Wise Readers to Leaders, Stephen Wise Temple’s flagship literacy outreach program, is celebrating its 11th summer.
On Wednesday, July 19, you will have the chance to ensure that this transformational program continues for decades to come by participating in our annual Rock the Clock fundraiser. Starting at 9 a.m., we aim to raise $60,000 over a 24-hour period, which will then be matched by a generous donor.
As a token of our gratitude, donors who contribute $1,500 or more will be invited to WRTL’s exclusive annual event on Sept. 28, which will honor WRTL co-founder Rabbi Ron Stern.
If you just can’t wait that long to contribute, you can donate right now by clicking here to help fund the program.
A Wise Readers to Leaders scholar works on a writing project in June of 2023 in a Wise School classroom. (Photo: Wise Readers to Leaders)
What is Wise Readers to Leaders?
Dedicated to closing the literacy achievement gap, Wise Readers to Leaders serves nearly 500 K-8th grade Title I students annually from the San Fernando Valley, Koreatown, Echo Park, Inglewood, and Watts. The program provides free year-round and summer programming focused on developing reading skills, instilling a love of learning, and building self-confidence that ultimately enables its scholars to achieve their dreams.
Heading into this summer, WRTL has served over 3,400 students, served over 171,000 nutritious meals, and clocked over 80,000 volunteer hours for Jewish teens, who have the opportunity to engage with students from diverse cultures and backgrounds as the program’s teaching assistants. These Junior Literacy Leaders (JLLs) assist WRTL’s Literacy Leaders (college-age teachers) in the classrooms as well as with the overall program, helping with reading time, and assisting with afternoon camp-like activities.
“Through my volunteer work with Wise Readers to Leaders, I have gained a fresh perspective on caregiving and developed a profound appreciation for the dedication and support that my own caregivers provided me during my younger years,” said Junior Literacy Leader Lana Shargani. “This experience has instilled in me a deep respect for the impact caregivers can have on shaping a child’s life. Understanding the diverse ways in which children learn and utilizing those approaches to support their growth is truly inspiring. The satisfaction that comes from witnessing a child achieve something they’ve been striving for makes every effort worthwhile.”
That is just one of a myriad of stories that have come out of WRTL. Each summer, nearly 150 teens volunteer as JLLs, and many go on to volunteer year-round as Remote Readers and Mentors. While initially the program drew its teen volunteers from the Jewish community, many WRTL alumni now go on to become Junior Literacy Leaders themselves.
Wise Readers to Leaders scholars visit the Grammy Museum in Downtown Los Angeles in June of 2023. (Photo: Wise Readers to Leaders)
Why donate?
With WRTL’s program, students in underserved communities make huge gains in their reading ability and self-confidence.
“I’ve been in Wise Readers to Leaders for four years,” says fourth-grade scholar Celeste. “My favorite part of Wise Readers to Leaders is the Reading Rally. I’ve learned about friendship and kindness. I really like the Community Circle where everyone shares their feelings and thoughts.”
The summer program includes two hours of morning literacy work through age-appropriate, culturally-relevant, and fun lessons that engage young scholars. Each afternoon, they participate in two hours of camp-style activities, including sports, science experiments, music, art, and field trips to places like the California Science Center, Underwood Family Farms, and the Museum of Tolerance. WRTL provides its scholars with a nutritious breakfast, lunch, and snack every day, and helps them practice mindfulness with group meditation, intentional breathing, and access to counseling through the Maple Counseling Center.
While the summer program is at the core of WRTL’s mission, the year-round program allows teen volunteers to stay connected with their scholars throughout the school year, and features remote reading, math tutoring, and STEAM classes to build on their summer growth. Initially operating only at Stephen Wise Temple with 50 scholars, WRTL is continually evolving, and has grown to six campuses throughout Los Angeles.
As part of WRTL’s staff training at the Children’s Institute, our Tikkun Olam Corps teen members received valuable insights into trauma-informed care. This transformative training equipped them with the necessary tools to make a positive impact on scholars’ lives, approaching their needs with empathy.
To enrich WRTL’s state-of-the-art curriculum even further this year, they have partnered with City Hearts. Through this collaboration, WRTL scholars will have the opportunity to participate in engaging dance and theater classes during afternoon enrichment sessions. Additionally, thanks to the generosity of grantors and donors, WRTL’s teen volunteers and scholars will have the chance to visit esteemed institutions such as the Grammy Museum, the Getty Museum, the Getty Villa, the California Science Center, the Holocaust Museum, and the Natural History Museum.