We’re now recruiting City Tech faculty, staff, and students to become mentors for the 2017-18 school year. Read Ahead’s vision is that students have the opportunity to unlock their full potential through mentoring relationships based on a love of reading.

• What? Fun reading and conversation with a child age 5–12
• Why? 77% of children in NYC’s chronically under-resourced public schools come from low-income communities. Mentors’ critical one-on-one attention gives them the confidence, motivation, and skills to succeed.
• When? Weekly or biweekly from about 12:10-12:50 on Mondays, Thursdays, or Fridays from late Sept. – early June
• Where? Nearby elementary school PS 287 (50 Navy Street), just a 10-minute walk from campus
• Who? Anyone at City Tech who can commit is encouraged to join! We’re also specifically seeking mentors of color and men to provide role models who look like our mentees, so encourage your friends to join too!
• How? Trainings and ongoing support are provided after signing up. New mentor trainings are offered into early October.

FAQs, video, & sign-up form at readahead.org/mentoring; email volunteer@readahead.org if you still have questions!

Find Read Ahead on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & LinkedIn!

On Thursday, stop by to learn more about how you can volunteer to read to a young student!

Overview & Mentor Commitment

• Read Ahead’s mission is to ignite a love of reading in young students through mentoring, improving their confidence as well as their odds for success in school and life. We build students’ social-emotional skills that are essential for success.
• Mentors commit to one hour each week or every other week (alternating with another mentor) and build a relationship with an individual student (aged 5–11) throughout the duration of the full school year (October–May; must commit for full year).
• Mentors receive training & resources to ensure they are fully supported & engaged.
• Mentor-student pairs often spend multiple years together if the mentor desires.

Key info for New York City College of Technology Mentors

• City Tech students, professors, and staff volunteer at nearby PS 287 (50 Navy St.; just 12 mins from 300 Jay St.)
• PS 287 is a high-needs public elementary school with long student waiting lists for Read Ahead. Students are in grades 2–5, ages 7–11.
• Sessions are offered on Mondays, Thursdays, & Fridays from 12:10-12:50

Mentor Testimonials

“My first year as a mentor was a very rewarding one because I saw how much my student benefited from our time together.”

“I loved reading with my student and really saw a huge improvement in her attitude towards reading each week and her reading ability.”

“It’s a great way to help the children progress and to show them that they have support. It can also show them that they too can be in a successful business if they stick to school.”
Want to learn more? Come to our mentor info & training sessions on Thurs. 9/29 at 1pm in Namm 321 (300 Jay St.)

Can’t come on 9/29 but want to sign up? Fill out the easy form at readahead.org/volunteer, and Read Ahead will be in touch with all needed info about training and next steps. Email volunteer@readahead.org with questions!

Come learn more about Read Ahead and volunteer to read to a young student!

Welcome to CityTech OpenLab. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!