Emerson Jumpstart program expands

The Emerson Jumpstart program, which formerly partnered with Suffolk University, is expanding to a full–time independent site this year. Along with having its own on-campus site manager, Jumpstart at Emerson will take on 45 Emerson students to become Jumpstart Corps members.

Jumpstart is a national early literacy organization established to assits children who are about to enter school with their language, literacy, and social skills. Corps members work to develop the early learning skills of preschool children in Head Start and other early education centers serving low-income communities. During the 2008–09 program year, Jumpstart served nearly 15,000 children across 20 states and the District of Columbia, in partnership with 300 early learning centers and 74 universities and colleges throughout the country.

This year's Emerson Jumpstart program will impact nearly 125 preschoolers in two of Boston's highest need areas, Dorchester and South Boston.

Kristin Stites, the Jumpstart Emerson site manager says, "The thoughtfulness, energy, and passion that Emerson students bring to Jumpstart result in some of the highest quality session implementation across Boston."

Throughout the year, Jumpstart Corps members are trained in early childhood education and development. They spend two afternoons a week in a preschool classroom giving individualized attention to preschoolers (as well as additional time assisting the teacher).

Last May Emerson senior Sarah Wolford received the Spirit of Service Award, a $5,000 scholarship awarded to outstanding and dedicated Corps members by Jumpstart and the American Eagle Foundation, one of the nonprofit's corporate sponsors.

 "Jumpstart was just a volunteer experience when I first started out with the program. I wanted to figure out how I could best help humanity," Wolford says. "Starting as a Corps member was just the beginning. And now, nearly four years later, three teams, and over 100 children I have grown to love along the way, Jumpstart opened the door to my real purpose in life: to live a life full of love for service both in the goals I create for myself as well as in the example I set for every child and adult that comes into my life."

Most of Jumpstart's Corps members participate through work-study programs offered by their colleges or universities. All Corps members receive 60 hours of professional training; at the end of their 300-hour service requirement, they are certified as AmeriCorps members and receive $1,000 education awards.

Jumpstart at Emerson will have a table at the Emerson Volunteer Fair on September 23.  It will also have a table through the week of September 25 in front of the Little Building Dining Hall at 80 Boylston Street, and in the Max Mutchnick Campus Center at 150 Boylston Street, for any students interested in signing up.