|
GETTING STARTED
Ready to get started? Wonderful! Just sign up and we'll get you hooked up right away.
New volunteers should also download and fill out the Background Check Form.
NEED VOLUNTEERS?
Are you a Chicago-based literacy program looking for enthusiastic and energetic volunteers? We'd love to hear from you about how we can work together.
OTHER PROGRAMS
Thanks to incredible and enthusiastic volunteers like you, several of our programs are full!
click here for details...
|
The Neighborhood Writing Alliance creates opportunities for adults in Chicago’s low-income neighborhoods to write, publish, and perform works about their lives. We join them as volunteers to work in writing groups.
|
|
Literacy Chicago is the city's oldest and largest adult literacy organization. Currently our volunteers have filled the available slots for ABE and ESL tutors, but if you know an adult who needs help learning to read or learning English, please contact us!
|
|
Through book group discussions and poetry writing, Literature For All Of Us brings the rewards of literature to teen mothers and other young people in underserved neighborhoods. We work with them as book group volunteers and program sponsors.
|
|
Are you a fellow bookworm who brakes for book sales, thinks rainy day = reading, carries a threadbare library card, and wants to get involved with increasing literacy across the city? We need your help and appreciate all that you can contribute!
|
|
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH
OPEN BOOKS |
|
|
|
|
Ready to start volunteering in Open Books Buddies or Adventures In Creative Writing field trips? Fantastic! Check out our Resources page for tips on working with kids and books. |
|
|
|
Open Books Reading Buddies
weekly / around the city
Got an hour at lunch or before work? Join us as a reading Buddy at a local elementary school! We pair up with kids to work on fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, expression, confidence, and developing an overall love of reading. To get started, email volunteer@open-books.org!
click here for details...
Volunteer role: Be a one-on-one reading Buddy to a student.
Site #1: Near North
Schiller Elementary School
640 W. Scott St.
Days/times:
Thursdays, starting September 11
12:20 - 1:10pm
Fridays, starting September 12
8:30 - 9am
This Buddies site is FULL for Fall 2008! Please join us at another site. Nearby options include West Town (#3) and South Loop (#4)!
Site #2: North Lawndale
Holy Family Lutheran School
3415 W. Arthington
Days/times:
Tuesdays, starting September 2
4:15 - 6pm
Shifts of 4:15 - 5pm or 5 - 6pm also available
To find out more and become a reading Buddy in North Lawndale, email Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site# 3: West Town
Mitchell Elementary School
2233 W. Ohio
Days/times:
Thursdays, starting October 2 12 - 12:45pm
Want to be a Buddy at Mitchell this fall? E-mail Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #4: South Loop/Chinatown
Perspectives Charter School
1930 S. Archer
Days/times:
Mondays, beginning September 29
3:45 - 5:15 pm
Want to be a Buddy at Perspectives this fall? E-mail Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #5: Bucktown
Chicago International Charter School Bucktown Campus
2235 N. Hamilton
Days/times:
Wednesdays, starting September 17 12noon - 12:45pm
To find out more and become a reading Buddy in Bucktown, email Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #6: Irving Park
CICS Irving Park Campus
3820 N. Spaulding
Tuesdays, beginning October 7
12noon - 12:45pm
To find out more and become a reading Buddy in Irving Park, email Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #7: Logan Square
Goethe Elementary School
2236 N Rockwell St.
Days/times:
Mondays, beginning October 6
12:15 - 1pm
Want to be a Buddy at Goethe this fall? E-mail Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #8: Auburn Gresham
Barbara A. Sizemore Academy campus of Betty Shabazz Charter School
1540 W. 84th St.
Days/times:
Weekday afternoon TBD
To find out more and become a reading Buddy at Betty Shabazz, email Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Site #9: Evanston
Oakton Elementary School
436 Ridge Ave., Evanston
Days/times:
Fridays, beginning October 17
1:45 - 2:30pm
Want to be a Buddy at Oakton this fall? E-mail Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Additional:
Background check required.
