MLK weekend inspires churches to seek more tutors, mentors

St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church and the Zan Holmes Jr. “Community” Outreach Center will spend the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday weekend encouraging parishioners and visitors to serve in the Dallas Independent School District as mentors and tutors in schools in Fair Park and South Dallas area.

Beginning Sunday, Jan. 18,, both communities will train potential volunteers while emboldening interested parties during worship services. Those individuals that complete the training will begin volunteering next week. Last week almost 70 volunteers were trained to begin service with Dallas ISD.

The effort is the result of a conversation between Pastor Michael Bowie and Allen Avery of First United Methodist Church, the leaders of the Zan Holmes Community Outreach Center and Dallas ISD Superintendent Mike Miles in late 2014 to determine how to better support local schools.

“Effective instruction is the most important influence in a child’s education. While that primarily includes quality teachers, well-trained volunteers and tutors are also vital,” Miles said. “We are grateful that local churches are embracing the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of our students.”

As this effort grows more successful, the goal of the district and faith-based community to replicate this approach to recruit volunteers in our schools.