Spring Semester Volunteer Opportunities

In collaboration with our community partners, Build It offers opportunities for volunteers to work and learn on an ongoing basis in schools and nonprofit organizations in Richmond's Northside neighborhoods. These ongoing service experiences, combined with opportunities for study and reflection, facilitate the sustained personal relationships that are the foundation of the Build It initiative. As individuals from different ends of Richmond’s geographic – and at times, economic – spectrum are able to learn more about life on the other side, and begin to consider the root causes in areas where they find difference, we achieve our goal of creating a diverse community that together can spur social change in Richmond and beyond.

In order to receive a placement at a Build It site during the spring 2007 semester, all volunteers must commit to working at their site for at least one hour per week throughout the semester. Volunteers must also complete a volunteer information form and return it to the Center for Civic Engagement (Commons, 201) no later than January 31. Scheduling of volunteer hours must be completed through the CCE. In addition, new volunteers will need to attend the mandatory orientation session. This session will be offered several times in January.

Brief descriptions of the current Build It volunteer opportunities are provided below. For more information about the partner organizations, please visit the Build It partners page or click on the organization name to link to their web site.

For additional information about Build It or to find our more about how you or your group can get involved, please contact Build It co-chairs Betsy Kelly or Tara Sulzen, or call the Center for Civic Engagement at (804) 484-1600.

Boaz & Ruth
3030 Meadowbridge Rd.
(804) 329-4900

Boaz & Ruth is a nonprofit organization in Highland Park that provides on-the-job and beyond-the-job training as well as caring and coaching relationships for ex-offenders. Build It volunteers serve in a one-on-one capacity as coaches to trainees in computer skills (email, Web search, Word, and Excel), writing skills, and elementary math.

Volunteer shifts available Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Chandler Middle School
201 E. Brookland Park Blvd.
(804) 780-4332

Chandler Middle School is part of the Richmond Public School system and is located in the Northside neighborhood of Highland Park.  Build It volunteers provide one-to-one mentoring for students in grade 6-8.

Volunteer shifts available Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Hotchkiss Field Community Center
701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.
(804) 646-4466

The Hotchkiss Field Community Center in Highland Park provides after-school programs and athletic activities for youth, and serves a hot meal at their Kid's Cafe each evening from approximately 4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. Build It volunteers are needed to lead and support a variety of enrichment activities in the arts, tutoring, computers, sports leagues etc., and to work at the Kid’s Café.

Volunteer shifts available Monday – Friday between 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Overby-Sheppard Elementary School
2300 First Ave.
(804) 329-2515

Overby-Sheppard is is part of the Richmond Public School system and is located in the Northside neighborhood of Highland Park. Build It volunteers assist with the Voyager reading program (K - 2), in science and history classrooms (3 - 5), and as tutors and enrichment activity leaders in the Bumblebee Academy, Overby-Sheppard’s after-school program.

Volunteer shifts available Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Monday – Wednesday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Reach Out and Read Virginia
Various locations in Northside physician’s offices offering pediatric care
(804) 521-0425

Affiliated with Partnership for Families – Northside, Reach Out and Read works within pediatric primary care facilities in Northside and Church Hill neighborhoods to offer books and literacy education to families with young children. Build It volunteers read to children and families in the doctors’ waiting rooms and coordinate book drives for the programs.

Volunteer shifts available Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and some Saturdays by arrangement

William Byrd Community House
224 South Cherry St.
(804) 643-2717

The William Byrd Community House has been a leader in supporting inner-city neighborhoods with services since 1923. The WBCH is expanding its operations to include a culturally competent teen drop-in center led by and serving teens and young adults living in the Highland Park area.  Build It volunteers from the School of Law are currently developing a Street Law program to provide legal education to youth in partnership with the teen center. 

Volunteer shifts and Northside location pending