RISE Volunteering (The Refugee and Immigrant Student Empowerment Program)
I'm Matthew Takata Shepherd, a student at PSU working on my BA in Spanish. I work as a volunteer tutor for the organization RISE, the Refugee and Immigrant Student Empowerment Program. I'm currently on a path to become a teacher and would like to teach English as a foreign language or Spanish. This is part of the reason I started volunteering for RISE, to get experience working with students, specifically English language learners, but I also started volunteering to try to give back to my Portland community. RISE quickly has become something more than both of those things for me though, RISE is my community and family and I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with this organization. So, thank you to all the people who make up RISE! You're amazing!
***This page is run by Matthew Takata Shepherd and is not in affiliation or an official page of RISE or IRCO.***
***This page is run by Matthew Takata Shepherd and is not in affiliation or an official page of RISE or IRCO.***
What is Rise? |
WHy is rise needed? |
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But most importantly, RISE is |
RISE community |
History of RISE
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“We strive in our programming, outreach and education to foster understanding, compassion and communication between Oregon's established communities and newest arrivals.” -IRCO |
A day at rise
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- Tutoring
- Students go to different rooms depending on the subject they need help with
- Math and sciences in one, literature and history in the other
- Depending on the day, tutors may work one on one with students or with a group of students
- Students go to different rooms depending on the subject they need help with
- Conversation Club (Thursdays only)
- Students, staff member(s), and some volunteers play games and do different activities to give students more opportunity to practice their English speaking and listening skills
- Also gives everyone more opportunities to get to know each other strengthening friendships and community
- 4:30 or later Volunteer check-in
- Volunteers and staff discuss how the day went
Volunteers
- Commit to coming in once a week for one school-calendar year
- This allows tutors and students the opportunity to establish a good rapport that greater benefits students (and tutors)
- Arrive at 2:30 and stay until 5:00pm
- Help setup and cleanup the classroom
- Work to connect with students, make them feel welcome, and help them reach their goals
- Though often it's the students who welcome and make the tutors feel comfortable in the RISE family :)
- Tutor students in a range of subjects (English, Language Arts, Math, Science, Etc.)
- Tutors can help in whatever areas they feel comfortable and aren't required to be able to tutor all subjects
- Adhere to IRCO and State of Oregon confidentiality policies
- Attend tutor trainings to improve their tutoring skills
- We practice scenarios, ask questions, and work to make improvements to the program
What working at risE has taught me
I started volunteering with RISE after moving back to Portland because I really wanted to give back. Being an after school club for English language learners, RISE is mostly comprised of students who are from other countries, many of them refugees. With the current political climate, it felt like now was an especially important time to help support our immigrant communities. The funny thing is, even though I go to RISE to help these students, I feel like I get back more than I give.
For just showing up to help students with homework, I’ve been given a loving community that cares for each other and uplifts one another. Seeing these kids have this community which is a safe, fun, and joyous place for them is so nourishing. Watching them work for their own success and help others work for theirs is inspiring. Playing silly games at the start of every meeting connects us, makes us laugh, and allows us to be free in our self-expression.
Though one of the main goals of RISE is to help students be academically supportive, the program sees there are other things that are equally important, if not more so. The emphasis on play and community encourages this environment where students feel comfortable and are eager to try and eager to learn. This ultimately is one of the reasons RISE is so successful at what it does. It not only supports students academically, but supports them in all aspects of their lives and gives them something that is invaluable: community.
I’ve learned so much by working with RISE and I’m grateful to the students and the organizers of the program. I feel like RISE taught me the importance of play in the academic setting and showed me how important it is to create community in education. RISE has been one of the most grounding and fulfilling parts of my life even though I’ve just been involved with the program for a short few months, the lessons I have learned there I will carry with me wherever I go.
For just showing up to help students with homework, I’ve been given a loving community that cares for each other and uplifts one another. Seeing these kids have this community which is a safe, fun, and joyous place for them is so nourishing. Watching them work for their own success and help others work for theirs is inspiring. Playing silly games at the start of every meeting connects us, makes us laugh, and allows us to be free in our self-expression.
