MASA provides after-school and mentorship services to elementary- and middle-school students of Mexican descent living in or near the South Bronx. The organization relies heavily on the support of volunteers to serve the varied needs of students involved in the program.
A dedicated volunteer, who is a former pre-school teacher, leads a small playgroup for young children (ages 2-4, typically) on Tuesday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM. The group is typically comprised of 4-5 children, almost all of whom are younger siblings of school-age children who receive tutoring during the same time. We expect to have some new children joining the group soon, so we want to ensure that we have a volunteer who can help lead the playgroup, preferably with a strong background in early childhood education and fluent inSpanish.
The playgroup has been a big hit with parents and kids alike, and we would be thrilled to keep it going - so please do get in touch if you're interested!
To learn more about the educational needs of New York City's Mexican community, check out Kirk Semple's recent article in the New York Times, "In New York, Mexicans Lag in Education." Angelo Cabrera and Dr. Robert Smith - the President and Vice President of MASA's board - were both interviewed for the piece.
