4Boston Community Partners

826 Boston is a youth writing and publishing center that lifts students' voices and empowers them to share their stories with the world. Volunteers work closely with students on their writing, which ranges from creative dystopian short stories to academic STEM writing about environmental justice to memoirs to slam poetry. The space is wildly creative and whimsical, but also includes a lot of hard work, rewriting, and broken pencils.

ACEDONE is an African-led, grassroots organization whose mission is to partner with families to help African immigrant youth in Boston achieve postsecondary success, in order to nurture healthy and successful communities. Founded in 2002, ACEDONE offers programming for students grades 3-12 and their first and second generation immigrant parents from the African diaspora. Volunteers work with the after school program, providing homework support, tutoring, enrichment, and mentorship to small Students of students in grades 3 through 8.

ABCDC builds a stronger and more stable community by representing and supporting the expressed interests, positive engagement and leadership of Allston Brighton’s diverse local communities, institutions, individuals, and families of all incomes. Volunteers work with the ABCD tutoring program to provide homework help, college application support, and mentorship to youth and teens in the Allston-Brighton community.

The Children's Hospital Internship Supporting Academically At-Risk Students (INSPIRE) is run in conjunction with the BCH Office of Equity and Inclusion and the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. INSPIRE provides students with chronic disease free virtual tutoring support.  Patients are assigned tutors that work with them individually in six-month blocks to promote continuity, bonding, and longitudinal support. Although all patients are eligible for referral, INSPIRE is particularly interested in offering this program to children from URM or financially disadvantaged backgrounds who may not otherwise have the resources to contract for private tutors. 

Established in 1974 as the Colonel Daniel Marr Boys Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester is dedicated to making a positive impact on the youth and their families in our community.  They work to inspire and enable all young people, from diverse circumstances, to realize their full potential by providing opportunities for personal growth to become contributing, caring and responsible members of the community.  Their three clubhouses are places for Dorchester’s young people to learn, explore talents, play and make friends.

Cambridge Community Center is an after-school tutoring program that has been serving their community for nearly 100 years. Volunteers work with K-8 students to support their academic and extracurricular growth. CCC looks for volunteers who are willing to form lasting relationships with both the children and the surrounding community.

The Labouré Center offers 9 programs and over 33 services. In the past year over 3, 500 people received assistance through programs focused on youth and families. Catholic Charities Greater Boston provides direct service in Dorchester at the Yawkey Center as well as in Somerville with an array of programs including basic needs , parenting programs, an after-school program for teens, elder social services, and a variety of shelters. More than 38,000 are served each year through Catholic Charities Greater Boston. All of the programming is designed to address the complex issues that many individuals and families face today.

The Labouré Center is also home to the Refugee and Immigration Services division which assists over 17,000 refugees and immigrants each year through legal assistance, interpreter services, refugee resettlement and ESOL classes.

Chinatown Neighborhood Center: Red Oak After School & Summer Program provides families with licensed out of school time child care for children ages 5-13 during both the school year and summer. Red Oak promotes children’s growth through literacy and arts education in a multicultural and multilingual environment.

Chinatown Neighborhood Center: Youth Center provides youth ages 13-18 year-round youth development, college access, and leadership programs where youth develop 21st century skills needed to thrive in college and the workforce.

Cristo Rey Boston (CRB) is a Catholic high school exclusively serving families of limited economic resources. By offering a rigorous curriculum, a unique work-study experience, and the support of an inclusive community, Cristo Rey prepares students to succeed in college and beyond with the core values of dignity, perseverance, growth and generosity.   Volunteers support students through standardized test preparation, homework help, and after school mentorship.

EVKids empowers youth from Boston’s inner city with the skills and confidence needed to realize their potential. EVKids works to foster lasting relationships with youth and volunteers through after school tutoring and community events, and looks for volunteers who want to become positive role models, strong mentors, and consistent friends to young people.

Edison School serves 800 students from the city of Boston in grades K-8, most of whom qualify for free or reduced lunch. The Edison K-8 School is committed to providing its students with a rigorous, inclusive academic experience in a safe, nurturing atmosphere that creates a sense of belonging and believes in harnessing the power of the arts to drive student achievement. Volunteers provide teachers with classroom assistance, as well as lunch and recess support.

CBAT is a short-term acute residential unit for children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 14. The program serves as an evaluation and triage site for children with a variety of behavioral problems, while also assessing and treating children and adolescents who are in moderate to severe emotional distress. Volunteers provide individual attention and friendship through games, bedtime stories, and a consistent affirming presence.

Franciscan Hospital for Children's Inpatient Medical Unit encompasses a referral and rehabilitation center for handicapped children, a community pediatric hospital, and a special needs school – all under one roof. Volunteers primarily serve as companions to the children on their assigned unit. Since the populations on the units range from infants to teenagers, some patients will be able to interact with volunteers while others benefit from simply being read to or kept company.

JMAE offers night school classes for adults working to pass the GED examination or learn English as a second language. Most students are recent immigrants, and volunteers will work in a classroom environment as teacher’s aides and one-on-one tutors. Guided lesson planning is occasionally requested. Volunteers also work in the office to help with administrative duties.