Adults and kids will be matched one-on-one this year, so we ask Big Buddies to commit to at least one semester at a site. Our Little Buddies need that stability, and it will make the role-model relationship stronger. (Of course, absences will happen for buddies big and little, we understand. We'll have Buddy subs as needed.) If you can't commit for a semester, we'll be thrilled to have your help with events and creative writing field trips. Thanks and see you soon!
Wondering what a Buddies session looks like? Check out our photo set! |
|
 |
Creative Writing Field Trips At Open Books
mornings / River North Would you like to help Open Books bring poetry and prose to life for 4th through 12th graders? Then become a writing Buddy on our creative writing field trips team! Tuesday and Thursday mornings this fall, we need fun folks to help with visiting classes. No experience necessary! You can sign up to come weekly or as your schedule allows.
click here for details...
Times/Location
Tuesday and Thursday mornings
9:30 am - noon
Starting September 9, 2008
Open Books
213 W. Institute Place
Suite 305
To find out more and get started with field trips, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
Wondering what a field trip looks like? Check out our photo set! |
|
|
 |
Book Pickups And Sorting
varies / around the city
Thanks to the incredible generosity of people across the city, we've got over 150,000 books to sort and even more to pick up. Join us for a few hours of book-based fun on the road and in our warehouse!
click here for details...
Volunteer role:
Go to book donor locations, load books into van, unload them at warehouse, sort them into piles, etc.
Times/Location:
Schedule varies: weekdays, weekends, etc.
Commitment:
Help as often as you like, based on your availability! Calendars of book pickups, extra sorting days, etc. will be emailed regularly.
Book Pickups:
Variable scheduling based on donor requests.
To sign up for book pickup and sorting, contact Dustin (dwalsh@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
The Great American Book Drive™
October 26, 2008
10am - 4pm
What's green and read all over? The Great American Book Drive™ at Open Books! We are looking for people to help us unload books, sort books, box books, be human signage arrows, be greeters and much more on Octber 26. You will get a FREE t-shirt and the chance to browse the donated books! If you’d like to join us, sign up now!
|
|
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES WITH
OPEN BOOKS PARTNERS |
|
|
|
 |
Youth Tutoring At Blue Gargoyle
afternoons / Hyde Park
A child in the Blue Gargoyle program needs your help in reading, writing and math. You can make a difference! The program serves children ages 6-12 who are failing or at risk of failing in school, and the summer program includes environmental, musical, and art components as well as tutoring.
click here for details...
Volunteer role:
Tutor once a week in the Blue Gargoyle Youth Tutoring Program, which serves Chicago Public School Students ages 6-12.
Times/Location:
Fall information coming soon!
Training and orientation are set up on an individual basis.
5638 S. Woodlawn Ave.
(Hyde Park, South Side)
To find out more and get started at Blue Gargoyle, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Tutoring Kids At Chicago HOPES
afternoons, evenings, weekends / around the city
Chicago HOPES empowers homeless students to succeed academically through shelter-based, after-school tutoring and cultural enrichment opportunities. We join them as volunteers to help kids with their homework and literacy skills.
click here for details...
Volunteer role: Assist 1-3 students with homework and other activities.
Times/Locations:
Great Hope Family Center (Pilsen)
2622 W. Cermak
Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 - 5pm
Ubuntu (Brighton Park)
2905 W. 43rd St. (Pope John Paul II Drive)
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 - 5pm
Cornerstone Community Outreach (Uptown)
4628 N. Clifton
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 3 - 4:30pm
Maria Shelter (Englewood)
7320 S. Yale
Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 - 5pm
Tabb South I (Gresham)
8718 S. Paulina
Tuesday, 3:30 - 5pm
Sunday, 6 - 7:30pm
Thelma's Place (Ashburn)
8040 S. Western
Sunday, 6 - 7:30pm
Tuesday and Thursday, 3:30 - 5pm
Commitment:
90 minutes weekly for at least 1 semester
Additional:
Background check and training session required. Upcoming training sessions are on/at:
Chicago Bee Library Branch
3647 S. State
Sat, September 27 from 11am - 1pm
Sat, October 18 from 11am - 1pm
Sat, November 1 from 11am - 1pm
Sat, January 10 from 11am - 1pm
To find out more and become a Chicago HOPES tutor, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Youth Tutoring / Activities At Christopher House
times vary / 3 sites
(North/Northwest)
Open Books is excited to partner with Christopher House, a family resource center which has been serving Chicago communities for more than 100 years! Open Books volunteers are needed and welcome in the many Christopher House programs below.
click here for details...
