Cambridge School Volunteers

CONTACT:

459 Broadway
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-349-6794
www.csvinc.org

Jennifer Fries, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

Here is a program that many communities and school systems could adopt as a model.

The Cambridge Public School System has 1 high school and 15 elementary schools. The human resources in Cambridge are extraordinary, and the educational challenges are daunting: over 8,000 students, ethnically diverse, with 64 nationalities and 40 languages, and bilingual programs in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian, Chinese and Korean; 42% of the students are white, 33% black, 14% Hispanic, and 10% Asian; English is a second language for 29%, and nearly half qualify for school lunch support.

The genius of CSV is to apply the wealth of human resources in Cambridge to the needs of the Public School System for educational support. CSV recruits, trains, places, supports, and evaluates over 1,000 volunteers, of all ages, backgrounds, resources, and interests, throughout the schools, for every task or role you can think of. One volunteer for every 6.6 students -- think of what your community's school system could do with such a program!

CSV was launched back in 1966, almost by accident, and for very basic tasks. It was so successful it just grew. In 1974 it was incorporated for public benefit. By the mid-'80's there were 300 volunteers; by 1990 91,732; in 1995 61,223. When a benefit volunteer organization grows that fast, that steadily, over such an extended period of time, "The Force" is with it. It is doing many things right, responding to real needs with real benefits for both volunteers and those whom they serve.

Recruiting, supporting, and evaluating volunteers is hard work, that requires skills and costs money. CSV needs your help.

(1997: CULTURE: Education: Formal: School-Related)