COMMUNITY READING BUDDIES

The Community Reading Buddies program began in 1994 and has been growing ever since. Started by Nancy McKee-Jolda, a former board member, Community Reading Buddies exemplifies Aspire Education Project ’s integrated approach to community learning. Each summer, over a hundred junior high and high school students volunteer to spend five hours a week with a similar number of preschool through 4th graders at Oakland Unified School District’s Centro Infantil Annex and Bella Vista Child Development Center.

The primary focus of the program is building language skills for children whose parents are not native English speakers: the volunteers lead reading activities, games and introduce academic topics such as science, music and art. The program has a far larger if less tangible impact, however. The teenage volunteers act as mentors and “buddies” for their younger charges, providing them with role models. At the same time, the volunteers learn from the children they are teaching: it is an opportunity for the junior high and high school mentors to interact with neighbors who come from a very different background than their own. The mentors are provided with training in pedagogy and exposed to the challenges and rewards of teaching. Many students have participated in the program for multiple years. These veterans become part of the Leadership Team that helps structure the activities and guides the new mentors. Community Reading Buddies is about transferring knowledge in multiple directions. The “students” improve their language skills, while the “teachers” learn to teach: everyone learns more about the greater East Bay community. The success of this program can be seen in its longevity, the high return rate of former participants and the broad support it receives from parents and teachers.

High school or junior high school students interested in becoming Mentors or part of the Leadership Team should complete and submit an application AND choose the dates they would like to participate using the sign up form below. Both steps are necessary. Use the links below

Community Reading Buddies 2010 Application

Sign Up for Date Preferences

PLEASE DONATE! Community Reading Buddies relies on the support of donors to keep operating. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to Community Reading Buddies, please send a check to Aspire Education Project, PO Box 10083, Oakland, CA, 94610. Indicate that your contribution is for Community Reading Buddies. Or, click on the "Make a Donation" button below to donate securely by credit card through PayPal. Please write Community Reading Buddies in the "purpose" field.

For more information about the program or for a hard copy of the application materials please email crb@aspireeducation.org or call our main line 510-658-7500.

SITE LOCATIONS AND MAPS:
Centro Infantil Annex-- (314 East 10th St. Oakland 94606)-- please note: entrance is at intersection of East 11th St. and 4th Ave
Bella Vista Child Development Center-- 2410 10th Ave. Oakland 94606

CRB in the News :
March 2007 article in the Piedmont Post.
May 2006 article in the Contra Costa Times.
Photos from CRB 2007
Photos fromCelebration 2007