Earlier this month, planning for a county-wide community-based summer learning initiative was announced and student applications are now being accepted. The Unlimited Impact program is a cross collaborative tutoring program involving faith-based, non-profit, education, governmental, and business community leader partnerships. Through the program, community-based tutoring sites will be located in various areas of Wayne County to support K-8 students who experienced learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

“We recognize that there are more students who could benefit from the extra academic support than just those attending the school district’s summer school,” states Sherry Archibald, UWWC Executive Director. “With Unlimited Impact sites offering flexible scheduling for families, we are hopeful that families will take advantage of the one-on-one or small group tutoring opportunities on a schedule that works best for them.” 

 

Unlimited Impact will operate from Tuesday, June 15 through Thursday, August 5 from 10 AM until 2 PM. Families can register at www.unitedwayne.org and/or contact the United Way at 919-735-3591 or rachel@unitedwayne.org for more information.

 

While there are still some additional sites being identified, the following sites will be accepting students:

 

• The First Church (Goldsboro community)

• The Bridge Church (Goldsboro/Eastern Wayne Community & Main Campus in Rosewood/Princeton communities)

• Rebuilding Broken Places (Goldsboro community)

• West Haven Apartments - Community Center (Goldsboro community)

• Lincoln Homes Community Center (Goldsboro community)

• W.A. Foster Recreation Center (Goldsboro community)

• Dudley Christian Church (Dudley/Brogden communities)

• Pikeville Pentecostal Free Will Baptist Church (Pikeville and Northern Wayne County communities)

• First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Mount Olive (Mount Olive community)

• Spring Creek Baptist Church (Seven Springs community)

• Eureka Christian Church (Grantham community)

 

With the exception of the first week, sites will be open Monday through Thursday with two available 2-hour blocks that families can choose from (10 AM – 12 PM & 12 PM – 2 PM). Essentially, participating students will receive a 90+ minute free and supercharged grade-level tutoring session that focuses on math and reading. Students will also receive lunch at no cost.

 

It is important to note that students participating in summer camps at all three Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County (Goldsboro, Fremont & Mount Olive), the Goldsboro Family Y, Rebuilding Broken Places and the W.A. Foster Recreation Center will also receive complementary tutoring supports as a part of those paid programs.

 

Background

In December 2020 The First Church and Wayne County Public Schools began a conversation about how the community could better support students experiencing the critical issue of learning loss during the global COVID-19 pandemic. From there, the innovative idea of a community based tutoring initiative was born and multiple organizations stepped up to help develop the Unlimited Impact model.  Led by The First Church and United Way of Wayne County in partnership with Wayne County Public Schools, Unlimited Impact partners have grown to include Wayne County Public Library, Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, Partnership for Children of Wayne County, Wayne Community College, Goldsboro Family YMCA, Housing Authority of the City of Goldsboro, Rebuilding Broken Places CDC, Mount Olive Pentecostal Holiness Church, Dudley Christian Church, Pikeville Pentecostal Freewill Baptist Church, the Bridge Church, Goldsboro Parks & Recreation, Spring Creek Baptist Church, the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the Mount Olive Chamber of Commerce, and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.

 

Through the joint program, The First Church will oversee the management of the community tutoring sites. The United Way of Wayne County will oversee volunteers and scheduling. Wayne County Public Schools will train the volunteers to work with children, as well as provide sites with a weekly syllabus and other tutoring support resources. All volunteer trainings will occur the first week in June.

 

As a call to action, Unlimited Impact is also seeking to mobilize an army of volunteers who are willing to be trained and who have a desire to make a difference.  Interested volunteers can download a volunteer application at www.unitedwayne.org and/or contact the United Way at 919-735-3591 or rachel@unitedwayne.org for more information.

 

All tutors and hospitality volunteers will be required to pass a background check. They will also have to attend a required code of conduct and child protection training being led by Communities Supporting Schools of Wayne County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County before being permitted to work with students at tutoring sites. All academic and safety trainings will occur the first week in June.

 

 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Wayne County Public Schools

Ken Derksen

Communications & Public Relations Officer

919-705-6125

kenderksen@wcps.org

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The First Church

Tommi Bridgeman

Children’s Pastor

919-734-2674

tommi@thefirstchurch.com

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United Way of Wayne County

Rachel Rhodes

Community Investment & Engagement Director

919-735-3591

rachel@unitedwayne.org