By: Madison Houser
Photo Credits: Champaign Unit 4 School District
In 2007 the first iPhone was released, the seventh and final Harry Potter book was published, Scooby-Doo fruit-flavored snacks were a household favorite for many Americans, and Parkland College’s Homework Club got its start.
Parkland College English professor, Brian Nudelman, partnered up with Champaign Unit 4’s Community Outreach Coordinator, Lauren Smith, to start an after-school program that would benefit Parkland College students and at-risk elementary students attending Garden Hills Academy. Nudelman said, “Parkland students get a chance to go out into the community and volunteer their time. They tutor kids in 3rd—5th grade, 1-on-1 who are sometimes reading at 1 or 2 grades below their grade level. It’s a mutually beneficial experience.”
Since the Homework Club made its debut in 2007, they average around 20 Parkland student volunteers that can connect with 10 to 15 Garden Hills students each year. In the spring of 2020, like many others, the Homework Club got put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Spring of 2021, Parkland College and Garden Hills Academy were able to reconnect virtually. Nudelman said, “Even on Zoom, the kids liked getting a chance to hang out with and talk to college students. At that time, we focused more on mindfulness and fun engagement rather than academics.” This year, the Homework Club is excited to head back to Garden Hills to make a difference in person.
Each year, Nudelman encourages all his students to join the club. He even welcomes anyone outside of his classes to join! While this program focuses on assisting Garden Hills students, it is not limited to just education majors. The club is open to students from all majors at Parkland College. This semester has only just begun, and the Homework Club already has 13 volunteers lined up to support students at Garden Hills Academy. Nudelman said, “We are in a wait-and-see period right now, just getting things started, and will hopefully have more students volunteer. I find that the college students have as much fun working with the kids as the kids do having a college student to hang out with once a week. It’s a lot of fun for everyone.”
The Homework Club meets one to two days a week from 3-4 pm at Garden Hills Academy. Parkland students who volunteer must pass a criminal background check and be vaccinated to work with students at the elementary school.
If you are interested in joining the Homework Club to mentor, tutor, or assist students at Garden Hills- you can email Brian Nudelman at bnudelman@parkland.edu. For additional information, you can find the Homework Club on Facebook and Parkland’s website:
https://www.parkland.edu/Main/Academics/Departments/Humanities/Explore/Clubs-Organizations