ACTS is an ecumenical faith-based organization that offers free one-one tutoring and mentoring for elementary students in Springfield. Programs are held in churches and community halls for 2 hours a week, overseen by a Site Director that manages the sites and provides training for the tutors. There is no need to be an educator, as basic reading and math are the main subjects along with homework help. There are up to 10 tutor pairs at each site. For every student that is enrolled, we need a volunteer tutor who cares about kids and their success. The sessions end with Club Time, which can include games, Bible stories, and conversation, which is designed to support the social emotional and character development of the children. ACTS began with people from different churches in the Springfield area meeting together to determine what they could do to serve the community as a group. Inspired by a program in Pennsylvania that provided educational and spiritual support to children, a pilot program was successfully held at a Salvation Army Church on Hunter Place in Springfield, and ACTS was incorporated in 1986. Other sites were developed and over the years and hundreds of students have benefited from the ACTS programs. The organization is supported by volunteer tutors, a small staff, and a dedicated and active Board of Directors.
