Swearer Center for Public Service
 

Swearer Center for Public Service

Through programming, advising and fellowships, the Swearer Center engages the university in collaborations with local partners to strengthen communities and better prepare students to lead lives of effective action.
 
 

Mentoring

Algebra in Motion

In-class and after-school mentoring, tutoring and enrichment to support the academic needs of Hope High School students

The goal of Algebra in Motion is to provide Hope High School students with guidance and support in their academic needs. There are five parts to the program. Volunteers serve in classrooms as teaching assistants; volunteers serve as mentors, one-on-one, meeting with assigned mentees; volunteers staff the afterschool program where all Hope students can go for homework help; volunteers teach workshops for the students in remedial math and ESL; finally, volunteers help run an enrichment program in which the Hope High mentees are taken out into the community to learn about a variety of topics, such as college admissions.

For more information, email AlgebraInMotion@gmail.com.

Contact:
Rachel Peterson

BAM! Brown Arts Mentoring

Exploring creativity and inspiring confidence through mentorship, artistic activities and expression (at William D'Abate and Asa Messer Elementary Schools)

Brown Arts Mentoring places Brown students in after school programs at two underserved local elementary schools. BAM! provides classes in both visual and performance arts and the year culminates in a showcase of student work. BAM! seeks to build mentorships, encourage confidence, inspire learning and foster creativity within all participants. Classes include art, dance, music and theater.

Contact:
Grace Dalrymple
Dilania Inoa

Brown Language Arts Program

Writing club to encourage self-expression and refine the written communication skills of elementary school students (at William D'Abate and Asa Messer Elementary Schools)

The Language Arts Program provides writing support for children at the William D'Abate Elementary School in Olneyville and Asa Messer Elementary School in the West End. The program works with children at the third, fourth and fifth grade levels.

Contact:
Brian Lin
Dilania Inoa

Brown SAT/College Prep

SAT preparation and college application information and guidance (Hope High School)

Brown SAT/College Prep offers free SAT preparation and access to information on the process of applying to college, primarily to Hope High juniors and seniors. The program aims to instill the experience and confidence needed to better master the test. Furthermore, through interaction with the mentors in a low student:teacher ratio, a sense of community is fostered that will offer students a source of support and guidance on their path to college.

Contact:
Katherine Barcay

Brown Science Prep

Extracurricular science education outreach program providing Saturday lessons to Providence high school students

Brown Science Prep's mission is to show Providence public high school students (grades 9-12) the excitement of science through lessons geared toward real world phenomena, applicable learning, and hands-on demonstrations. We integrate many activities and visuals into our lessons and teach them in small groups to maximize individual attention. The program is structured so that Brown undergraduates teach and mentor several students over the course of the semester to encourage the formation of strong bonds. Additionally, we aim to encourage our students to begin thinking about college and the college application process through workshops and campus tours.

Contact:
Mark Sabbagh
Katherine Williams

BRYTE (Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment)

In-home tutoring and mentoring for Providence's refugee youth

Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring and Enrichment (BRYTE) is an in-home tutoring and mentoring program that helps refugees acquire crucial language skills as well as cultural fluency in a time of difficult transition. It also fosters meaningful relationships and promotes cross-cultural understanding. Through BRYTE, Brown volunteers spend threehours a week working one-on-one with students on homework, literacy skills, and English skills; they also do activities with refugee students that help build their confidence in a new culture and city. BRYTE is a student-led organization that runs in collaboration with the International Institute of Rhode Island (IIRI) and the Swearer Center for Public Service at Brown University. For more information, visit www.refugeetutoring.com.

Contact:
Jesse McGleughlin
David Ellmann

College Guidance Project

Mentoring of high school seniors to promote a college going culture and empower students to pursue higher education (at Hope High School)

 

The College Guidance Project works with Hope High School seniors to build one-on-one relationships, as well as preparation and guidance through the college admissions process.  As mentors our goal is to work with each student in completing the following:

  • a list of colleges to which each student will apply
  • a finished college application packet for each college on the list
  • registration and completion of the SAT or ACT
  • facilitate access to financial aid and scholarships

 

Contact:
Ana Almeida

John Hope Mentoring Program

One-on-one mentoring with children aged 6 to 12 including academic tutoring, informal discussion and play (with the John Hope Settlement House)

The John Hope Mentoring Program is a partnership with the John Hope Settlement House, an agency that offers a variety of services to culturally diverse children and families in Providence. The program pairs Brown volunteers with youths who participate in the John Hope After-School Program, or whose families are involved in the John Hope Department of Social Services. Mentors provide educational, social, and emotional support for children through weekly tutoring sessions and youth development activities. While much of the work in this program happens in individual tutoring sessions, special events also bring youth and mentors together as a community. There are also a number of events in which parents join the mentors and mentees, creating a stronger system of support for these youth.

Contact:
Mikel Wiggins
Zahra Merchant

Outdoor Leadership and Experiential Education Program (OLEEP)

Mentoring program teaching environmental science and leadership through weekly workshops and regular field trips (with the MET School)

OLEEP (Outdoor Leadership Environmental Education Project) is a mentoring program for Met High School students of all grade levels. Brown volunteers engage with the Met students in one-on-one mentoring relationships, weekly environmental education/science workshops, and camping or backpacking trips. OLEEP strives to foster individual awareness, personal challenge, and leadership skills in Brown and Met students as they learn from each other.

Contact:
Brenda Zhang
Aaron Reyes
Janet Isserlis

Rhode Island Urban Debate League

Engaging students in policy debate to improve academic outcomes, enhance leadership skills and foster civic participation (10 urban Rhode Island high schools)

The Rhode Island Urban Debate League (RIUDL) exists to provide access to the trajectory-changing activity of policy debate to students, teachers, and communities in the urban core of Rhode Island. Part of a national network of Urban Debate Leagues, the League currently supports debate and forensics teams in ten high schools in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Woonsocket, with students participating annually in 6 local competitive tournaments, 2-3 travel tournaments, college preparation workshops, and a summer institute. College student volunteers partner with dedicated teachers to coach at after-school practices and Saturday workshops, developing mentorship relationships with high school students along the way.  The RIUDL also supports debate-across-the-curriculum professional development for teachers statewide, at least two Public Debates each year, and a public speaking class at the Rhode Island Training School.

Contact:
Alexander Luedtke
Priya Gaur
Parker Wells
Joanna Zhang
Ashley Belanger

Swearer Classroom Program

Literacy mentoring program building relationships through supportive, sustained one-on-one work on literacy skills (at William D'Abate and Asa Messer Elementary Schools)

The Swearer Classroom Program provides hands-on literacy training to student volunteer tutors at the William D'Abate Elementary School and Asa Messer Elementary School in Providence. Brown student volunteers work, one-on-one, with elementary school students on their reading.

Contact:
Hannah Miles
Christine Joyce
Dilania Inoa