DC employees can still volunteer through "Read with Me"
(Washington, DC) The Early Chapters, a program of Serve DC, extended today the deadline to October 15 for DC government employees to register as volunteers for the "Read with Me" project. The project is a component of The Early Chapters, a collaborative child literacy program designed to increase overall community involvement in local childhood literacy programs.
In his 2004 State of the District Address, Mayor Anthony A. Williams challenged District residents to join him in an education renaissance that will galvanize government, community and civic resources to transform DC into a City of Learning. The cornerstone of this renaissance is literacy.
"The District is in a literacy crisis. We must mobilize our resources to help our children learn how to read," Mayor Williams said. "I am strongly encouraging District employees to get involved and make a difference in the life of a child."
The "Read with Me" project will match city employees as literacy mentors with pre-school and early elementary age children. More than 35 District agencies have pledged their support for the "Read with Me" project and more are expected to get involved in coming months. The goal is to ensure that all children in the District of Columbia will read at or above grade level by third grade.
DC Government employees may register to volunteer through the "Read with Me" project by clicking on the link below. There are several program partners to select from, with time commitments ranging from a few hours every month to a few hours a week. For more information call (202) 727-7925 or visit serve.dc.gov.
About Serve DC
The mission of Serve DC is to strengthen and promote the District of Columbia's spirit of service through partnerships, national service and volunteerism. Housed in the Executive Office of the Mayor, Serve DC accomplishes its mission by enhancing the education of the community's youth, improving citizen safety and neighborhood emergency preparedness, and strengthening the community through service. Specifically, the office administers programs such as Citizen Corps, AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve, DC Youth Advisory Council, The Early Chapters, the Mayor's Community Service Award and National Youth Service Day.