VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Volunteer

Opportunities

Washington Literacy Center is the only professionally trained literacy program in the District of Columbia, but we still rely on our resourceful and dedicated volunteers to support our students through administrative tasks, one-on-one tutoring, and teaching supplemental classes such as Math, Driver’s Knowledge Classes, and Digital Literacy Classes.

Individuals, community groups, and corporate teams volunteering are essential to Washington Literacy Center's daily operations and amplify our community impact.

We are looking for volunteers interested in adult education to fill roles at WLC. All volunteers are required to attend a volunteer training, which takes between 2-4 hours. Some positions require a larger time dedication and others are less than a few hours per week. No matter how much time you have to give, there is something you can do to help Washington Literacy Center and our students.

To learn more about the opportunities that will help change lives, please email us at volunteers@washlit.org

Digital Literacy Instructor
We are looking for someone who can dedicate approximately 4 hours per week for a 12 week period to teaching our Digital Literacy curriculum. We are particularly in need of instructors for our morning class time (11:15AM – 12:15PM) and our evening class time (5:30PM-6:30PM). Our digital literacy curriculum is unique in its focus on using technology as a way of teaching literacy. The ideal volunteer will have ample experience using computers and some experience teaching in the classroom.

Math Instructor
We are looking for someone who can dedicate approximately 4 hours per week for a 12 week period to teaching one of our math classes. We are particularly in need of instructors for our morning class time (11:15AM – 12:15PM). Our math classes are divided into three levels of varying intensities to give our students a firm understanding of math for future educational endeavors and how to use math to complete daily tasks.

Driver’s Education Instructor
We are looking for someone who can dedicate approximately 4 hours per week for a 6 week period. We are particularly in need of instructors for our morning class time (11:15AM – 12:15PM). Our curriculum is purely focused on helping students pass the Driver’s Knowledge Test (aka “the written test”) since it poses a unique barrier for adults learning to read.

Tutors
We need volunteers who can dedicate 1-4 hours per week to tutoring students in 1-on-1 settings. The individualized attention and supplemental instruction our tutors provide is essential to our students’ success. We need tutors for students in all of our classes: morning, afternoon, and evening.

Administrative Volunteers
We need volunteers who can dedicate 1-10 hours per week to performing administrative tasks such as answering phones, delivering messages, copying and preparing materials, calling absentee students, and various other tasks as they arise.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

“If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.” – Author Unknown

Susan came to the Washington Literacy Center in June 2018 seeking an opportunity to touch lives by volunteering to teach reading to our students. There were several students who expressed an interest in continuing their studies through the summer, so Susan was able to begin teaching right away.

Susan comes to the Washington Literacy Center as an attorney with experience as a law professor and Dean of Student Affairs for several law schools. Susan has a wealth of volunteer experience for various community-level organizations, including a “Read to Succeed” program for elementary school students in Orlando, FL. Susan was able to transfer her years of involvement in legal education coupled with her various volunteer experiences, to be a perfect fit for volunteering at Washington Literacy Center.

Susan is always enthusiastic and prepared when she comes to volunteer 2 days a week for 3 hours. She has effortlessly been able to utilize her previous employment and volunteer experience to working with our adult literacy students.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time volunteering at the Washington Literacy Center. Working with the students has been rewarding as I’m able to see their enthusiasm for learning. These are students who want to be here. It’s exciting to see my students succeed as they improve their skills. The success of my students inspires me, too.

SUSAN BENDLIN

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To read is to empower. To empower is to write. To write is to influence. To influence is to change. To change is to live.

- Jane Evershed