Christopher House's sites are:
2507 N. Greenview in Lincoln Park
3255 W. Altgeld in Logan Square
4701 N. Winthrop in Uptown
Programs you can volunteer in at these sites are:
Youth Tutoring
Mondays and Wednesdays
5:30 - 6:30 pm
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Uptown
Tuesdays and Thursdays
5:30 - 6:30 pm
6:30 - 7:30 pm
Lincoln Park
College Prep Assistance for 8th-10th Graders
(College degree or professional career required)
Various weekdays
3:30 - 6:30 pm
Lincoln Park
ESL Kids' Club
Mondays and Wednesdays
3 - 5 pm
6 - 8 pm
Logan Square
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9 - 11 am
6 - 8 pm
Lincoln Park
To get started at Christopher House, fill out the volunteer info form and email volunteer@open-books.org to let us know which program fits your schedule. More info will follow. Thanks!
|
|
 |
Youth Tutoring, Mentoring, And More At East Village Youth Program
times vary / several locations
Open Books proudly welcomes East Village Youth Program -- and its many fantastic youth literacy programs (actually located on the West and Northwest sides of Chicago) -- to our volunteer listings.
click here for details...
East Village Youth Program sites are:
3643 W. Belmont
(Avondale, 2 blocks from Belmont Blue Line stop)
2233 W. Ohio
(Mitchell Elementary School, West Town)
Programs you can volunteer in at these sites are:
Tutor in Avondale/Logan Square
Help students in grades 5-12 with homework or a specific subject area. Middle school students typically need help with their homework, high school students typically need help in a subject area. Tutors work one-on-one or with a small group of students.
1 day a week, Monday or Wednesday
6 - 7:15 pm
3643 W. Belmont
Office location
2 blocks from Belmont Blue Line stop
Tutor In West Town / Wicker Park
Help students in grades 5-8 with homework. Tutors work one-on-one or with a small group of students.
1 day a week, Tuesday or Thursday
6 - 7:15 pm
At Mitchell Elementary School
2233 W. Ohio
Near Western and Chicago
Mentor In Avondale / Logan Square
Get matched with a student in grade 6-10 and develop a personal relationship with him/her. Meet with your student 3-4 times a month.
1 formal mentor/mentee meeting a month
Night of the week TBA
6 - 7 pm
3643 W. Belmont
Office location
2 blocks from Belmont Blue Line stop
Scholarship Coach in Avondale / Logan Square
Get matched with a student in grade 11. Scholarship coach will help student navigate the process of applying for private scholarships for 2 academic years. Aside from the initial orientation/trainings, scholarship coaches can maintain a relationship with their student in whatever manner best suits the pair. Communication can include but is not limited to meetings at EVYP, communication via email, phone calls, etc. Scholarship coach and student will determine their own meeting style during the orientation/trainings.
Pairs must communicate monthly. Scholarship coach will support student to submit monthly scholarship log.
2 (academic) year commitment required. No exceptions.
Start date and commitment:
November 2008 - June 2009
2 orientation/trainings required in November. Dates TBA.
3643 W. Belmont
Office location
2 blocks from Belmont Blue Line stop
Other Volunteer Opportunities
• Facilitate a workshop for parents, elementary students, high school students, college students, or alumni on a variety of topics ranging from Financial Aid, How to Choose a Major, Personal Financial Planning, Why College is Important, etc.
