Question 1

Do I have to volunteer, or can I get paid or earn course credit?

Accepted Answer

All three options are available. Mentors with a federal work-study allocation are paid $16.32/hour. Without work-study, mentors can earn Education 197 Field Study units or volunteer. Directors with work-study earn $19.50/hour.

Question 2

What does a typical week look like for a mentor?

Accepted Answer

Mentors go to their assigned school or community site twice a week for 30-35 minute one-on-one reading sessions with each of their 3 assigned children. They also fill out reading logs, attend weekly team meetings with their fellow mentors, and complete 3 trainings per semester.

Question 3

Are there bilingual or Spanish-language sites?

Accepted Answer

Yes. BUILD has bilingual Spanish sites (BAHIA, Sylvia Mendez) where mentoring happens almost entirely in Spanish. Mentors placed there must be fully fluent in reading and writing Spanish and go through a separate placement confirmation with student leaders.

Question 4

What are the health and safety requirements before I can start?

Accepted Answer

All mentors must be fingerprinted and provide proof of a negative TB test before working with children.

Question 5

What is the BUILD Director role, and how is it different from being a mentor?

Accepted Answer

Directors manage the program at a specific site: they recruit, hire, and train their team of mentors, run weekly meetings, and serve as the liaison between the Public Service Center and the site. They still do one-on-one mentoring on top of those responsibilities and commit 6-12 hours per week.

BUILD Literacy Program