Read to a Child

 WHAT? Volunteers are needed to serve as one to one reading mentors for elementary school students at local schools during their lunchtime. Volunteers simply read aloud and chat with their students. The goal is not to tutor or teach but to instill a love of reading and provide social-emotional support to the same student over time. WHEN? Mentors attend 30 minute reading sessions with their student once a week or every other week through the end of the school year. The time and day of sessions depend on your child's school and grade. WHERE? Volunteers participate in sessions at one of our two schools (https://readtoachild.org/locations/detroit/participating-schools-detroit/). Virtual and in person opportunities are available. HOW? Read to a Child staff will guide you through enrollment steps (application, training, and background checks). Once you are matched, our Program Coordinators will be there along the way to provide support and guidance. No experience is necessary! WHY? When an adult reads aloud to a child, both parties have a joyful, rewarding experience that instills a love of reading, improves literacy skills, and enhances a child’s well-being. Our model is based on the premise that a love of reading is a driver of opportunity for children throughout their lifetime. A caring connection with a reading mentor helps to facilitate the attention, engagement, and confidence that all children need to thrive. WHO ARE WE? Read to a Child’s mission is to foster a love of reading, improve literacy skills and support socio-emotional well-being in students from under-resourced communities. Our vision is that every child has the opportunity to thrive in school and beyond through inspirational mentoring and read-aloud experiences. ENROLLMENT STEPS. If you are interested in enrolling, and are certain you can make a weekly commitment for the school year, Please complete the following steps: 1) Determine which of our schools is best for you: https://readtoachild.org/locations/detroit/participating-schools-detroit/ 2) Complete our volunteer application: https://rtac.secure.force.com/application (select Community Volunteer or appropriate company) 3) Once your application is received, you will receive an invitation to our Rise Training, which takes around 45 minutes. 4) Once your training is complete, you will receive an invitation to complete our JDP background check.