Mentoring at Gordon Parks Elementary

by Regina Nouhan

Did you know you can easily enrich a child’s life while you enrich your own? For those who can find an hour in their weekly schedule to do something fun and personally rewarding, consider becoming a mentor to a child at our neighborhood gem, Gordon Parks Elementary School!

It’s easy, and you don’t have to be an educator or professional — you just have to have a little extra room in your heart.

Time and again you many have driven by the beautiful historic building at 3715 Wyoming St. and not noticed it’s majesty. Built in 1907, it was originally part of the Van Horn school complex, and later it became the William Volker School. Blending a wonderful reuse of the building with a needed resource for the community, in 1999 Dorothy Curry and Sue Jarvis founded Gordon Parks Elementary School (GPES) as a public charter school which now serves kindergarten through fifth grade students. This community treasure was named in honor of Gordon Parks, a groundbreaking African American photographer, filmmaker, musician and author with Midwestern roots. Parks proudly endorsed the school’s mission of educating urban core children to reach their full potential.

Many of the children who attend GPES have experienced life hardships, and studies have shown the healing power that can come from an adult who cares. The small things we do can make a big difference toward helping a child grow and succeed.

How does the Mentor Program work?

As a Mentor, you are assigned one student, and you would meet with that same child at GPES once a week during the school year, typically over their lunch period. You pick the day, and if you will miss due to vacation or something else, arrangements can be made. Various activities together could include reading, playing a board game, or creating artwork etc, but the main outcome is the relationship you would be building with that child, as a stable adult in their life.

I, myself, have been a Gordon Parks Mentor for a few years now, and it has been a joy. To see that child’s face light up when you come to the school means everything! But currently there are not enough mentors to serve each student, and it’s been heart-breaking when another child comes up to me and asks if I will be their mentor, too. Yet, this could be where You come in, or anyone else to whom you can spread the word!

How do you start?

It’s as simple as going to https://gordonparks.org/volunteer and click on “Become a Mentor.” Fill out the form and someone from the school will be in contact. I do hope you will consider this opportunity to bring some good back into the world, while giving your own spirit a boost, too. Maybe see you there? ▪