READ Teen Leaders

“Next year, I will be in college, also searching for jobs. Read Alliance was my first job and it showed me a glimpse of what transitioning into adulthood would look like. I learned or improved upon many important skills such as communication, time management, patience, etc. that would come in handy when I get another job.” — Shahida I.

“As a low-income student, I have often relied on teenage job opportunity programs. Read Alliance has not only provided me with a source of income to help support myself but allowed me to contribute to my community.” — Sana Q.

“READ has shaped me into the person I am today. How? Well, as a Teen Leader I’ve developed skills and increased my knowledge. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to fundraisers, meetings, and events and interact with members affiliated with READ. This allowed me to boost social connections, professionalism, and create new relationships and bonds. I’ve learned that providing opportunities for yourself to learn is a direct investment in yourself. This program brings all my fellow peers and me to a higher level.” — Nana F.

“I will forever be grateful for the experience I had with Read Alliance and it will be one of the fondest memories I will have. It changed me to become more nurturing and caring as it is how I mostly interact with kids. Seeing how you change as a person and how the kids change as well will really have a lasting impact on you.” — Itohan O.  

“What made me stay involved with the program was knowing that I was making a positive difference in the world one small step at a time.” — Musa C.

Please meet some of our Teen Leaders, who we train in our leveled curriculum (Reading for All Learners Program), in data collection, and behavior management, and pay minimum wage to tutor, coach and guide near-peer elementary students in their neighborhoods across NYC. We also provide our Teen Leaders with ongoing training and leadership development opportunities, and offer the chance to advance to Senior Teen Leader, a supervisory role with additional responsibilities.

Support our Teen Leaders during this challenging time: