Session Overview
Brainstorm a research plan for exploring a paid volunteer program so that SitStayRead can recruit more book buddy volunteers and literacy dog teams from the neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago where we bring literacy programs to K-3rd Grade classrooms in where reading scores are typically the lowest and children live in low income homes or have housing insecurity.
Connecting with fixed income seniors and veterans is of great interest. All volunteers must pass not only a standard background check but a more rigorous one from Chicago Public Schools. Spanish speaking volunteers are greatly needed as well.
This is a larger project we need t map out over the next year as the organization right sizes and codifies its English and Spanish curriculum, and explores more fee-based intergenerational family literacy programs we can offer to literacy partners who work with adults in the same neighborhoods where we serve young students.
Nonprofit Overview
SitStayRead is a non-profit organization that uses an engaging proven curriculum, trained volunteers, and Certified Reading Assistance Dogs to advance the literacy skills of kindergarten through third-grade students.
We serve Chicago schools and community-based organizations where the student population is at least 90% low-income and 60% of third graders score below the national reading average.
With our partner hosts, passionate volunteers, and generous donors, SitStayRead programs inspire Chicago youth to become enthusiastic, proficient readers, gain confidence in their own voices, and agency in creating success and joy in their lives.