|
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!
|
|
|
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...
|
|
 |
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:
Ubuntu (Brighton Park)
2905 W. 43rd St. (Pope John Paul II Drive)
Students aged 5-10 (grades K-5)
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
2-4 pm
Tuesdays - Every other Tuesday students will go on field trips from 10 am-4 pm. On the Tuesdays they do not go on trips, they will be engaged in academic activities about their next, upcoming fieldtrip.
Wednesdays - devoted to academic lesson plans
Thursdays - devoted to a specific enrichment project which will last for the length of the summer program
Great Hope Family Center (Pilsen)
2622 W. Cermak
Students aged 5-11 (grades K-6)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
2 - 4 pm
Tuesdays - devoted to a specific enrichment project which will last for the length of the summer program
Wednesdays - Every other Wednesday students will go on field trips from 10 am-4 pm. On the Wednesdays they do not go on trips, they will be engaged in academic activities about their next, upcoming fieldtrip.
Thursdays - devoted to academic lesson plans
Thelma's Place (Ashburn)
8040 S. Western
Students aged 5-17 (grades K-12)
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
2 - 4 pm
Tuesdays- devoted to academic lesson plans
Wednesdays- devoted to a specific enrichment project which will last for the length of the summer program
Thursday- Every other Thursday students will go on field trips from 10 am-4 pm. On the Thursdays they do not go on trips, they will be engaged in academic activities about their next, upcoming fieldtrip.
Commitment:
90 minutes weekly for at least 1 semester
Additional:
Background check and training session required. Summer training sessions are on/at:
Chicago Bee Library Branch
3647 S. State
Sat, May 31 from 1-3 pm
Sat, June 14 from 1-3 pm
Sat, July 12 from 11 am-1 pm
Federal Building
77 W. Jackson
Tues, May 20 from 3-5 pm in Room 330
Thurs, June 19 from 3-5 pm in Room 327
Tues, July 1 from 3-5 pm in Room 327
To find out more and become a Chicago HOPES tutor, 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!
SPECIAL! In May 2008, we have a series of exciting family literacy events planned with our
friends at the StoryBus. Check out the listing on the Events page and let us know when you can help! |
|
 |
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:
Pick any two-hour time period
Monday - Thursday, July 7 - August 15
1-6 pm
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!
|
|
 |
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:
Tuesday, August 19, 6 - 8 pm
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!
|
|
 |
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...
Adult literacy tutors must receive 12 hours of state-mandated training to get started. We know that's a lot, but it's worth it. Imagine the difference your tutoring will make in the life of an adult who is working to improve job skills, take the GED, or is just learning to read! And once you are trained to be an adult education tutor, you can pitch in at any of Open Books' adult education partner programs. Sign up and start making a difference!
Summer Training Times
All training courses are conducted by Open Books partner Literacy Works.
ESL:
North/Howard Area:
May 17 & 31
June 21 & 28
July 19 & 26
10am - 4pm
Pilsen Area:
May 3 & 10
June 7 & 14
10:15am - 4pm
ABE:
North Side:
May 17 & 31
June 14 & 21
July 12 & 19
10am - 4pm
West Loop:
June 21 & 28
July 19 & 26
10:15am - 4pm
To sign up for any of these training times, contact Erin (ewalter@open-books.org) now!
|
|
 |
Tutoring And Activities At Christopher House
times vary / several locations
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
6:30 - 7:30
Uptown
Tuesdays and Thursdays
5:30 - 6:30
6:30 - 7:30
Lincoln Park
College Prep Assistance for 8th-10th Graders
(College degree or professional career required)
Various weekdays
3:30 - 6:30
Lincoln Park
Summer Art Days Activities
Friday afternoons, once a month
Various sites
Summer Camp
7:30 - 5:30
Various sites
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 .
ESL Kids' Club
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!
|
|
 |
Creative Writing Field Trips At Open Books
mornings / River North Would you like to help us bring poetry and prose to life with our creative writing field trips? Do you know a teacher or school who might like to bring a class to Open Books for an exciting, inspiring morning downtown?
click here for details...
We're looking for volunteers and scheduling 5th - 8th grade classes now!
Times/Location
Tuesday and Thursday mornings
10 am - noon
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!
For this fabulous new program, Open Books needs to stock up on the following:
- Blank writing journals
- Copier paper (white and colored)
- Pens
- Pencils
- Markers
- Crayons
- Glue
- Construction paper
- Tissue paper
We also need a trusty copy machine and a projector.
Do you have any of these items? Do you (or someone you know) work for a company that could donate them? Or could you simply help us buy them? Please let us know at fieldtrips@open-books.org!
|
|
 |
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.
Upcoming Dates:
April 3
April 4
April 18
Book Sorting: Every 3rd Saturday of the month
2008 Dates:
April 19
May 17
June 21
July 19
August 16
September 20
October 18
November 15
December 20
Place: The Open Books Warehouse
600 N. AlbanyDRIVING DIRECTIONS:
Lake Shore Drive to Chicago; westbound on Chicago to Albany. Once you get there, there is plenty of street parking available.
TRANSIT DIRECTIONS:
Blue Line to Chicago; Chicago bus #66 westbound to Albany
To sign up for book pickup and sorting, contact Dustin (dwalsh@open-books.org) now!
|
|
