RIF Pittsburgh launched our newest program, RIF Readers, last week! RIF Readers is a one-on-one lunchtime literacy and mentoring program in partnership with Eckert Seamans and Manchester Academic Charter School (MACS). Second-grade students from MACS are bused to Eckert Seamans’ offices in the US Steel building in downtown Pittsburgh every Tuesday to spend an hour with their mentor, a representative from the law firm. “It is a unique opportunity for the students to get exposure to a professional workplace,” explains Florri Ladov, Executive Director of RIF Pittsburgh.
During the sessions, Reading Buddy pairs spend the hour reading stories, sharing conversation, and completing literacy-related activities. Students are able to count the books they read during the RIF Readers sessions toward MACS’ Reading Out of School Often (ROSO) initiative, which encourages and incentivizes students reading outside of school.
“We are so excited to partner with Eckert Seamans and MACS,” says Florri. “We are confident that both the mentors and students will benefit from the program.”
