volunteer Fair Success Story
Meet Stephanie Forbes, who biked into the 2010 Volunteer Fair and stated humbly, “I’m good with numbers…” Indeed she is! Since then Stephanie has brought in 42 additional volunteers as the Brothers on the Rise (BOTR) Volunteer Speaker’s Series Coordinator.
As part of BOTR’s Lift a Brother Up College and Career Readiness program, the Speaker’s Series connects boys to men working in community benefit careers like teaching, social work and public health, in which males are greatly under-represented yet equally needed.
Though the men Stephanie engages as speakers often meet the boys just once, this steady flow of positive male role models is an invaluable supplement to more frequent mentoring BOTR boys receive from its staff. The Speaker’s Series also provides career exposure and networking, as youth participants have been so impressive to the guests that they receive business cards and even offers to follow up about internships.
On an emotional level, BOTR youth are always touched that the men take their time to come and meet them, consistently rating “the visitors” as a favorite part of the program. The speakers also appreciate time with the youth, as well as the flexibility this opportunity offers if they are unable to make an on-going mentoring commitment.
Besides helping with the Speaker’s Series, Stephanie’s skills with numbers have been put to good use helping with BOTR’s program evaluation, accounting, and fundraising. For an emerging organization with limited resources, Stephanie’s help has been invaluable.
Summarizing her year spent volunteering Stephanie states, “BOTR’s contribution to the community is enormous. I’m grateful to be involved with this valuable organization.”
If you would like to volunteer for BOTR, to help develop the boys or the organization, please write info@brothersontherise.org. And thanks to Stephanie, “the visitors,” and the Volunteering for Oakland team!
