Skyway Tutoring and Rites of Passage

Mission

For over 24 years the Tutoring and Rites of Passage Center has been part of the Skyway Community. The center objective is to help motivate and guide students, encouraging them to improve their academic performance. To help them succeed in their schoolwork, increase self-esteem and build confidence in working toward their academic and life goals.

Description

Skyway Tutoring and Rites of Passage was visioned by Rev Dr Steve Baber, to enhance and support academic and educational pursuits for primarily underserved youth of the greater Skyway community. Initially community volunteers visited local elementary schools to read and support teachers in their classroom instructions. Shortly thereafter an evening element was added so as to give specific intentional support to students in not just completing their homework assignments, but to enhance their overall academic performance. Our programs are non-discriminatory and non-sectarian providing direct services to children and youth ages 5-18, including providing assistance to their families where possible. We have collaborative relationships both public and private schools based on where our students attend.
This program functions solely with volunteer staff and tutors. Therefore donations received go directly into and towards program materials and resources. Your donation will support this proven and effective worth while cause, and help us to transform and change more young people's lives, by supporting their educational goals, pursuits and dreams.

As each emerging need and requirement was recognized for furthering and enhancing the student's educational accomplishment the program evolved. Mentoring and advocating with parents, training parents how to have meaningful dialogue with their child's teacher. Reviewing school transcripts to access and make sure students are on track to graduate, meeting with school counselors, and teachers so that those wanting to go to college have met the requirements for admission to college, being high school graduation requirements differ from those required for entering college.

The program supports students applying to colleges, with developing their personal statements, meeting admission requirements, securing financial aid, meeting application deadlines and whatever else was required for their continuing their educational pursuits. This program has produced students who were awarded full academic scholarships to such higher learning institutes such as Spellman, in Atlanta, University of Washington (Seattle), Washington State University (Pullman), Notre Dame (South Bend Indiana), just to name a few.

Through the Rites of Passage Program, these students and at times their parents and others are introduced to the diverse history of our culture. They are shown and given examples of how and why education was so important, and the achievement and accomplishments of persons of color who are seldom if ever taught or mentioned in most curriculum taught throughout traditional educational settings. Cultural events, such as field trips, noted speakers are just some of the means utilized to enhance persons educational experience. This enlighten, well researched pedology is employed to heighten and inspire students to pursuit their educational goals and objectives.The intent is for their realization of dreams and possibilities are not so much just a dream, but in making a plan, then working that plan.

Other components of the program include:
Job Assistance and Resume Writing
Empowered Girls Speak (Providing encouragement to young girls and teens to increase self-esteem, development of positive behavior to leave a lasting imprint on their lives.

Again, In closing let us share our thankfulness for this opportunity to share who we are, and add that with increased and better funding we look forward to enhancing more under-served youth so as to positively change the trajectory of their lives...

We currently provide onsite and virtual tutoring.

Recognition

Program partners currently include Individual Donors, Kid-Reach (providing some supplies as well as special training events), United Way of King County, and the Boeing Employees Community Fund.