Council of Christian Communions

The Council of Christian Communions Enlists Church Members

to Support CPS Students

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to serve as tutors and mentors, or to assist with enrichment programs for students in Cincinnati Public Schools. In an effort to help recruit these volunteers, the Council of Christian Communions recently reached out to 350 of their ecumenical partners with a Call-to-Action as part of the CPS Be the Change campaign.

The Council, which was incorporated in 1914, is comprised of churches throughout Greater Cincinnati. One of its primary goals is to make a difference in the lives of children, so they work to connect those in the faith community who wish to serve with organizations needing their help. CPS, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and the 2020 Champions Program are Council partners.

“We provide the avenue and environment for people to support our youth,” says Joellen Grady, executive director for the Council of Christian Communions. “We noticed that many of our church members are retired teachers and principals or corporate executives. They have the time and the skills to share, but are not currently linked with students because no one has shown them how to get involved. We want our churches to encourage their members to participate. We hope that, at some point, everybody has an opportunity to interact with a child. We are here to provide that link.”

While caring adults are desperately needed to help with students’ academic performance, Grady says that being a tutor or mentor are not the only opportunities. Volunteers might read to young classes, teach children to cook or crochet, or be a pen pal. Commitments vary; for those who don’t have a lot of time, spending a few minutes a month writing a letter to a kindergartener would help them with reading and comprehension skills. Interaction with students takes place either at school, in the Community Learning Centers or at a YMCA location with school resource coordinators present. Grady says the Council makes it as easy as possible to participate.

“The youth are not only our future, they are our present,” says Grady. “If we don’t help them now, we won’t have a future.”

Grady hopes to have 100 churches actively participating within a year. While this appeal is still in early stages, response so far has been positive. The Council’s next Call-to-Action meeting will be held sometime this spring. In the meantime, those who are interested in making a difference in the lives of students at CPS may contact Joellen Grady at 513-351-6789 or joellengrady@zoomtown.com.

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