VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Creating a safe and joyful reading environment.

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Creating a safe and joyful reading environment.

Helpful LInks

Support WITS programs with a donation.
Download a PDF of this orientation.
See more volunteer resources.

program facilitators

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Marc Escobedo

Development Director

marc@witschicago.org
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Jessica Gilliam

Program Coordinator

jessica@witschicago.org
Kandace Mack

Kandace Mack

Program Coordinator

kandace@witschicago.org
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Tra'Lisha Renteria

Program Specialist

tralishar@witschicago.org
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Ellen Werner

Program Director

ellen@witschicago.org
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Estefania Rodriguez

Program Coordinator

estefania@witschicago.org

Thank you for your interest in WITS. The volunteer orientation is for WITS mentors who work at companies that already partner with WITS. If you learned about WITS from your employer, you are in the right place.

If you are a community member interested in learning about WITS Kindergarten, please email Daphne Robinson at DaphneR@witschicago.org.

If you are interested in your company becoming a WITS partner, please email Marc Escobedo at Marc@witschicago.org.

If you do not know whether your company participates in Workplace Mentoring or Mid-Day Mentoring, please contact your corporate coordinator or Ellen Werner at ellen@witschicago.org

Please fill out the below form in its entirety to sign up for the WITS Volunteer Orientation on Nov 10, 2023 12:00 PM Central Time and a zoom link will be sent to you. 

WHY OUR PROGRAMS MATTER

WHY OUR PROGRAMS MATTER

In December 2021, The Illinois State Board of Education estimated that only twenty percent of Chicago Public School third graders met literacy benchmarks last year, compared to forty percent in 2019.

84%

Eighty-four percent of students agreed that participating in WITS made them want to read for fun more often. Reading for fun leads to more reading engagement and better reading comprehension.

New research emphasizes the need for resources and programs that support students’ emotional well-being, which plays a critical role in their academic success.

100%

One hundred percent of our partner teachers are satisfied with student participation in WITS. Teachers value that our programs promote a love of reading and support social-emotional development in students.

wits mid day mentoring

WITS mid-day mentoring

Started in 2005, Mid-Day Mentoring (MDM) is a year-long literacy mentorship program for second-third grade Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. Once a week, mentors are transported from their workplaces to a neighborhood school where they meet with their student each week for forty-five minutes, enjoying shared reading, conversation, and relationship building activities.

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WITS WORKPLACE mentoring

wits workplace mentoring

Started in 1999, Workplace Mentoring (WPM) is a year-long literacy mentorship program for fourth-eighth grade Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students. Once a week after school, students are transported to a corporate office to meet one-on-one with their mentor for shared reading and homework support.

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WITS ON THE WEEKEND

STEAM at work

WITS on the Weekend (WoW) is a team-based reading and mentoring program that takes place for two hours on Saturday mornings from October to May. 3rd through 6th grade students meet their volunteer mentors at school to engage in team-building activities, recreational reading, and cooperative learning challenges focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) concepts. No previous STEAM experience is necessary. WoW volunteers commit to 16 select Saturdays from October-May, 10:00am-12:00pm.

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