Neighborhood school works to build literacy, community through National Reading Month volunteer opportunities

Throughout the month of March Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Academy  is looking for volunteers to read stories to students. Volunteers can choose to read one on one with students or read to an entire class. With over 400 students and 17 classes grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade available to be read to during the entire month of March, there is no cap on the number of volunteers and organizers are hoping to have a wide variety of special literary opportunities for their students.

"Anyone who wants to volunteer our door is open," says head secretary Teresa Duddley.

The school is inviting volunteers to read and help with reading events within the school, in hopes of not only promoting literacy for their students but strengthening community as well.

“We are a community school, and when you accept that model of being a community school, that means everyone's evolved," James A. Peacock III, Community School Coordinator says.

“We open our doors to the community and say if you can help that's great, and if you need you help from us we're more than glad to extend that hand,” Peacock says. ”A school is just a building but the community is in the school." 

As part of the initiative to get students and the community reading more, the school is also hosting a Reading Night on March 18 from 5:30 -7 p.m.

Those wanting to read to MLK Leadership Academy students during Reading month are encouraged to call 616-819-2600 to set up a time to come read or help out in other events. Those looking to volunteer on more a regular basis will need to fill out a volunteer form that can be picked up at the school's office or submitted online.  

"There's no real criteria, just that you love children [and] love reading,” Duddley says. ”And we like them to be someone who's positive."