TO: FR: DATE: RE:

A Valued Community and Visionary Leader Willie B. Cochran, Alderman and Phyllis P. Hayes, Education Coordinator October 4, 2012 Invitation to serve as WITS (Working in the Schools Volunteer)

I am pleased to announce that the 20th Ward has partnered with the Wits (Working in the Schools) Organization to combine educational efforts to improve literacy skills in our elementary schools. Whereas, four schools have been selected to participate in this pilot project, there is a need to assist these schools with their ability to improve academic standing and reading scores. The Wits Early Childhood program is a unique opportunity for educators, community leaders, and volunteers such as yourself to become involved in the lives of our students while they are on-site at their perspective schools. Wits (founded in 1991) has been recognized for its contributions to our communities, and is an award winning, public-private partnership enterprise whose mission is to increase the reading proficiency and learning capacity of low-income and minority students in Chicago Public Schools. As the Alderman of the 20th Ward, I am thrilled to afford this opportunity to our participating schools. With my goal to improve student reading skills and increase students interest in books, I reach out to you for assistance. Would you like to help us make a difference? We need people like you to donate a small amount of your time, energy, and experience for this project to be successful. It is my mission that "together," we will be able to make a difference in the lives of the students that we mentor, as well as guide them toward a brighter future. Individuals who have partnered with the Wits program note that "they feel rewarded many times over for the help they provide in making a difference in the lives of others." Won't you join me with this endeavor, our first meeting (VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION) will be held on: Monday, October 15, 2012 from 6:00pm8:00pm at the University of Chicago, 915 East 60th Street, Room 801. Would you please contact my Education Coordinator, Phyllis P. Hayes at 773-870-1910 or phayes@haileconsulting.com to confirm your participation or find out more about how you can help? Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!

20th Ward in Partnership with WITS - Working in the Schools

FACT SHEET
Unfortunately, it is a fact that millions of people across our nation have difficulty reading and literacy issues are possibly one of our most important challenges. In an effort to improve literacy in the 20th Ward, the Wits Partnership will seek to address this need by recruiting professional volunteers to assist with this problem. The 20th Ward is seeking 50 Volunteers to tutor "at-risk" students from selected elementary schools to help improve their reading and writing skills (in an one-on-one setting). Recruitment efforts are targeting identified employers, their employees, community and civic-minded organizations, retired professionals, faithbased organizations and others. The support of this Early Childhood Project is an excellent way to prepare students for life-skills, college-readiness, and the "world of work." All volunteers for this project must complete a Chicago Public Schools background check and a WITS Volunteer Application. Volunteers are asked to donate at least one hour and a half (once a week) between 9:00am - 10:45am. Volunteers must participate in the Volunteer Orientation that will be held on Monday, October 15, 2012 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm - University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th St. - Rm. 801. All training aspects will be presented by Administrators from the Wits Organization (where CPS policies and procedures, etc.) will be discussed. In partnership with the Wits Project, the 20th Ward has a goal to help these schools remove literacy barriers and improve their Schools Report Cards from (low academic standing) to (good academic standing and higher). Our goal to provide both students and teachers with the needed support could not be successful without your dedication and commitment. The Children's Foundation of America (Summer, 2011) notes that "widespread illiteracy not only leads to lower education and employment

rates, it is also linked to increased crime and incarceration and a high social and economic cost." Let's join together to make a difference in the lives of our future leaders; for the time is NOW!