“Volunteer NYC” Campaign Highlights Tutoring

Volunteer’s Skill Benefits Students

The “Volunteer NYC” Campaign takes a detailed look at current tutoring opportunities available through three organizations mentioned on the NYC Service website. Whether you are a professional with experience in core subject areas, a graduate student with a math and science specialty, or a person who knows how to motivate middle school students, your skills are needed.

Help The Urban Dove HiRisers

Of the high-priority volunteer NYC opportunities listed under education on the NYC Service site, many involve tutoring. Among them is The Urban Dove Tutoring Program, which is looking for volunteers to work with high schoolers in core academic subjects. The high school students, themselves volunteering, work with elementary and middle schoolers to help them with literacy, life-skills and sports as part of the organization’s HiRisers program, as presented in the position’s description.

One of four programs operated by The Urban Dove, the HiRisers after-school program trains high school students to work with younger students. “HiRisers teaches reading, writing, listening, and the life skills – communication, teamwork, and leadership unique, interactive workshops,” according to The Urban Dove website. The Urban Dove needs tutors who can take on one full semester at their main office and the Bronx satellite office.

The organization’s staff wants to make sure teenage volunteers succeed in their own academic efforts and are searching for tutors that can help them improve and expand upon study skills. The program’s listing states that “[The] ideal candidates will be professionals in their field who have studied one of our high school students’ core subjects at the college level.” Core subject areas include math, science, social studies, language arts and foreign language, especially Spanish and French. Each volunteer is asked to tutor in one or two of these subject areas.

“I Have a Dream” Program Adopts a Neighborhood

The Ravenswood II “I Have a Dream” Program needs tutors to help middle schoolers improve their writing skills. To achieve this goal, volunteers will provide homework help as well as working on additional creative writing assignments. Students will also try their hand at writing in a journalistic style. Those wishing to take part in this volunteer NYC option must have basic grammar and writing skills and be able to inspire and motivate the students to succeed.

Throughout the country “I Have a Dream” programs have adopted a classroom of students and provided assistance to them throughout their school years. The Ravenswood program has committed to helping 50 sixth and seventh grade students living in Ravenswood Houses in Long Island City, Queens, through middle school, high school and college. In addition to tutoring the students receive mentoring services and the chance to participate in art and drama activities.

Youth Consortium Seeks Math and Science Tutors

The South Brooklyn Youth Consortium, which operates an after-school program Tuesdays through Fridays, is looking for volunteers to help students prepare for tests and improve skills in math and science. Another position posted with this organization is created to assists third through eighth graders with individual math and science tutoring on Monday through Friday in the afternoons or evenings. The qualifications for both volunteer NYC opportunities include graduate school attendance and prior tutoring experience.

When you visit the NYC Service website, and click on the volunteer activity you want to explore, you’ll find contact numbers and names for each organization. Opportunities to put your knowledge to work through tutoring are manifold. Whether your interests and skills are in math and science, writing and grammar, social studies and history or a foreign language, you can have a positive impact on students from elementary grades through high school years.

photo credit: matt.hintsa