• Serve on a career panel
• Host a job shadow
• Be a guest speaker
• Design and implement ACT curriculum
• Provide administrative help
• Volunteer on the benefit committee
• Fundraise
• Serve on the Board of Directors
• Help with website design
• Volunteer with Mitchell Elementary School’s Community School Initiative
To find out more and volunteer through Open Books' partnership with East Village Youth Program, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Visiting Schools With Sit Stay Read
weekday mornings and varied after-school and weekend times / around Chicago
Open Books partner Sit Stay Read brings volunteers and dogs - yes, doggies! - to schools and community facilities so kids can read and write with them and improve literacy skills. It's lots of fun, and the program gets results! :) You don't even need to own a dog to volunteer.
click here for details...
Volunteer role:
Read with children and assist with writing projects.
Training Times/Location:
Saturday, September 19, 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Anti-Cruelty Society
157 W. Grand Ave.
Free parking is available (enter garage on Wells St.)
To find out more and sign up for a Sit Stay Read training date, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Playing On The StoryBus
mornings, afternoons / around the city
What is the StoryBus? 37 feet of interactive literacy activities for kids! We join the Bus on its travels and help with reading, playing, face painting, and more.
click here for details...
Volunteer role:
Read stories to pre-K and K classes, play and explore with students in the bus, do face painting.
Times/Location:
9am - 4pm
Schools across the city
Commitment:
Help as often as you like, based on your availability. Calendars will be emailed monthly.
Additional:
Fingerprinting and background check required
To find out more and get started on the StoryBus, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
|
|
The State of Illinois requires 12 hours of training for new adult literacy tutors. Unless otherwise noted in the program listings below, trainings are conducted by Open Books partner Literacy Works. Please make sure you are on the Open Books e-mail list and signed up as a volunteer to get the latest training info. Once you're trained, you can tutor in any of our programs and start helping a fellow Chicagoan learn English, improve job skills, take the GED, or even learn to read for the first time! |
|
 |
Adult Education At Albany Park Community Center
times flexible / Albany Park
Albany Park Community Center, a vibrant part of one of Chicago's most diverse areas of the Northwest Side, is in need of volunteer tutors in English as a Second Language (ESL), basic literacy, and math. A good command of the English language and a desire to teach adults are required.
click here for details...
Volunteer role:
One-on-one adult education tutor
Location:
Albany Park Community Center
5101 N. Kimball Ave
Times:
Hours are flexible - mornings, afternoons, evenings, or Saturdays - as long as they are consistent. Ideal tutors commit to about 4 hours per week, meeting with student(s) twice per week for 2 hours per session.
To volunteer with our partners at Albany Park Community Center, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Adult Education At Blue Gargoyle
times vary / Hyde Park
Work one-on-one with adult students at Blue Gargoyle on basic reading and math skills, including ABE and ESL.
click here for details...
2008 Training Dates/Times:
October 14, 16, 21, and 23
6-9 pm
All four nights required to complete state training requirement for adult literacy tutors.
Blue Gargoyle
5638 S. Woodlawn
To sign up for these training times, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Adult Tutoring At Christopher House
times vary / 3 sites (North/Northwest)
Open Books is excited to partner with Christopher House, a family resource center which has been serving Chicago communities for more than 100 years! Open Books volunteers are needed and welcome in the many Christopher House programs below.
click here for details...
Christopher House's sites are:
2507 N. Greenview in Lincoln Park
3255 W. Altgeld in Logan Square
4701 N. Winthrop in Uptown
Programs you can volunteer in at these sites are:
GED Tutoring For Adults
(12-hour state training highly encouraged but not required)
Mondays and Wednesdays
9:30 - 1:00
Various sites
Adult ESL Tutoring
Mondays
5:45 - 7:15
Uptown
Mondays and Wednesdays
3 - 5
6 - 8
Logan Square
Tuesdays and Thursdays
9 - 11
6 - 8
Lincoln Park
Individual tutoring sessions also arranged based on student and volunteer schedules.
To get started at Christopher House, fill out the volunteer info form and email volunteer@open-books.org to let us know which program fits your schedule. More info will follow. Thanks!
|
| |
|
