Latino Service-Learning

This engagement hub facilitates sharing of information between campus and community constituents to create a community of practice and to identify opportunities for service-learning on Latino-oriented issues. Participants help identify and prioritize areas needing additional resources or support (e.g., training, mini-grants, support personnel, MOUs, external grants, assessment of impact, etc.); and work to implement coordinated efforts to provide necessary resources.

In 2013, the Latino Learning Modules were debuted, to help prepare faculty and students for work with Latino communities, especially in the Athens area.

Below are recently shared opportunities to engage with the Athens-area Latino community. For more information, contact Dr. Paul Matthews.

Opportunities at Oasis Catolico

Oasis Catolico Santa Rafaela provides after-school tutoring for pre-K and elementary students, Monday through Thursday during the school year. Hundreds of tutors are needed! Many classes (educational psychology, Spanish, and more) incorporate Oasis's tutoring work into their service-learning options.

Orientation sessions for new tutors are generally the second week of the semester; see their website for details.

  • New tutors need to attend only one orientation session.
  • Returning tutors do not need to go through orientation again.
  • Please bring to orientation all forms fully completed.
  • Please be punctual ! 

Contact information:

Find volunteer application directives and directions at the Oasis website: https://sites.google.com/site/oasistutors2

oasistutors@gmail.com

Opportunities at Pinewoods Library

The Pinewoods library and learning center provides library, computer, and educational services especially geared towards Latino clients in the Pinewoods mobile home park and surrounding areas.

Hours of Operation: (as of Fall 2021)

  •    Monday and Wednesday 10:00 am to 5:30 p.m.
  •    Tuesday and Thursday  1:30 to 8:00  p.m.
  •    Friday 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The After School Program

  • Monday and Wednesday 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 to 8:00 p.m.


The library also has opportunities for volunteers with Adult Classes:

  • Adult Literacy in Spanish
  • ESL Education
  • Spanish
  • Computer
  • Nutrition

Other opportunities include interaction with bilingual library patrons, and also help with music, gardening, or other enrichment activities.

Contact information:

Raquel Bartra rbartra@athenslibrary.org

Branch Manager

Pinewoods Library & Learning Center

1465 Hwy 29 North Lot F-12

Athens, GA 30601

(706) 613-3708

Main webpage

Address: 1465 Hwy 29 North Lot F-12

We are located in a trailer park called Pinewoods Mobile Home Trailer Park off of US Hwy 29.

Take Loop 10 to Hwy 29 N. Drive past Athens Tech and cross Hull Road. Go 1.5 miles and make a left at the Gas Station onto Trail Creek Drive (this is Pinewood Estates North) (across the street from Athens Christian school). Drive slowly due to speed bumps. When the road splits, bear right; you'll see a green sign with a white silhouette of a person reading a book and a white arrow pointing to the right. Keep driving until you see another green sign just like the first one but in this case with a white arrow pointing to the left. Turn left and The Pinewoods Library and Learning Center is the third trailer on the left Lot-F12. You will see a colorful garden gate and the Library's parking lot.

Opportunities with Clarke Co School District

There are several opportunities for working with Latino students and families at the Clarke County School District. These include:

  • Interpreting (Spanish/English) for parents at school events and parent-teacher conferences for middle school and elementary school parents. Contact the schools' family engagement specialists or look for details on the Engage Georgia platform.
  • Clarke County Mentor Program:http://clarkecountymentorprogram.org/ While not just for Latino kids, this is an opportunity for more sustained interaction with students.