Literacy Center of West Michigan - Family Literacy Program
Study after study has shown that families who read together can help children boost their vocabulary and school performance. By age four, a child of a low literate parent will have heard 32 million fewer words than a child of a literate parent. One of the greatest indicators of a child’s future success is the reading level of their parents.
The Family Literacy Program provides FREE English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to parents whose children attend participating Grand Rapids and Godwin Heights Public Schools. We work to improve the literacy skills of parents so they can raise strong, successful readers.
Bringing Literacy Home: Family Activity Night
The goal of our monthly Family Activity Night is to provide literacy resources and activities that our families can take home and use. Each learner is invited to attend with their family to participate in a literacy activity that the whole family can be involved in. We want to expand our learners’ knowledge of family literacy, build community, and have fun doing it.
Volunteers can expect to assist with all aspects of Family Activity Night — this includes setting up, distribution of food and literacy activity materials, interacting with families, and clean up. Events are in the evening and usually last about two hours.
Questions can be directed to Annalisa Wilder at the Literacy Center of West Michigan.
Phone: (616) 459-5151 Email: awilder@literacycenterwm.org
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The Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan — Buddy Up Tennis
The Down Syndrome Association of West Michigan is looking for volunteers for our Buddy Up Tennis program. Buddy Up Tennis is a high energy adaptive tennis program for children and young adults with Down syndrome. Buddy Up Tennis is a weekly 90 minute program including 60 minutes of tennis instruction and 30 minutes of fitness conditioning. Buddy volunteers are partnered with athletes to maximize the experience. No tennis experience is required.
Buddy Up Tennis is located at MVP Athletic Club at 115 Crahen Ave, and meets from 1:30-3 p.m. on Saturday afternoons each week. If you are interested in volunteering, please email grandrapids@buddyuptennis.com for more information.