Get Involved

As a small organization with a big mission, First Literacy needs your help. Have fun, meet other committed people, make a lasting, immediate difference in peoples’ lives. We’ll find a task that fits your interests and time constraints. Get involved in literacy activities today!

Most organizations just want money, but First Literacy seemed to want a different kind of help as well. I thought I’d meet interesting, intelligent people while doing something worthwhile, and I did!

Pat Baker

Volunteer Opportunities

Join our special events subcommittee

Our board and staff needs your energy and creativity to make our existing events a success. We are always open to new ideas: First Literacy’s Corporate Spelling Bee was suggested by donors. Contact us for more information.

Work in our office

First Literacy is a dynamic organization where every week brings new possibilities that often evolve into exciting projects. During the year, First Literacy will be involved with special events, fundraising, public awareness campaigns, newsletters and other publications, and literacy projects. As a member of our team, you would have a wide choice of tasks. Contact us for more information.

Volunteer at a First Literacy event

If you would like to help at one of First Literacy’s events, Contact us and we’ll put you on our list.

Hold your own event to benefit First Literacy

Hold a house party where your friends and neighbors can learn about First Literacy. From an intimate coffee or cocktail evening to a formal dinner or ball, First Literacy’s staff will provide support, speakers, and First Literacy materials.

How your company can support First Literacy

We need corporate support. Our work directly benefits companies because we help create an educated, well-trained workforce. There is a strong link between literacy and economic productivity. First Literacy is uniquely positioned to help corporations make effective, targeted investments because we know area programs well and we know how to get the largest returns from investments in literacy.

Become a Corporate Sponsor of a First Literacy event:

Participate in our Corporate Spelling Bee

Send your three best spellers, with your cheering squad, to bring home the First Literacy Corporate Champion Spellers’ Cup by winning our annual Corporate Spelling Bee, which is the oldest in the nation. Build team spirit; build literacy.

Hold your own corporate event

Hold creative fundraisers - charge for wearing casual clothes on Fridays, sponsor book sales, have an in-house auction of used computer equipment.

Make a grant

If your company has a corporate foundation, please contact us.

Tutor training opportunities

Tutors are invaluable; but the cost of preparing and supporting tutors is considerable. First Literacy recommends a minimum of 15 hours pre-placement training and 3 hours of in-service training during the first year.

Tutoring involves a significant commitment of time:

15-18 hours of pre-service training
1-2 hours a week for tutoring sessions, with time out for vacations, emergencies
1 year of service as a tutor.

You should think about whether you prefer to tutor an adult who is learning English, an adult who is working on literacy skills, or an adult who is trying to earn high school credentials.

Opportunities exist for one-on-one tutoring or for tutoring at a literacy program as an adjunct to a class taught by a professional teacher. Programs offer classes during the day, in the evening, and on Saturdays. There are advantages and challenges to tutoring in both settings.

One–on-one tutoring

Advantage: Autonomy

You and your tutee pick the time and place for your lessons.
You and your tutee select most of the materials for your lessons.
if either of you misses a meeting, it is relatively easy to reschedule.

Challenge: Lack of a Community of Support

The program that trained you will answer questions but can’t observe lessons.
An unequal sharing of power may occur since you possesses the knowledge the tutee seeks.

Contacts:
Literacy Volunteers of MA at 617.367.1313
Boston Public Library at 617.859.2446

Classroom supported tutoring

Advantage: Community Support

You will assist the classroom teacher, working on projects with a small group of learners.
The teacher will mentor you and be able to observe your lessons.
You will meet and learn from others in the literacy program.

Challenge: Lack of Flexibility

Your tutoring will take place during the scheduled class time
You will be using materials related to those being used in the class

Contact: MA Adult Literacy Hotline at 800.447.8844

If you are unable to find a training session, please contact First Literacy by phone at 617.482.3336 x 11 or by email at info@firstliteracy.org

I grew up in Montgomery, Alabama during the Jim Crow era. Things were separate but far from equal…By age 12, I had read most of the books in the Black library both children and adults… The Civil Rights Act was passed in the summer of 1964, which meant that I could finally go into the main Public Library! During those early days, I was the only Black person in the library who was not providing janitorial services. The librarians were rude and unwelcoming. They ignored me; spoke to me harshly; questioned my ability to read the books that I had chosen; and would not accept my library card from the Black library. During the next year, the situation with the librarians improved. They began to engage me in conversation about the books that I had read. By the time that I left Montgomery to attend college, they were setting aside books that they thought that I would enjoy. A shared love of reading became a bridge over the racial divide…While I value literacy’s role in increasing employability, improving productivity, and health, it is this transcendent quality of reading that I wish to share with others. This is why I am passionate about adult literacy.Jacqueline Rogers, Former First Literacy Board Member