Our diverse community includes students from many cultures, over 30 different languages, and immigrants who just arrived in the United States. It’s a wonderful community to collaborate with—we learn from one another! Students who participate say: "I feel like I have a better knowledge of the surrounding community", and "As America Reads tutors, I feel we become an integrated segment of both USD and Linda Vista. It has created good links with the students, community and USD."

Seventy students each semester devote 10-12 hours per week as reading or math tutors and become team-members with the teachers through the America Reads/Ameria Counts program. Many students continue more than one year, and new students are recruited during the summer when applications for the positions come from Financial Aid. Students find the "program raises awareness of the importance of literacy." They "see first hand that children progress in their knowledge and develop into ultimately more confident students."

If you are interested in tutoring contact Ilana Sabban, program director for the Center for Community Service-Learning, by phone at (619) 260-4206 or via email at ilanas-10@sandiego.edu.

Van Transportation

The University supports a van for the Youth to College tutors and Course-based component students to get to and from Linda Vista community sites. Student drivers (paid by Federal Work–Study) provide the service from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Community Service-Learning staff supervise the drivers and fill in if needed.

• For van transportation, please come to the Center for Community Service-Learning (Maher Hall 218). Let the person at the front desk know you need a ride. A van will then be paged for you. The van is a small gold minivan that seats 6 passengers. It has the number CSL-2 below the side view mirror and the USD logo on the outside of the door.

• The van driver carries a sign-in sheet at all times. When boarding the van you will write down the site you are going to and the time you wish to come back to USD.

• The van usually leaves 15 minutes before the hour and 15 minutes after the hour (ex. 1:45pm and 2:15pm) in order to make on the hour and half-hour pick-ups (ex. 2:00pm and 2:30 p.m.). Make sure that you give yourself enough time to allow for a punctual arrival at your site and enough time to return to USD (around 30 minutes). Just remember to be patient.

• If the van does not show up within 15 minutes of your scheduled pick-up time, please call (619) 260-4798.
• The van is available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

If you have any questions, visit the Center for Community Service-Learning:
Maher Hall 218
(619) 260-4798
jrivera@sandiego.edu

"I know that these kids are smart, they just need some extra help to explain things in a different way. It makes me feel good to know I helped someone understand something which they need in order to succeed in life." - Zach Manuel