Tutoring opportunities seeking volunteers
Studies show that developing a caring relationship is critical to academic success in school. Consider contributing your skills by volunteering for one or more of these opportunities.
The Reader/Writer program pairs public school adolescents with writing-proficient adult volunteers. Each volunteer serves as a writing coach for one or two Metro-area middle- or high-school students in a writing exchange conducted by mail throughout the academic year, approximately two to three times per month. This process builds writing fluency and resilience in teens. Volunteers work in their own homes and on their own schedules.
The International Institute of Minnesota is looking for people to assist in piloting a new Volunteer Navigator program to help adult English language learners reach their career, educational, and personal goals. Navigators meet weekly for two hours with their student(s) at the Institute in St. Paul. Program staff is available onsite when help is needed.
Hospitality House Youth Development in Minneapolis provides intensive academic support in a caring environment to build self-esteem and confidence in at-risk youth. Volunteers commit to one shift (one to two hours) per week between 2 and 5 p.m. at HHYD’s Urban Learning Center and spend 30-40 minutes with each student assigned to them—reading aloud, practicing sight words, the alphabet, and reading games. HHYD teachers help define the appropriate materials for individual students.
Murray Middle School in St. Paul provides one-on-one tutoring for academically challenged students, typically those who do not have strong home support and are often living in crisis. Volunteers meet weekly with 7th and 8th grade students on developing solid study skills for core subjects including English, science, math, and social studies.
More information about these and other opportunities can be found at the University Retirees Volunteer Center website at [email protected].
—John Anderson, URVC
News
Make your own discoveries in Portugal in 2025 on this journey to medieval monasteries, fertile vineyards and cities that are equal parts history and modern energy. Deadline to express an interest is Friday June 7, 2024.
Spend eight nights in Madrid and Barcelona in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace the colorful history of the Canadian Maritime provinces for 11 nights in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend four nights in Québec City in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Spend 9 nights on the Douro River in Portugal in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
Embrace and explore Mexico City as it showcases all facets of Mexico’s national character in 2025. Deadline to express an interest is Friday, June 7, 2024.
Bright and bold living history awaits you in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida in 2025. Express your interest by June 7, 2024.
The election of UMRA officers and new board members for 2024–25 will be conducted via an online poll from May 13 to 19, with the results to be announced at our annual meeting on May 21. Look for the ballot in your email inbox on May 13. Diane Young has been nominated to be president-elect.
“I convinced myself I could handle this problem without support groups or doing additional research, but that’s only because I didn’t want to make it any more real than it already was. Denial comes in many forms, and one is to avoid thinking about the problem any more than need be.” —Alice A. Larson
Meet UMRA member Peter Moe. He retired in 2023 after a career that spanned nearly half a century at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and is credited with developing the “Arb” into one of the few in the U.S. with world-class fruit and landscape breeding programs.
The University Retirees Volunteer Center (URVC) has welcomed two new members with valuable skills and experience to the URVC Leadership Council: Lynn Slifer and Jeanne Jacobson.
The University plans to remove retirees from the @umn.edu internet identity domain on December 7. UMRA has advocated for ensuring continued access to this identity (including email, Google Workspace, and associated services), citing University retirees’ enduring contributions to and engagement with the University. Thus far, our efforts have not prompted any change of plans.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore your photographic interests, hone your photographic skills, and hear what other retirees are up to, the UMRA Photo Club is a great place to be. We have fun! And whatever your skill level, there is room for everybody.
Leading the online Journal of Opinions, Ideas & Essays has been a labor of love for Kris Bettin. Alas, a change in family needs has necessitated her retirement. So, JOIE is seeking a new leader to join a savvy editorial committee of five and bring fresh ideas for continued development of the UMRA-sponsored journal.
Soon you will receive an email or letter inviting you to renew your UMRA membership for the 2024–25 year. Please renew before you get busy with your summer activities. Your support helps to make our programs and many other member benefits possible!
This will be a new regular column where you can find organizational tasks that need your help! We are currently looking for help researching a new UMRA Membership Database and URVC volunteer database, and a co-producer for UMRA's Zoom webinars. See more details: