East Point Tutoring Academy

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August means the start of a new school year. As thousands of children go back to school in the East Point area, we need to remind ourselves of different ways we can make a positive impact on a child’s life.

Consider joining me in efforts to gather volunteers for the East Point Tutoring Academy. We need volunteers to work with K-12th grade students. The goal of East Point Tutoring Academy is to help students stay in school and prepare them to graduate with a plan for their next step which could be the next grade level, college, trade school, armed forces, etc. - and eventually move into the workforce.

Unfortunately our East Point Recreation Division, formerly known as the Parks & Recreation Department discontinued our successful After School Program due to budget cuts. This was a tool that helped to prevent these tragic statistics. There were many students who consistently attended the program, eager to improve their chances of a better future.

One of the ways you can make a difference in a child’s life is through recruitment of tutors and mentors. Studies have shown that tutoring and mentoring underprivileged youth not only improves their academic performance and chances of going to college and getting a good job, but also contributes to their overall well-being, and the well-being of the entire community. Children who receive tutoring and mentoring are less likely to drop out of school, join gangs, get arrested and get pregnant while still a teenager. What’s more, in order to make an impact on a child’s life, all a tutor/mentor needs to do is give is an hour a week of their time. YOU CAN BE ONE OF THOSE MENTORS!

A critical aspect of this tutor/mentor relationship is that it is sustained for a period of time. In many of these children’s lives, countless people have let them down. In order to make a difference, a commitment of at least one academic semester is needed. While tutors and mentors mainly are adults, high school and college students can also be a part of this.

The East Point Tutoring Academy will meet on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. (you attend one of these days.) The program operates throughout the academic school year. If tutors can't make a weekly commitment, they can donate their skills by helping the program in other areas to promote our academic initiative. We need volunteers who will support technology, help build web pages and write newsletters, or who will help organize events like our annual holiday parties, the arts/video festival or the year end dinner. Not everyone can be a volunteer, but almost anyone can help these kids connect with mentors and learning experiences in the East Point Tutoring Academy.

If you would like more information on volunteering, call me at 404.270.7045, or email me at shobson@eastpointcity.org.