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Cardinal Commitment
Volunteer

Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL)

Multi-quarter part-time
Education & Youth Development

Inspired by Jewish values of social justice and Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), the Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) mobilizes volunteer tutors of all backgrounds and supports parents to help emerging and struggling readers in grades K-5 on the Peninsula and throughout the Bay Area. We envision a society in which all children, regardless of their family circumstances, can read well and gain the tools they need to reach their full potential. The organization was founded in 1999, is a project of the Jewish Community Relations Council, and raises its own funds.

JCL tutors offer additional support to children who have suffered profoundly from the pandemic’s multi-year body blow to low-income families and under-resourced schools. Our relationship-based program builds on the tutor/student bond to enhance children’s self-confidence and self-esteem while helping them develop stronger skills and a love of learning. Young students, who are just embarking on their reading journey, or who have not mastered this essential skill, enjoy a boost in self-esteem that comes from regular, joyful, one-on-one encounters with another caring adult in their lives. Students are celebrated as individuals with unique personalities, strengths, and learning styles.

Opportunities

Volunteer Reading Tutor

Prospective JCL reading tutors attend an initial online training. Following security clearance and onboarding, they work with one child or a small group of children for a minimum of one hour per week (though many commit additional hours to work with more children). During in-person sessions that include reading aloud to one another and literacy games, tutors help to build vocabulary and background knowledge so critical to school success. Tutoring may take place during the school day or after school at school or nonprofit partner sites. JCL’s Peninsula program manager, Corinne Jaffe-Gellman, works with tutors to identify tutoring opportunities at convenient times and locations.

Participation requires a TB test, LiveScan, two references and completion of a Volunteer Information form.

This is an in-person opportunity. Please contact Lisa Peckler to learn about the next training dates.

Website Manager

JCL seeks an individual committed to helping children reach their full potential to manage and help build out our website to advance JCL’s mission.

Familiarity with the Squarespace platform is highly desirable. Key tasks include updating the event calendar and posting a variety of resources in the Tutor Hub. There’s opportunity to develop new content and web pages to provide optimal support and continuing-education opportunities for our volunteer reading tutors. If you like, you can also become a tutor and/or serve as a tutor-recruiting ambassador within your network.

A person with strong digital skills and the ability to learn to use Squarespace through web-designer provided video tutorials will also be considered. Video editing skills are a plus.

The estimated time commitment is up to eight hours per month. Work will be completed remotely.

The website manager works with JCL’s San Francisco program manager, with occasional interactions with JCL’s director.

When

Autumn, Spring, Winter

Location

Bay Area

Open To

Undergraduates
Graduate Students

Make a Commitment

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Resources
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