On Saturday, October 29, the Learning Edge program held a volunteer social event at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association in Oak Park. Learning Edge put on the event to recognize and celebrate the impact that each volunteer tutor has on their student and the community at large.
Due to COVID-19, it had been a couple of years since the last Learning Edge (formerly Cluster Tutoring) volunteer social event. At this year’s event, the banquet hall was full of volunteers that have been a part of the program for many years, as well as new volunteers, and Learning Edge Board members.
The event began with an opening activity with an objective to locate 20 different people who fit into the different categories listed on a sheet of paper. Such as, “find someone who attended a CPS school, participated in a protest, or works for a not-for-profit.” The room buzzed as everyone chatted, put faces to names, and got to know each other better.
Following the icebreaker, attendees found their assigned table and mingled some more over a full hot and cold breakfast buffet. Around the room, conversations flowed around the volunteers’ motivation to become a tutor for Learning Edge, how long they have tutored, and memories from tutoring over the years. As some discussed their time as a volunteer, others exchanged advice, lessons learned, and ways to enhance their tutoring sessions. Each volunteer gleamed with pride when talking about their student, and many spoke on the special relationship formed with their students’ families and the Learning Edge community.

Toward the end of breakfast, Learning Edge executive director, Kara Kalnitz, spoke on the program’s latest accomplishments and updates. Kara highlighted the name change from Cluster to Learning Edge and the new location for Tuesday night tutoring. She also spoke on her personal experience as a volunteer for the program, noting that she is still in contact today with the student she worked with for many years, who now lives in Florida and works in healthcare.

Learning Edge Board member and tutor, Cathy Rennau, got up next to share her experience as a tutor. Cathy spoke eloquently about the way that each tutor and student that continue to work together naturally become a bigger part of each other’s lives. The tutor becomes a part of the student’s lives, and the student becomes a part of their tutor’s lives. They become like family and the relationships go beyond tutoring.

Spencer Baker also took a turn to share her experience as a volunteer for Learning Edge and what she has witnessed from the program. Spencer honed in on the support of the Learning Edge community. With the dedication of Learning Edge Board President Leslie Hodes, among others, Spencer has not been alone in providing support for her student. Spencer shared two main insights she has gathered as a tutor: 1. Let each student define what success means to them; and 2. Learning is not linear.
Overall, the event served as a reminder that it is through the support of community that we can all find our own version of success and help each other grow.