Calling All Volunteers – Read With Lawyers for Literacy!
By Did you know that October and November are “education” months? National Learning and Development Month is celebrated each October, and November is National Education Month. Both of these months focus on the importance of supporting education and learning and provide unique opportunities to get involved within your local education community. One activity that is available is volunteering to read to elementary school-aged children who need assistance meeting their reading goals.
Lawyers for Literacy is a public service program that matches legal professionals with local schoolchildren to improve students’ reading skills and spark their interest in books, civics and history. Lawyers for Literacy is looking for individuals who can commit to once-a-week school visits for four consecutive weeks. Each visit typically lasts around 30 minutes, during which you will read with a small group of kids. All materials are provided by the Foundation, from books to stickers and pencils!
The following are some quotes from a few of this year’s Lawyer for Literacy volunteers about how they have enjoyed their time spent volunteering with this amazing program:
Consuela Simmons, Attorney
“Serving as a volunteer for Lawyers for Literacy was the highlight of my Wednesday. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the kindergartners at Eastway Elementary. Reading, listening, and laughing with the kids was a great start to my morning. I urge anyone to jump at the opportunity to serve the community in this capacity.”
Manning Peeler, Attorney
“Lawyers for Literacy is a fantastic way to connect with the community and serve as a positive role model for students. Helping students to foster a passion for reading and creating opportunities for learning is a genuinely rewarding experience. Plus, starting the day off experiencing the infectious energy of the students brightens the whole day ahead!”
Kristina Schwartz, Attorney
“The experience is fun and rewarding! I was matched at a school not too far from my home office and read to the students for 30 minutes before work, so the commitment was very manageable and time flew by. The students loved the attention and were eager every time we met. I think we were both enriched by our time together.”
How to Volunteer
Ready to get involved? To get started, the NC Bar Foundation will work with you to contact a school in your area and set up this program, as well as assist with recruiting other legal professionals to join in. However, there are two Lawyers for Literacy opportunities lined up for Fall 2023 that you can assist with now:
Durham
Lawyers for Literacy is partnering with an elementary school in downtown Durham this fall. The program will take place at the beginning of the school day (around 8 a.m.) for 30-45 minutes. The four visits will be on October 25, November 2, November 8, and November 15. If you are interested, please e-mail Sara Dowd by October 10 to sign up!
Charlotte
Lawyers for Literacy is partnering with an elementary school in Charlotte and the program will take place at the beginning of the school day (around 9:15am) for 30-45 minutes. The four visits will be on October 25, November 1, November 8, and November 15. If you are interested, please e-mail Sara Dowd by October 12 to sign up!
If you would like to be a part of this program, volunteer for one of the events described above or to learn more about Lawyers for Literacy, please read more about the program or reach out to Sara Dowd.