Library staff, athletes lend a hand to School #5

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A. Sue Weisler | photographer

Nine-year-old students Kenneth Cruz and Sara Perez, from Rochester’s School #5, get extra help from Julia Lisuzzo as part of a partnership between Wallace Library and the elementary school.

For Julia Lisuzzo, ‘TGIF’ means more than just anticipating the upcoming weekend. Every Friday, Lisuzzo, seven of her colleagues at RIT’s Wallace Library and six RIT student athletes look forward to volunteering at Rochester City School District’s John Williams School. They’re all part of a new partnership among Wallace Library, RIT Athletics and the elementary school, thanks, in part, to a grant from RIT’s Division of Student Affairs. Other funds are being provided by the athletics department and Wallace Library.

The program has helped to promote literacy and stress the importance and viability of a college education. Lisuzzo, manager of administrative operations at Wallace Library, leaves campus every Friday morning with the other volunteers and devotes her morning to working with children in 14 classrooms on reading and math—or whatever assistance the teachers need at the moment. Lisuzzo mentions that she is amazed by the sense of multiculturalism that is apparent when she and the other volunteers walk through the hallways. Some students come to school dressed in traditional South African clothing, for example.

Lisuzzo says that it’s like walking into an international festival every Friday. “These children collectively speak more than 40 different languages, so it’s hard for their teachers to work with them one-on-one to meet all of their reading needs,” says Lisuzzo. “This school really has some unusual needs. In fact, they have an influx of refugees each spring. We’re just happy to provide any support that we can.” The RIT staff and student volunteers plan to continue the partnership through the end of the school year—and beyond. The ultimate goal of the project is to promote literacy and the understanding of the importance of a college education.

The presence of RIT student athletes in the classrooms serves a dual purpose. Not only do the youngsters get the attention they need from volunteers, they can ask questions about college from those who know it best—RIT students. The children at School #5 will also have the opportunity to take a field trip to RIT this spring to get a real taste of the college environment. “Many of these students don’t realize that college is a viable option for their futures. We hope to show them that education can make a difference and attaining a college degree is possible.” The school’s population has a poverty rate of 91 percent.

For this reason, the Wallace Library staff is coordinating the “adoption” of the fifth grade for the holiday season and is asking RIT employees to donate a gift, or sponsor a child, so that each of the 80 children will have something to open during the holidays. The children need basic items—pillows, toothbrushes, combs, hats, gloves and scarves, among other things. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that we can help make a difference in a child’s life,” adds Lisuzzo. To help in the gift-giving effort, contact Lisuzzo at 475-2363.