What if students in universities supported children in public schools in their local communities to learn? That is the question we had in mind when the “It Takes a Village” (Village Project) was founded in 2008 at Elon University as an after-school reading/tutoring project. It quickly evolved into a multi-faceted literacy development project focused on access and success based on community needs.

The Village Project is part of the Center for Access and Success and through Elon University partners with parents and community-based organizations to achieve success.  We have seen positive results due to our unique collaborative and solutions-focused approach. Once a week, ABSS students, their parents, and Elon student volunteers meet for tutoring sessions. Currently, we serve approximately 1,200 students annually in all Title I elementary schools in the ABSS.

Mission

Our mission is to increase the literacy skills of children in the ABSS who struggled with reading, particularly those from low-wealth families, from minority and underrepresented backgrounds, and/or from homes where English is not the primary language. Now, in our 16th year, we are meeting that goal and far more.

Top 5 Goals Of The Village Project

  • Encourage reading in children who struggle with reading and highlight their parents’ contributions toward this endeavor;
  • Underscore the function schools of education must undertake in shaping preservice teachers’ views of children who struggle with reading and view of parents of these students;
  • Focus on the importance of community and the role universities can play in bridging the gap between institutions of higher learning and educational and community organizations;
  • Engage public school teachers as vital stakeholders in the tutoring process; and
  • Address low math proficiency levels of students.