Is it Tuesday?                             

Grace-Trinity Tutoring Program:

Since the fall of 2000, Grace-Trinity Community Church has nurtured a unique partnership with Jefferson Community School, numerous community volunteers, and first-year students at Macalester College in the Lilly Foundation's "Lives of Commitment" program. Each Tuesday afternoon students from Jefferson come to the church to receive help with their schoolwork, eat a nourishing dinner with their tutor, and spend time with caring adults in a safe and positive environment. The students work with the same tutor for the entire year, giving both students and tutors alike the opportunity to form a strong bond of trust. Reading and math scores go up and, more importantly, the program brings to light the very real benefits of uniting people of different backgrounds to learn from each other and share common ground.

The Students:

Jefferson Community School is located two blocks away from the church. During the 2007-2008 school year, 60% of the students in the program were Latino, 30% African American, 5% Native American, and 5% Caucasian. The students range from third to fourth grade, and are identified by their teachers as needing extra help with their schoolwork.

The Volunteers:

The tutoring program is a striking blend of people who work to make it happen. In 2007-2008 there were eight volunteers who cooked and served nutritious meals, 20 tutors, and ten additional volunteers who helped with transportation, special events, testing, and professional career presentations. All tutors are carefully screened. They range in age from 18 to 84 years old, and they represent a wide variety of backgrounds and walks of life. Together, they donate over 1,300 hours per year to the program.

"I have to say that being a tutor at Grace-Trinity has been one of my most treasured volunteer experiences of my life. One-on-one tutoring, although more difficult than simply playing with children, is more rewarding in the long term because you don't just witness progress, you experience it and play an active role. Working closely with one child for an entire academic year provides them with the continuity and support they need outside the classroom. And it isn't all learning either - you get to know the child on a much deeper level, playing educational games, reading their favorite books, and eating dinner with them. I look forward to volunteering for years to come."  - Liz Scholz, Macalester College tutor 2007-08

If you are interested in tutoring, volunteering for one of our many support positions, making a monetary contribution, or donating supplies, please contact Kristin Green, Tutoring Coordinator at 612-872-8266, or tutoring@gracetrinitychurch.org .