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Ready to Help Other Kids?

Volunteer to help students tell their stories

DURATION

1-2 hours

WHERE

The Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute

3035 Washington Street

Roxbury, MA 02119 

WHEN

Throughout the year

WHOSE HELP IS REQUIRED

Adult

HOW IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE

826 Boston is a nonprofit youth writing and publishing organization that empowers traditionally underserved students ages 6-18 to find their voices, tell their stories, and gain communication skills to succeed in school and in life.

Our services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success. With this understanding in mind, we provide after-school tutoring, field trips, creative writing workshops, in-school tutoring, help for English Language Learners, and in-depth publishing projects.

DESCRIPTION

826 Boston is a nonprofit youth writing and publishing organization that empowers traditionally underserved students ages 6-18 to find their voices, tell their stories, and gain communication skills to succeed in school and in life.

 

What it’s like to volunteer

  • Build community and have fun while mentoring the next generation of writers.
  • Work with students individually and in small groups to help them express their ideas creatively, confidently, and in their own voices in one of our imagination-inducing spaces.
  • Volunteer once a week, once a month, or once a semester. Shifts can vary between one and three hours.
  • We provide support, coaching, tutoring techniques and resources to help you keep growing and learning.

 

Volunteer Opportunities

  • After-School Tutoring: Support students through tutoring, homework help, subject-specific support, and creative writing projects on weekday afternoons and evenings in Egleston Square.
  • In-Schools Projects: Support special projects and class assignments at local schools in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain on weekday mornings and afternoons.
  • Field Trips: Support our storytelling and bookmaking field trips on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in Egleston Square or remotely.
  • Special Projects: Plan and support events, facilitate a creative workshop, help students write and revise college essays, volunteer as an illustrator, designer, or photographer, and much more.

 

To get started, sign up to attend an info session at 826boston.org/volunteer.

ITEMS NEEDED

Volunteers will be the subject of a CORI background check, and should be prepared to provide proof of identity (via passport, driver's license, or official state ID)  at the volunteer info session. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Volunteers must be 16 or older to participate as a tutor in our programming. 

NEXT STEPS

Interested volunteers should sign up for an upcoming volunteer info session at 826boston.org/volunteer. After attending an info session, volunteers will attend a tutor training.

WEBSITE


Sound like fun?VIEW INSTRUCTIONS▼ to get started.
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  1. Check out our Programs Page to read all about the different tutoring opportunities available.  Our programs vary in structure, and a tutor's responsibilities can differ depending on the program they participate in. 
  2. Attend one of our Volunteer Info Sessions at the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute in Egleston Square. We'll give you an overview of 826 Boston, review our different programs, and discuss the many different ways you can get involved. 
  3. You’ll need to bring a government­-issued photo ID, as well as the last 6 digits of your Social Security Number.  We will use this information to run a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check. 
  4. Anyone interested in volunteering directly with our students must also attend a Tutoring Training (offered weekly)! 
  5. Check your email inbox for next steps!
  6. Sign up for shifts using our Handy Dandy Volunteer Calendar. You can use your mouse to hover over a shift to see how many volunteers we still need, then click and follow the instructions. You’ll only be able to sign-up if you’ve completed our Tutor Training, otherwise you will receive an error message.
  7. I have a question but it must be infrequent because it doesn’t appear in this list. How can I ask?  Shoot us an email or call us at 617.442.5400.