Terrific Teens: Reflections on the KOREH L.A. Teen Literacy Corps
Move aside, "Tender Loving Care," there is a new TLC in town. Teen Literacy Corps, that is, and it is a special initiative of KOREH L.A. Although it shares many similarities with the KOREH L.A. program, the teenaged volunteers are what make this program truly unique.
The TLC program trains high school students, classrooms at a time, to be reading mentors for elementary school children in the same community. About once per week, each TLC high school class walks to a nearby elementary school to meet with their partner class. The teens meet with the same child every week and spend one hour together fostering literacy skills and a love of reading.
As the TLC Coordinator, I spend most of my time recruiting schools and teachers to participate in the program, coordinating literacy trainings for the high school students, and facilitating the partnerships between high school and elementary school teachers. So far this year, we have trained about 600 teens at 10 different high schools. Our teens work with about 600 children at 12 different elementary schools. Our goal this year is to reach 900 teens and 900 children through TLC.
A few weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to attend the first meeting with one of our South L.A. partnerships. It was so exciting to witness! The class of high school juniors consisted of students who had participated in TLC in previous years and some students who were new to the program. Regardless of prior experience, all the students, high school and elementary, were both thrilled and nervous to meet their new partners. One of the high school students even confessed he was worried about making a good first impression with his third grade partner.
Once the students were assigned their partners, the mentors and children wasted no time in getting to know each other. As the session progressed, I noticed the apprehensive junior and his partner had bonded right away. In fact, many of the students found that they had much in common already with their new friends. One mentor and her partner revealed their shared love of the colors pink and black and of "Hello Kitty" while another pair realized they were neighbors and had even seen each other in passing before. After only one session, it was apparent these relationships would be enlightening and transformative for all students involved.
This South L.A. partnership highlights how TLC empowers all teens in the program to become leaders and role models for the younger students. Many of the high school students in TLC live in the same neighborhoods as the younger students and often went to the very same elementary schools. After meeting their partner students for the first time, it was powerful for the older students to realize the difference they will be able to make this year in their own community!
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