By Jacquetta Watkins
When you think about some of the volunteer organizations around the city of Atlanta The United Way of Metro Atlanta, Hands on Atlanta, and the Atlanta Community Food Bank are some of the names that might come to mind. However, there are still some “hidden gems” around that are only known by a relatively few.
The Study Hall in Peoplestown easily fits into this category, despite having a longstanding volunteering history. For more than 20 years, The Study Hall, Inc. has provided childcare services to more than 90 students. Ranging in grades from kindergarten through fifth grade, students come from five different neighboring elementary schools. The Study Hall provides afterschool academic and enrichment services throughout the school year and in the summer.
What makes the Study Hall such a great place for volunteers? In addition to its longevity, The Study Hall is an exemplary community organization for children. Guided by its mission statement to “offer an educational and enrichment curriculum that equips children to achieve sustained personal and academic success,” The Study Hall promotes a wide range of services. The students, referred to as “scholars,” are guided through programs like academic and cultural enrichment, financial literacy and civic enrichment, and wellness through the help of “academic coaches” and volunteers. The scholars are provided with academic assistance at The Study Hall and academic follow up through visitations to the feeder elementary schools. Not surprisingly, for the last few years, 80% of the students attending The Study Hall have maintained a B-plus average or better. This high level of guidance and instruction coordinated by the Study Hall staff and volunteers is in part a major contributing factor towards the students’ academic success.
Also contributing to The Study Hall’s success is its many partnerships with its neighboring institutions of higher education, like Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Georgia State University. The Study Hall has also benefited from its many volunteers and charitable giving from organizations like the Maynard Jackson Youth Foundation and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.
If you would like more information on how to get involved or provide support to The Study Hall, Inc., contact them by email at info@thestudyhall.org or call 404-659-1415. The Study Hall serves five elementary schools in the area, including the Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School.
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