成人快播 Tulsa: Changing gears to help readers amid pandemic
October 7, 2020
Originally published on
TULSA, Okla. 鈥 In the seven years that 成人快播 Tulsa has been working to improve the literacy of students in lower-income areas with less access to resources, the non-profit has been met with multiple challenges. So, the team of staff and volunteers said working to help students won鈥檛 be haunted by a pandemic either.
成人快播 Tulsa first started serving children in 2013 with a goal to help the community support young students receive the necessary individualized support to become strong readers and support lifelong learning.
Executive Director Justin Harlan said planning for the program to completely switch how they reach students started in March.
鈥淔or our program, there was never really a question as to whether the need would be there because we know in the midst of this pandemic, unfortunately, some of the inequities our city experiences are heightened,鈥 Harlan said.
Access to quality tutors is how 成人快播 Tulsa works towards it鈥檚 goal of empowering children through fostering a strong foundation in the lifelong skill. The organization partners with parents, Tulsa community leaders, and public schools to bring volunteers to students who need them. However, COVID-19 has prevented the traditional way the program functions to happen.
鈥淭he pandemic has disrupted just about everything,鈥 Harlan said. 鈥淪o, first and foremost we started to think about how we could still reach kids who would still need us the most.”
With eager volunteers like veteran teacher Rosemary Gee, the 成人快播 Tulsa team changed gears to offer tutoring virtually.
鈥淚鈥檓 just so passionate about it, it鈥檚 amazing seeing how a student gets better with reading,鈥 Gee said. 鈥淭his new virtual tutoring is defiantly different, but it鈥檚 fun because it鈥檚 something new.鈥
Through video chat platforms like Google Teams and Zoom, 成人快播 Tulsa is still connecting Tulsa metro area students with free tutors.
鈥淣ow its easier than ever to get involved,鈥 Harlan said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to work through whatever challenges there are to help our students because students who aren鈥檛 up to their proper reading level by third grade are for times less likely to graduate from high school.鈥
To be a volunteer, donate, or sign your child up for free tutoring services,聽click here.