Your Own Unique Talent Could Help Children GEAR UP For College

Do you have a particular skill or hobby you just can’t help but show off? We know the place where you can find a new audience! The University of Cincinnati arm of the GEAR UP partnership is recruiting volunteers for after-school programs, which will begin the week of Aug. 21, when Cincinnati Public’s school year begins.

GEAR UP, short for “Gaining Early Awareness And Readiness For Undergraduate Programs,” provides support, services and activities to get urban schoolchildren on track for college before they reach high school. A new five-year grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Education last year expanded services to more than 1,000 students in Cincinnati Public Schools.

Volunteers who participate in the after-school programs would work with sixth, seventh and eighth graders. You must be at least 18 years old to volunteer, and you will undergo a background check before joining the after-school program. To participate, volunteers need to have afternoon free time available during the work week.

“Last year, one of the volunteers was a snake handler. We also had a volunteer who could Yo-Yo, a Karate teacher, Origami teacher and a sign-language instructor,” says Stephanie Gilbertson, University of Cincinnati GEAR UP director. “We’re looking for people who can start the week of Aug. 21, but we’re recruiting for the entire school year, so if people want to volunteer in March, we’d like to schedule them now.”

The GEAR UP after-school programs are held in the following schools: Bond Hill Academy, Central Fairmount, Clifton, East End Heritage Community School, Heberle, McKinley, Oyler, Hays/Porter/Washburn, Rockdale Academy, Rothenberg Preparatory, South Avondale, Washington Park, Whittier and Windsor.

To volunteer, contact Stephanie Gilbertson at (513) 556-3611, e-mail stephanie.gilbertson@uc.edu

Background on GEAR UP.