will naturally move ahead.” He credits the commitment of
Frehiwet Negassi, a former student in Ebenezer’s tutoring program who is now a volunteer, looks on as Leonardo Turanzno works on an assignment.
Volunteers provide free meals
before every tutoring session, and the initiative includes a six-week summer enrichment component, and recreational and educational field trips. Fick and Dynneson said many of
the students’ parents work multiple jobs and are challenged in assisting their children with schoolwork and helping them navigate the educa- tional system. Te program, which Fick and
Dynneson (normemerson@aol. com) say can be replicated at other churches, has served hundreds of students, many of them over a period of several years. “Every kid who has stayed in
tutoring through 12th grade is either in college or has graduated,” Dynne- son said. “My educational philosophy is that all kids want to be happy and successful, and if we can figure out what is keeping them from being happy or successful and fix that prob- lem, they will naturally do well. Tey
Author bio: Knowles is a freelance writer and former religion and business reporter with the Chicago Sun-Times.
March 2016 35
the tutors, composed of 21 church and non-church volunteers, as a key element. Some of the tutors are cur- rent or retired teachers or education majors in college. Dynneson, who has attended students’ graduations and family outings, provides orienta- tion for the tutors and continual sup- port and problem-solving guidance. Tutors receive release of infor-
mation agreements from parents, which allows teachers to keep them updated on students’ problem areas and performance to better help them tailor assistance. Kihshen said the tutors are like a
second family to her. “[Te pro- gram] helped me academically,” she said. “It helped me realize there were other people just like me. In school, people would emphasize you’re different, but the tutoring program accepted the differences and was there to help us.” For Kihshen, the program became
the place where she started to find her way and helped her graduate from high school with honors. Te program receives $1,500
in annual funding from Ebenezer, Dynneson said. Church members and organizations also have donated to the initiative. “It’s the kind of ministry where
the church is offering benefit and value to the community without
Gerardo Geurrero (left) works with Norm Dynneson, who is the facilitator of the weekly tutoring program at Ebenezer.
strings attached,” Fick said. “It allows us to demonstrate in our actions that we’re committed to the neighborhood and community.” While students have benefited,
so have the congregation and volunteers. “We get to build these wonderful
relations with children and families, many who have religious communi- ties of their own,” Fick said. “We get connected with other churches and religious communities we may not otherwise have contact with. “Te volunteers—it enriches
their sense of calling to offer love, care, help and support to those who could benefit from it, and then they receive the benefits of this wonder- ful relationship with children who they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to meet.”
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