As part of Brewers Hill Literacy Day, a new “Born Learning Trail” was also unveiled at Carver Academy.
United Way of Greater Milwaukee launched an initiative recently to recruit 3,000 new volunteer readers, tutors and mentors over the next three years during a special “Brewers Hill Literacy Day.”
The event, which was held at Carver Academy and COA Youth & Family Centers, coincided with United Way’s Intern Day of Action. Nearly 250 college interns from Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls, Northwestern Mutual, BMO Harris Bank, MillerCoors, Harley- Davidson Motor Company, Briggs & Stratton, Pentair and The Mark Travel Corporation were paired with more than 250 children ages 3-16 from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and COA Youth & Family Centers.
The young mentors and children spent the afternoon reading and participating in interactive literacy-based games led by First Stage Children’s Theater. Each child received a free book to take home, courtesy of Next Door Foundation. The event was designed to help raise awareness about the important role adults play in a child’s academic success through reading, tutoring and mentoring.
“Our hope is that by mobilizing a neighborhood, we can mobilize our entire community to become readers, tutors and mentors,” said Nicole Angresano, vice president of community impact, United Way of Greater Milwaukee. “We know that children who have caring adults who take the time to read to them, to tutor or mentor them, are far more successful academically and have a better chance of graduating from high school.”
In 2008, United Way Worldwide announced a goal to cut by half the number of young people who drop out of high school by 2018. As part of this effort, United Way Worldwide announced a commitment to recruit one million volunteer readers, tutors and mentors. Locally, United Way of Greater Milwaukee has pledged to sign up 3,000 volunteers and has partnered with Next Door Foundation, Interfaith’s RSVP Tutor Program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Milwaukee Inc. along with other youth serving groups to recruit and place the new volunteers, who will be offered many opportunities with a range of commitment levels.
“These three partners have wonderful programs already established within the reading, tutoring and mentoring arenas” Angresano said. “We are grateful for their expertise and partnership as we work to improve education outcomes in our community.”
As part of Brewers Hill Literacy Day, a new “Born Learning Trail” was also unveiled at Carver Academy. This engaging path of interactive activities helps promote school readiness in young children.