Reader-Writer

IN SPITE OF A SEVERE LACK OF ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOLS, READER/WRITER STILL SERVED OVER 200 STUDENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS. OUR 110 VOLUNTEERS RALLIED AND SHIFTED THEIR EMPHASIS FROM MAINLY EDITING AND COACHING FOR ACADEMIC SKILLS TO INCLUDE, WITH EQUAL CARE, LISTENING. STUDENTS IN OUR TARGET AREA WERE WITHIN THE HARDEST COVID HIT COMMUNITY IN MINNEAPOLIS. NOT SURPRISINGLY THEY WROTE OF THEIR HARDSHIPS, LOSSES, ANXIETY AND ANGER TO A DEGREE NOT SEEN BEFORE IN THE 20-PLUS YEARS OF COACHING TEENS IN WRITING.A STUDENT SURVEY AT THE END OF THE YEAR REVEALED THEY FELT THEY GREATLY BENEFITED FROM HAVING THE PRESENCE OF A CONSISTENT ADULT IN THEIR LIVES TO LISTEN AND ENCOURAGE, AS WELL AS FROM HAVING THEIR VERY OWN WRITING MENTOR TO HELP THEM IMPROVE IN THAT AREA. READERS READ OVER 1700 ESSAYS DURING THE YEAR - FAR FEWER THAN PRE-COVID DUE TO ABSENTEES BUT MUCH MORE INTENSE. THEIR CARE, CONSISTENCY AND COMMENTS BROUGHT ALONG MOST KIDS FROM BEING AFRAID OF WRITING AND VERY INSECURE IN THEIR SKILLS TO A COMFORT AND SKILL LEVEL CONSISTENT WITH R/W PARTICIPANTS PRE-COVID.OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING A VERY TROUBLED YEAR FOR THE COMMUNITY AND SCHOOLS WAS REMAINING STEADFAST AND PRESENT, TRUE TO OUR MISSION AND FURTHER ESTABLISHING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS AND KEY READER SOURCES SUCH AS THE JUVENILE COURTS, ATTORNEYS AND THEIR FIRMS AND CITY GOVERNMENT. VOLUNTEERS SHOWED UP, FUNDING SHOWED UP, SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS (AND WITH THEM, STUDENTS) SHOWED UP. BECAUSE OF THIS WE ARE IN A STRONGER PLACE THAN BEFORE.