Junior Literacy Leaders

Wise Readers to Leaders engages over 150 teens each summer as teaching assistants. These Junior Literacy Leaders (JLLs) provide help in the classroom and lead camp-style enrichment activities in the afternoon! JLLs can also volunteer year-round to be a Remote Reader and Mentor. See below for applications for mentoring and learn about our WRTL Teen Board!

We recruit teens from all over Los Angeles and are looking for students who are: 

  • Able to commit to at least two weeks of our summer program, 5 days a week, from 8 am – 3pm

  • Excited to teach

  • Rising 9th graders or older

  • Willing to Learn

  • Passionate about working with kids

  • Energetic 

  • Enthusiastic 

  • Patient 

Junior Literacy Leader applications for summer 2025 will open in early 2025!

A perfect opportunity for high school age teens (9th grade and older) to be involved in a summer volunteer opportunity where they can make a difference in the lives of  children from low income backgrounds. JLLs assist our Literacy Leaders (college-age teachers) in the classrooms as well as with the overall program, helping with reading time, assisting with afternoon camp-like activities, etc.

Historically, our program has largely recruited teen volunteers from the Jewish community, but as our program grows, we continue to have more and more volunteers from diverse backgrounds. The JLL program is an opportunity for the Jewish community’s youth to see their actions are truly the work of Tikkun Olam that comes deeply from within one’s Jewish soul. They will have the capacity to change lives for the better – forever! The JLL program is part of the L.A. Jewish Teen Initiative, funded in part by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles with seed funding provided by the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles. Program partners include UpStart, Etzah, an Initiative of the AJU Graduate Center for Education, and BJE Impact.

This upcoming summer we are so excited to invite many of our former scholars to become JLLs for our program! If you are a former scholar or have a sibling who is a scholar at our program and want to be a JLL this summer, please reach out to w[email protected] for more information!

Learn more about the JLL program in this short documentary made by one of our JLLs, Olivia Brooks!

Year-Round Teen Volunteering Program

During the school year, high school JLLs can stay involved in the WRTL community by volunteering for our remote after-school programs such as Remote Reading, Math Tutoring, and STEM Classes! High school volunteers will serve as mentors for our scholars and learn valuable skills.

Interested in volunteering in 2024-2025? Email [email protected] for more information!

High school JLLs can also stay involved during the school year by joining our Teen Leadership Board. Please see below for more information.

Teen Board

The Wise Readers to Leaders Teen Board is an opportunity for exemplary Junior Literacy Leaders (JLLs) from our summer program to continue to be engaged in leadership, development, programming, and planning for Wise Readers to Leaders throughout the school year. The Teen Board meets several times through the year to oversee many of the important year-round activities of Wise Readers. This year we have 25 Teen Board Members!

The Teen Board is divided into five Committees, each with its own unique responsibilities and Executive Chair who leads their committee. The Enrichment Committee facilitates bi-weekly enrichment lessons for our scholars, which includes lessons about art, math, dance, music, and more! The Scholar Engagement Committee keeps our scholars involved throughout the year by staying in touch with scholars and families as well as sending out hand-made birthday cards to our scholars. The Recruitment Committee works on recruiting new teen volunteers for the summer by liaising with local high schools, going to community service fairs, and utilizing social media. The Events Committee plans and hosts events for our scholars such as our annual Holiday Party and Valentine’s Day Party! The Fundraising Committee plans and executes one fundraiser per season and creates materials for other teens to hold fundraisers. In addition to the committees, Teen Board Members help plan events and lead Junior Literacy Leader interviews and training.

Email [email protected] for more information about the WRTL Teen Board!

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