Volunteer

Why Volunteer?

Student U is a community organization that uses the power of education to build a just and equitable Durham. We empower and equip first-generation college students in Durham Public Schools, their families, and educators to become the leaders that will transform our city. Throughout the year, we rely on the support of more than one hundred volunteers with a variety of skills and backgrounds. There are many ways you can empower Student U students with your service of time and skills including tutoring, mentoring, and working at The W.G. Pearson garden. 

Volunteer as a Tutor

Volunteer tutors are an essential part of our efforts to ensure academic achievement for every student in every school. Volunteer tutors make a commitment to serve at least once a week for a semester. On average, our volunteer tutors volunteer at least 1-2 hours per session. All volunteer tutor positions are in the afternoon and evening hours. Generally, tutoring takes place at The W.G. Pearson Center, daily, during our after school middle school program and on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for our high school program. There are some virtual tutoring opportunities as well. 

Our team will reach out to you within 48 hours after signing up.

Volunteer as a Gardener

Volunteer gardeners help us provide fresh fruits and vegetables to families in our community. Our garden exists to combat the scarce access to fresh and healthy foods in our community, The W.G. Pearson Center operates a community and teaching garden in its backyard that produces fresh produce for our community members. Garden Workdays are scheduled on a monthly basis on Saturdays and typically run from 9:00-11:00AM. Typical volunteer activities include planting seeds, weeding the garden beds, watering and mulching the garden area, and general area maintenance.

A reminder email with relevant details will be emailed a week before the workday you sign up for.

Volunteer at our Community Schools

Support our community schools by volunteering at events and Family Resource Centers! Tasks include assisting with check-in and snack tables, hosting activity stations, serving food, and helping families access resources. Flexible scheduling is available, and your time will directly contribute to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for students and families.

Volunteer on our Operations Team

Join our Operations Volunteer Team and support Student U by helping with essential tasks that keep our programs running smoothly. From managing the front desk as a receptionist to providing childcare during parent workshops and events, these roles are vital in creating a welcoming and organized environment for our students, families, and staff. If you’re passionate about making a difference behind the scenes, we’d love to have you as part of our team!

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