Service-to-Children Program

While attending college, Page Scholars perform volunteer service that brings them into contact with K-8th grade students of color. Page Scholars complete volunteer projects through elementary and middle schools, libraries, and community organizations with established tutoring and mentoring programs. The purpose of the service requirement is to present each Page Scholar as a mentor and role model to children of color before the younger students have decided (or have been convinced) that education is not important.

The goal of the Service-to-Children program is to increase the number of Minnesota children of color who complete high school and enroll in post-secondary education. These mentoring/tutoring relationships are powerful, as youngsters in K-8th grade age range are still impressionable and open to guidance from older students. The children mentored and tutored by Page Scholars see real life role models who show them not only that post-secondary education is an option, but also that they really can become anything they believe in.

Page Scholars also experience positive results–they learn responsibility, how to coordinate projects, interact constructively with others and resolve problems. Scholars gain self-esteem and leadership skills from their experience in influencing the lives of younger children.

Take a look at the numbers:

During the 2006/2007 school year, Page Scholars signed up to volunteer at 193 sites across the state of Minnesota.

More than 11,000 Minnesota K-8th grade children of color were served by Page Scholars in the 2006/2007 school year.

In 2006/2007, Page Scholars served in 39 cities in Minnesota at:
- 94 community agency programs
- 73 schools (elementary and middle)
- 26 other sites (libraries, churches, temples, etc.)

During the 2007/2008 school year, through the Service-to-Children program, 600 Page Scholars will mentor another 11,000 Minnesota K-8th grade students.

Since 1988, more than 220,000 hours of service have been given by Page Scholars through the Page Service-to-Children program.

The impact Page Scholars are making in our community cannot be overstated. Here is a small snapshot of their experiences in their Service-to-Children projects:

Omer Mohamed, a junior at the University of Minnesota

Each week, Mohamed volunteers with Eastside Neighborhood Services in Minneapolis, helping sixteen 6th, 7th and 8th graders with their homework.

“I taught so much to the children and yet at the same time, I learned many things from them. Looking in the eyes of those kids and seeing their accomplishments was like looking in the mirror. I was at their stage once, and knowing what they are going through is like returning to that point for me. It gives me a positive energy!”

Bertha Quito, a sophomore at Minneapolis Community and Technical College

Each week, Bertha volunteers at Urban Ventures Learning Lab in Minneapolis where she helps twenty 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders with their homework.

“I love working with kids, so for me, it was a great pleasure. By helping them, I feel great because I want those kids to some day become a Page Scholar like me. I like to share with them the knowledge that I have because they value it and care about it. I think they learned that there is no impossible homework because there will always be someone who is willing to help them, and, that someone is me!”

Bertha's supervisor at Urban Ventures Learning Lab commented on her service, "The students that Bertha has worked with have made significant gains in reading and math. They trust and know that she is there for them for academic support."

Minnesota Volunteer Service Agencies