Volunteer Info

“’Children Rising cares so much about these kids that it invests the time and effort to train the tutors and provide us with tools to do a good job.”

– Linda Hawkins, Reading Tutor (Read what others are saying)

See how our tutors and students benefit from a one-on-one relationship.

You can help an enthusiastic student who is struggling with reading, math, or career opportunities – We’ll help you do it

We invite YOU to join hundreds of volunteers who are nurturing and equipping students to rise above the challenges they face in school. Together, we can make a generational difference in Oakland and surrounding East Bay Communities and help reduce educational inequity. The key to our approach is engaging a caring community to reach these ready and willing children at a critical time in their life

We structure Children Rising programs so that it is easy for you to be effective immediately. Volunteer opportunities include tutoring elementary school children in reading and math, high school youth mentoring, and assisting with food distribution for families in need. Whether you are interested in tutoring or volunteering in a different capacity, we will coach and guide you along the way.

Join us! The reward of helping a student progress and grow in personal confidence as they reach their potential is priceless.

PLEASE NOTE: We prefer all volunteer applicants reside in the greater San Francisco Bay Area or have a familiarity with our East Bay community. Our 2020-2021 plans for program delivery make it possible to provide math and reading tutoring online, from home. We intend to resume our in-person tutoring when we can safely return to the school sites, and foresee distance learning as a continued enhancement to in-person tutoring.

5 things you should know about becoming a volunteer tutor

1. No experience is necessary! We provide training, all the materials, and coaching so that you can be effective immediately.

2. This year, for the safety of our tutors, our two-hour tutoring clinics will not be held at school sites during school hours. Instead, tutors will be working remotely but in teams to provide their students remote tutoring via an online tutoring platform. We will hold online tutoring clinics, hosted by Children Rising staff, Monday thru Friday, during school hours. Both morning and afternoon clinic times are available.

3. You work with your students one-on-one. In a two-hour, online clinic, you tutor one student and then another student for 45 minutes each. We try to pair you with those students for the entire academic year.

4. We will require you to be screened as part of Volunteer Registration. Schools require all volunteers who interact with children to be screened for TB and criminal history.

5. We ask that you commit to coming every week until clinics close in the spring. It is important to show up for your student each week. The children really count on it and look forward to seeing you! That being said, we recognize that life happens and you may need to miss some weeks for vacation or sick days. Just let us know ahead of time.

I'm interested in becoming a tutor and would like more information.

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Volunteer Opportunities: 4 Simple Ways you can help a child reach their potential

“What’s great is Children Rising provides a really clear framework and set of tools to help you make an immediate impact”

– Laura Engelken, Reading Tutor

Children Rising offers many opportunities for you to connect with a student, inspiring hope, and the confidence to succeed. By sharing your time, you connect with a student, a school, and your community.

SUCCEEDING BY READING

For many of the children we tutor, English is their second language.

Tutor a child in reading
One-on-one time, two hours a week will empower determined second-grade children to rise to their potential. We provide training, support, guidance, and all of the tools required for you to succeed each week. We pair you with a child and offer multiple locations and time slots to accommodate your schedule. Our step-by-step program makes it simple for you to inspire them along their journey to reading. It’s almost certain you will be inspired along the way as you work alongside other volunteers and these amazing children.

Time Commitment: 2 hours once a week, M-F during school hours

How Does Succeeding by Reading Work?

Here's How!

PATH2MATH

Tutor a child in math
Just two hours of one-on-one time per week, during school, can empower two aspiring second-grade students to learn basic math concepts, develop critical reasoning skills, and grow in confidence as the world of numbers starts to make sense. We provide training, support, guidance, and all of the tools required for you to succeed each week. We pair you with each child and offer the most convenient school and time slot to accommodate your schedule. You may find that the time spent with eager students and fellow volunteers is the highlight of your week!

Time Commitment: 2 hours once a week, M-F during school hours

How does Path2Math Make Math Fun?

Here's How!

CAREERBRIDGE

Alicia at BART Summer Internship in Oakland

Be a mentor
Just one hour per week in spring and summer can help a young adult prepare for their crucial final years of high school. Be a positive role model for ambitious, determined youth by listening to them, helping them make positive choices, and providing them with hope and a pathway to a promising career. We provide the training. You provide the wisdom.

Time Commitment: 1 hour once or twice a week during Spring and Summer (you choose the time)

How Does CareerBridge Prepare Youth For Life After High School?

Here's How!

HEALTH4KIDS

Bagging food for hungry students
Every other Wednesday from 9-11 am, our volunteers assemble thousands of nutritious food bags for students who would otherwise not have food over the weekend. It’s easy and fun as you work alongside many other volunteers. Through our partnership with the Alameda County Community Food Bank, we help elementary school students, who are frequently hungry, come to school on Monday morning, ready and more able to learn.

Time Commitment: 2 hours every two weeks on Wednesdays at 9:00 AM during the school year

The Health4Kids program is currently on hold. Resume date is TBD.

How Does Health4Kids Help Children Learn?

Here's How!

Start volunteering

With support and encouragement from our staff and fellow volunteers, you can start to make a difference in the lives of children and youth immediately!

I want to help a student reach their potential

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