Jackson-Mann Community Center Afterschool (JMAS) provides a safe and nurturing environment for children in grades K-5. Programs at the center offer a secure alternative to students with working parents during after school hours. Volunteers provide homework and reading help in a variety of subjects, in both Students and one-on-one. Additionally, volunteers facilitate activities and games with students serving as mentors and positive role models in the students’ lives.

JMPS provides a safe and nurturing environment for children between the ages of 3 and 6, enabling parents to work or to go to school. The preschool strives to provide a learning environment that involves the whole family, encouraging children to develop literacy skills and become responsible citizens, with respect for themselves and others. Volunteers assist classroom staff with various activities throughout the day, including breakfast, snacktime, and preparing materials for assignments. Volunteers also interact with the children by reading to them, participating in art projects, and helping to supervise on the playground and on field trips.  Volunteers act as playmates, helpers, and reliable actors in the children’s and the teachers’ lives.

Jackson-Mann Community Center JMTC provides a safe and nurturing environment for teens in high school. Programs at the center offer a secure alternative to students with working parents during after school hours. Volunteers provide homework and reading help in a variety of subjects, in both Students and one-on-one. Additionally, volunteers facilitate activities and games with students serving as mentors and positive role models in the students’ lives.

The Mattahunt Early Elementary School will serve as a model of excellence in early childhood education, specializing in providing trauma-sensitive practices and includes both general education and special education programs for students with autism in an inclusion setting. The Mattapan EES will also offer culturally and linguistically proficient programming for English Language Learners, including at least one “dual language” classroom in Haitian Creole and English, beginning in K1, as well as Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) in Haitian Creole in K2 and Grade 1, and provide an extended school day and school year.

Maurice J Tobin K-8 School The Tobin is an extended service K-8 school that engages school staff, families and community partnerships to help students’ social-emotional well-being and academic success. Via the City-Connects program, volunteers will serve as tutors for the students of the school, both during the day and at their after school program.

Perkins School for the Blind is the oldest school for the blind in the United States, attended Helen Keller. At Perkins, volunteers work with students with a spectrum of special needs ranging from blindness to multiple disabilities. Volunteers primarily work in the elementary and secondary programs with children ages 8 - 22, assisting with homework, dinner, and various extracurricular programs. Perkins staff and volunteers focus on motor-skills, sensory motor development, and independence in daily tasks as well as recreation and leisure activities.

RYP  is a full-service after school program for middle and high school teens from Roxbury and Dorchester. RYP provides afternoon tutoring and education enrichment in order to provide a safe place for teens that will empower them academically and socially through diverse learning experiences, positive relationships, and leadership opportunities. Volunteers tutor small Students of teens or provide one-on-one homework support.  They also plan games, activities, and workshops for after dinner.

For 60 years, Sportsmen’s has leveraged tennis to open doors of opportunity for youth in some of Boston’s most underserved communities. Unlike many non-profit tennis organizations, we employ top-level, certified coaches who have competed or trained players at the highest levels of tennis. 

As one of the 20 largest organizations in the USTA’s National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, we provide top-tier tennis instruction, academic support and life skills programming for more than 5000 youth annually. Our health and wellness programs target the most pressing chronic health issues facing families in Boston’s inner-city communities.

Sister Mary Hart is located in the St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center and provides a safe, nurturing, and enriching environment for the children of Roxbury.  The program strives to provide each child with the support they need to improve their reading skills and to empower them to succeed. Volunteers serve as individual and Student homework tutors for students in grades K-6.  Volunteers also supervise sports, art projects, reading, table games, and computer time and serve as positive role models for the children.

St. Columbkille partners with Boston College to provide a superior education grounded in the Catholic values of love, respect, and high expectations.  Volunteers work to create, plan and run after-school programs to fit the needs of the St. Columbkille’s community.

SFH  is a multi-service day shelter for homeless adults and individuals living in marginal conditions. St. Francis offers a great variety of volunteer opportunities including day center hospitality, sorting and distributing clothing, and the preparation and serving of meals.

Steps is a comprehensive after school program aimed at school success and college readiness, serving approximately 300 low-income youth and special-needs students in Brookline. Volunteers support students from 4th grade through their high school graduation.

The Campus School at Boston College has recognized the potential in children and young adults with multiple disabilities through its personalized approach to special education. Volunteers at The Campus School serves a unique population including students with low incidence diagnoses such as Pitt Hopkins, Rett Syndrome, CDLK5, Mitochondrial Disease, Angelman Syndrome, Hirchprung's Disease, Vacterl Syndrome as well as Cerebral Palsy, Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Global Developmental Delays.

WLP is a daytime shelter that seeks to nurture homeless women with both food and friendship. Volunteers are involved with all aspects of the Lunch Place’s direct service, including assistance in breakfast and lunch preparation, service, and clean-up; and assistance in laundry, shower, clothing, and advocacy rooms.

Y2Y Harvard Square is a student-run overnight shelter that employs a youth-to-youth model to provide a safe and affirming environment for young adults experiencing homelessness. Y2Y guests have opportunities to collaborate with service providers, other youth experiencing homelessness, and student volunteers to create sustainable pathways out of homelessness and develop skills for long-term success. Y2Y provides opportunities for both guests and volunteers to become the next generation’s leading advocates for youth-driven solutions to homelessness.