Though one of the main goals of RISE is to help students be academically supportive, the program sees there are other things that are equally important, if not more so. The emphasis on play and community encourages this environment where students feel comfortable and are eager to try and eager to learn. This ultimately is one of the reasons RISE is so successful at what it does. It not only supports students academically, but supports them in all aspects of their lives and gives them something that is invaluable: community.
I’ve learned so much by working with RISE and I’m grateful to the students and the organizers of the program. I feel like RISE taught me the importance of play in the academic setting and showed me how important it is to create community in education. RISE has been one of the most grounding and fulfilling parts of my life even though I’ve just been involved with the program for a short few months, the lessons I have learned there I will carry with me wherever I go.
PSU University study goals
CommunicationOne of the foundations of communication is language. Since RISE is a program for English language learners, communication is one of its main focuses. At RISE we work to help students improve their English skills, listening, speaking, reading, and writing. One of the main ways RISE does this is through creating community where students feel comfortable to practice their English skills. The games we play not only help create community, but give students fun and low-pressure opportunities to practice.
Working with English language learners also sometimes makes it so you have to get a little creative to communicate. Sometimes that involves looking up pictures or acting out what a word means when students don't know what a word means. As a tutor it also means being a bit more aware of how you're speaking. It's important to make sure that you are speaking clearly and more slowly than normal (especially depending on the student's English level.) Diversity, equity, and social justiceThe RISE community is extremely diverse and that's one of the reasons it's so amazing. Students, and tutors for that matter, come from all over the world with a wealth of experiences and cultures. The pillars of RISE highlight the importance of being kind, giving respect, and being yourself, and all these things are so crucial in creating a community that values equity and social justice.
Furthermore, the games we play at RISE gets workers, volunteers, and students all on the same level. No one is too cool or too old or too smart to play. I think recognizing as an educator that students are teachers just as much as teachers are students is endlessly valuable. I have learned so much from working with the students at RISE and I know they have learned a lot from working with me. We create a community that invites learning on all ends, that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive. |
Critical thinkingWorking as a tutor keeps me on my toes. In one given day sometimes I'll be helping one student with math, another with ELD, and another with a scholarship essay. RISE is a dynamic environment that keeps me thinking and challenges me to problem-solve quickly. At RISE I always have to be using my critical thinking skills and think beyond just the basics of what I might be working on with a student. It is important to be aware of cultural differences and see the big picture.
For instance, the workings of the American school system are not necessarily clear and obvious to students because to them it's something new. For those of us who grew up and went to school in the U.S., we're familiar with the format of filling out a worksheet or taking a scantron test, but for many of the students at RISE, their previous schooling can be so vastly different that just adjusting to this new system and learning how to navigate it can be a huge challenge. Social responsibilityWe all have the power to help uplift our communities, and when we do, they help uplift us. Giving back to our communities is powerful. Volunteering with RISE, I know I've helped students, and even though it's not always the biggest thing, every little contribution makes a difference. In exchange for showing up and helping students, I have gotten to learn so much and gained a new family. I have learned valuable skills as an educator and have made invaluable connections with people from all over the world.
RISE has helped give value and purpose to my life and given me community that inspires me everyday. To me, social responsibility is showing up in your community and working to uplift the people around you. |
Image Sources:
- https://www.google.com/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj9isPY3r7gAhUB7FQKHVYwAhEQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fhappyreign.com%2F2017%2F01%2F03%2Ffamily%2F&psig=AOvVaw0auFLBeZq9YmEvh3M4ZvRe&ust=1550354493050503
- https://irco.org/
- https://www.google.com/urlsa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwik8q274L7gAhXHwMQHHTJnCVAQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gcsnc.com%2Fdomain%2F5098&psig=AOvVaw1l5nSoCrUARQhMxhybvzhH&ust=1550354955794635