Community Impact

It all adds up. Every time a Tutor-Mentor sits down with a student, they bring focus, guidance, and attention that makes growth feel possible.

In giving their time, Tutor-Mentors begin to recognize their own strength, their ability to lead, and the difference they can make — lessons they carry beyond the classroom into their lives after graduation, shaping the paths they choose and the futures they imagine.

Watch our mission video and see the work come to life

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of classroom support delivered by Tutor-Mentors across 84 elementary classrooms during the 2024-25 Program Year

7,140 Hours

Tutor-Mentors bring an average of one hour of extra one-on-one and small-group learning support into classrooms each day. Research shows this kind of individualized instruction is one of the most effective way to help children below grade level get on grade level.

A group of children and two adults in a classroom, with one child holding a toy globe, wearing a mascot costume, and a whiteboard in the background. The cover is titled 'ROOT 2 RISE' and '2024-25 Impact Report'.

Flip through our first-ever Impact Report

Filled with insights, data, and stories that will make you smile . . .

See the digital copy here

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Tutor-Mentor Stories

  • A man wearing glasses and a black polo shirt in a room with chairs, tables, and a backpack visible in the background.

    Armari

    “Root 2 Rise gave me an oasis — a chance to interact with people who look like me and to serve a purpose for my community. That meant helping younger Black students with their educational and personal backgrounds and feeling part of a larger network. The chance to help others made me feel more comfortable with myself. The help provided by Root 2 Rise definitely made a difference in my life and instilled the importance of giving back, and of making an impact on everyone, including those who don’t look like me.”

  • Smiling female student in hallway giving two thumbs up, wearing glasses, a black top, a pink backpack, and a necklace with the letter Z.

    Zanay

    “My view of school went from ‘terrible’ to ‘great,’ and I finally have a real sense of belonging. The kids love me — they are so excited and overwhelmed when I come to class, full of smiles and ‘welcome backs.’ I’m more confident now and feel respected by students. It’s changed how I feel about school and about myself.”

  • A smiling woman with glasses and gray hair leaning over a young boy in a wheelchair. The boy is wearing a white T-shirt with a blue sports logo and black shorts, sitting outdoors on a paved path beside a grassy area, with a building in the background.

    Andrew

    “The kids bonded with me more than they might have with others because they knew I understood what it was like to go through difficult times. I liked that they asked me ‘unfiltered’ questions about my disability. Helping instead of being seen as someone who needs help meant a lot to me.”

  • Two people sitting, smiling at the camera. The woman has blonde curly hair, and the man has dark hair styled upwards, wearing a black jacket with a red shirt underneath.

    Jose

    “I went from not necessarily liking school to wanting to rearrange my schedule so I could keep working with younger students. Being part of Root 2 Rise made me think I could be a teacher, something I wouldn’t have thought about before.”

  • A young man and woman sitting side by side indoors, smiling and looking at the camera.

    Antonio

    “I love the experience and I love coming here. It motivates me to do better every single day. I didn’t think this would happen, that I’d start considering a career in teaching. I’m doing better in school because I want to have a better future.”

Bring this impact to more Students

At Root 2 Rise, we believe students and school communities deserve programs that deliver real results. That’s why we track a clear set of indicators throughout the year to understand how young people are growing, how classrooms are changing, and where schools feel the strongest lift.

We look at:

  • Tutor-Mentor growth in belonging, motivation, leadership, and post-secondary planning

  • Teacher reflections on classroom climate, instructional capacity, and student engagement

  • Attendance and academic trends across both age groups

  • Qualitative insights from students, teachers, and staff that illuminate the “why” behind the numbers

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How We Understand the Change Root 2 Rise Creates

A teacher or caregiver sitting at a table with two young children, one boy and one girl, in a classroom. The girl is sitting to the right and appears to be listening to the teacher or caregiver. The table has some snacks, a water bottle, and a green cloth on it. The classroom has colorful artwork and supplies in the background.
Two children sitting at a classroom table, engaging in a learning activity with scissors, markers, and printed worksheets, with colorful classroom decorations and other students in the background.
Three children playing a game of Connect Four with orange and yellow game pieces in a library setting.

Dexter, a Tutor-Mentor parent

“I’ve seen a big change in Mya . . . from last year when she wasn’t in the program to this year — her confidence is sky high, her grades are better, the joy and the stories when she comes home and tells me about working with these kids, how they makes her feel — as a dad, I get emotional about it . . . because she was in a rough spot for a long time and this year has been different, and the one major change is this program. She is seeing she is making an impact and that is making an impact on her and changing the way she sees the world and how she sees herself. I’m really proud of her.