Change lives, including your own.
For children and youth experiencing homelessness, the stress and trauma of instability can negatively impact academic performance and limit opportunities for a brighter future. As a volunteer for Brightlane Learning, you will pave the way to a life of opportunity.
Volunteer as a Tutor
Brightlane supports 800+ K-12 students across 30 school, shelter, and community locations each school year with the help of over 200 volunteer tutors. Volunteers help provide in-person, one-to-one and small group support as they help students develop confidence, improve foundational language and math skills, complete classwork, and overcome other barriers to staying engaged in the classroom. As a volunteer tutor for unhoused Indianapolis children, you won’t simply be helping a kid pass a test. You will help pave the way to a life of opportunity.
One hour each week for at least a semester. Weekly sessions take place in person at the same time and location. Tutoring does not take place during breaks, including summer (May – August)
No teaching experience or background in education is required, and training and onsite support are provided. Individuals ages 14 and older can volunteer on their own and those ages 11-13 can volunteer with a parent or guardian.
Once you apply online, you’ll receive a link to schedule a 15-minute call so we can learn about you and find the tutoring location that works best for you. Volunteers must pass a background check, complete two 15-minute online trainings, and attend an orientation before working with students. You’ll receive a link to schedule your introductory phone call as soon as you submit your application!
Volunteer as a Committee Member
Brightlane Learning is powered by people. Committee members support awareness building and outreach, fundraising, and special events that help sustain Brightlane’s direct service. Volunteering as a committee member creates opportunities for individuals to become community connectors and ensure students impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity have the resources they need on their paths to brighter futures.
Committee members dedicate one to three hours each month to supporting critical projects. Each committee meets monthly (virtually) with projects completed outside of meetings, including outreach and relationship building.
Brightlane welcomes committee members of all backgrounds and experiences. Committee members will use their existing skill sets, connections, and passion to break the cycle of homelessness through education to invite companies, community groups, congregations, and individuals to support Brightlane students through sponsorship, event attendance, in-kind drives, and volunteer time.
First, select the committee you are interested in and complete the online application (about 5 minutes). The Brightlane Learning staff member who oversees the committee you are interested in will reach out to you within two business days to set up a call to learn about you, discuss committee expectations, and find the committee that’s the best fit for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brightlane has multiple partner locations across Indianapolis. Tutors are assigned to a recurring site based on their availability, our scheduled sessions, and the needs of Brightlane students. There are after-school and daytime opportunities. There is no tutoring on Fridays or during school breaks, including summer break (May – August).
Check out our locations here.
Working with the same student weekly is ideal, but the nature of housing instability leads to inconsistency and change for our students and their families. If the same student and the same tutor attend weekly, we will strive to maintain student/tutor connections.
Brightlane tutoring is available to students K-12. At after-school tutoring sites, our sessions meet multiple grade levels during the same hour. Tutors will be matched with students based on the needs of the students attending. The grade level of the student you are working with could change weekly.
Tutoring sessions during the daytime at our school locations are grade-level specific, and volunteer tutors work with the same grade level weekly.
Brightlane tutoring sessions will consist of different subject matter based on the needs of our students and the homework they have on a nightly basis. When tutors have specific subject strengths, we do our best to utilize those abilities when applicable.
We have lots of opportunities throughout the year to learn more about Brightlane Learning and how to support students experiencing instability. Check out our events calendar for upcoming volunteer info sessions or reach out to Community Engagement and Education Strategist, Fatima Johnson, to learn more.