Blog

Looking for tutors for 2018-2019!

By Sophia Wambach
August 13, 2018

Today was the first day of school for Oakland students! The next few weeks will be full of reunions with old friends, exciting new relationships, and journeys into worlds of ideas and knowledge.

Unfortunately, for the thousands of children who struggle with reading or basic math, the first day of school is also the start of yet another year of frustration and confusion. Too many years of this and the odds of thriving beyond school are not in the student’s favor.

This is about more than just ‘getting better grades.’ These children and youth are literally at the crossroads of promise and risk.

That’s where the community steps in. When our schools are under-resourced, our teachers are underpaid and overworked, and our fellow parents are trying to make ends meet, one of the ways we can support each other is to come alongside a struggling child. We can lend a bit of our time and energy to give a child the tools to thrive in school and beyond, letting them know that we care about them, that they matter. We can help them reach their unique potential in life, breaking the cycle of poverty, prison or early death.

Children Rising is looking for volunteers to tutor elementary students who need help with reading and math. Our clinics start in mid-September so there’s plenty of time to get you registered and trained. If you’d like to get involved or simply want more information, complete the brief form below, and we’ll be sure to reach out to you.

We recruit reading and math tutors throughout the whole year so come find us later if you can’t volunteer right now. In the meantime, tell your friends and help us recruit because we are always looking.

Take the #ChampionsForChildren Challenge Today!

By Eric Steckel
August 12, 2018

Are you ready to take the #ChampionsForChildren Challenge?

As Oakland children and youth get ready to go back to school, we are excited to announce the #ChampionsForChildren Challenge.

#ChampionsForChildren is much more than just a fundraising campaign. It is a peer-to-peer campaign that relies on you, our champions, to spread the word to your network. You can help Children Rising make a generational difference in our community by sharing this vital message with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers.

The need is great. Of the 4,000 Oakland Unified School District children heading into 2nd grade this year, it’s estimated that 1,800 will complete 3rd grade next year and test substantially below their grade level in reading and/or math.

Fortunately, the solution is simple. Children Rising has established an ambitious goal of recruiting, training and supporting 1,000 volunteer tutors and mentors in the next 3 years. One tutor, helping 2 children a week throughout the school year, will make a generational difference in our community.

But the only way that we can achieve that is by casting our net wider. That’s where the #ChampionsForChildren Challenge comes in. Your efforts will allow us to reach and engage with a much wider audience.

You’ve probably seen or been part of a peer-to-peer campaign in the past. We invite our champions (like you!) to help us by setting up your very own fundraising page, and sharing our message of hope and success. Hence ‘peer-to-peer’.

Last fall on #GivingTuesday we dipped our toe into the peer-to-peer approach with some immediate success, and many of you were a part of that. Thank you. This year, we have invested in Cl

assy, a platform that will make peer-to-peer fundraising easier and more effective.

Many of you have asked if you have to be social media savvy to be involved. The answer is a resounding ‘No!’ Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great, but so is email and the old-fashioned one-on-one conversation. So bust out that Rolodex, open up your Outlook address book, or hit up your Facebook friends. Whatever way you feel comfortable works with Classy.

However you choose to share the word, we vitally need your help. To get our campaign up-and-running, we are inviting you to create an individual fundraising page and share that with your network.

We’ve added a little competition to the campaign. You can join one of the teams that have already been formed. Or you can create a team of your own by inviting a few friends to join you. It’s easy, and we’ll help you get started.

Here’s how:

• Click here: #ChampionsForChildren Challenge
• Click on BECOME A FUNDRAISER
• Join a Team… or Form a Team. After all, it’s more fun fundraising together! (If you want to form a team, check out our step-by-step instructions.)
• Setup a fundraising page – it’s easy, but if you need help, just check out our step-by-step instructions.
• Share it with your network – send it by email, social media or an old-fashioned one-on-one conversation!

Remember, this campaign will work because of the efforts of champions like YOU.

Are you ready to take the #ChampionsForChildren Challenge TODAY?

For the children,

Thank you, Volunteers!

By Sophia Wambach
August 2, 2018

Before the school year starts up again, we’d like to thank each and every one of our volunteers for the time, energy, and affection they put into volunteering. Please join us in recognizing our 2017-2018 volunteers and community partners:

To download the PDF file, click Volunteer Appreciation 2018.