The language of learning: If you believe higher education opens doors, here is a chance to become a door opener. The Highland Park and Highwood schools and the College of Lake County are looking for volunteers for their jointly sponsored Multi-Cultural Mentorship program. The mentors act as tutors, role models and advocates to students whose native tongue is not English.
Last year the program encouraged a dozen elementary and high school students to stay tuned in to education. College education is the goal.
”The students have to know that higher education is accessible,” said program co-chairman Sheila Marks, who also directs CLC`s SouthLake campus in Highland Park.
In Elementary School District 111, which covers Highwood and northern Highland Park, about 200 of the system`s 1,200 children would qualify for the program, said District 111 Supt. Griff E. Powell. ”Individual attention is absolutely necessary for this population, which is often highly mobile,” he said .
People interested in receiving more information or registering for one of two training workshops to be held Sept. 19 and 23 should call the CLC`s SouthLake Campus at 708-433-7884.