Community HOPE is an academically structured mentoring and literacy program that addresses the individual learning needs of students living in affordable housing communities in Raleigh. Students in Community HOPE meet afterschool Mondays-Thursdays 4:30-6:30PM. Participants are assigned two mentors twice a week for one hour throughout the school year. Volunteers are asked to commit to a full school year and to attend for a minimum of 1 hour a week. During this time, students and mentors work through a personalized literacy plan that addresses the student’s individual learning need at each grade level, beginning with kindergarten and continuing through high school graduation. Community HOPE serves several affordable housing communities in the area and is held in nearby local church partners. This location serves the community around the Alexander Family YMCA branch. WANT TO MENTOR A CHILD? Community HOPE relies heavily on volunteers. We need volunteers Monday through Thursday for a minimum of one hour a week between the times of 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. or 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The program runs for the duration of the school year. Topics covered include literacy development, STEAM curriculum, arts and crafts, and general self esteem and community development. Each student is paired with two adult mentors who strongly support the student for an entire school year and often longer. Specific training for each mentor is provided, along with guidance from Community HOPE staff. Volunteers commit one hour per week for one academic school year.