The Field Guide to Community Service
Education
"The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you." ― B.B. King
If education is important to you, then look no further. Whether you want to tutor a child, support a teacher or become a mentor, there are opportunities to get involved at every level. Education is at the core of a thriving community and you can help make a difference through volunteering with one of these nonprofits.
GET STARTED
Give your extra office supplies, corporate swag or surplus materials to Resource Area For Teaching (RAFT) and it will be used to create educational activity kits for students.
Go to Donors Choose and make a donation to support a teacher, classroom and students.
Visit Scholar Match to find out how you can help a high-achieving, low-income student attend college.
If you love the local library, consider donating to the San Jose Public Library Foundation to enhance this resource for people in our community.
DIG DEEPER
Host a group of two to five middle or high school students (ages 11-16) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at your workplace through Breakthrough Silicon Valley’s career day program.
Become an EcoCenter Docent with Environmental Volunteers and lead nature hikes, guide visitors on interactive touchscreen displays or share hands-on learning activities about local birds, native plants, earthquakes and more.
Teach a child how to read with Reading Partners.
Consider becoming a sports coach or a day camp counselor through a local YMCA.
ALL IN
Become an Alum Rock Counseling Center mentor and make a difference in a youth’s life.
Share your experience, skill, time and resources with Junior Achievement to help students understand the connections between school and success in work and life.
Volunteer with Project Cornerstone to read books and lead discussions about generating respect across school campuses.
Share your love of math once a week through the Silicon Valley Education Foundation’s Elevate [Math] summer program and help high school students hone their STEM skills.
Write a blog post for Edutopia, a leading voice illuminating and showcasing what works in education by showing people how they can adopt best practices and tell stories of innovation and continuous learning in the real world.
NONPROFITS
AllStars United Education Foundation
(833) 467-8277
AllStars works to provide a path for every child that leads not only to high performance in academics, arts and sports, but also to the continuous development of the six Habits of the Mind: think critically, learn continuously, work intentionally, communicate effectively, collaborate constructively and contribute globally.
Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education
AEOE hopes to advance the impact of environmental and outdoor education in California. They envision a world where every young person lives in a healthy community with access to meaningful learning experiences outdoors.
(925) 768-5245
AFE helps underprivileged cultural groups and new immigrants to assimilate into the American culture and achieve the American dream through education.
(408) 287-6357
Breakthrough Silicon Valley helps guide high potential, underserved middle school students on the path to college and inspires high school and college students to pursue careers in education.
BMAB provides book access to underresourced children and families through partnerships with schools and other community-based organizations to support kindergarten readiness and grade level reading.
(650) 688-5840
BUILD is a four-year college readiness program whose mission is to use entrepreneurship-based, experiential learning to ignite the potential of youth in under-resourced communities and equip them for high school, college and career success with the help of mentors in the community.
Center for Employment Training
(800) 533-2519
CET is an economic and community development corporation that promotes human development and education by providing people with marketable skills training and supportive services that contribute to self-sufficiency.
(408) 298-5437
Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose inspires creativity, curiosity and lifelong learning through hands-on activities and exhibits.
City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley
(408) 907-6500
City Year is dedicated to helping students and schools succeed through economic support, afterschool programs and tutoring sessions in math and English.
(408) 538-3809
The College of Adaptive Arts provides a lifelong, equitable collegiate experience for adults with special needs who historically have not had access to a college education.
Community School of Music and Arts
(650) 917-6800
CSMA inspires excellence through art and music education for people of all ages and abilities.
(650) 810-1010
Dedicated to preserving the artifacts and stories of the Information Age, the CHM is home to the largest international collection of computing materials in the world.
(408) 213-0961
ConXión to Community works to create new opportunities through culturally competent education, workforce development and social services to create a better community.
(408) 271-8120
DCP prepares first-generation middle and high school students for college success by providing coaching, mentoring and scholarships.
(408) 244-2449
Environmental Volunteers promotes understanding of, and responsibility for, the environment through hands-on science education.
Every Child Outdoors Foundation
(831) 466-5175
The Every Child Outdoors Foundation reduces financial barriers to outdoor education for low-income students so they can attend Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science schools.
(804) 405-2827
GFAC empowers young women by inviting them to design, lead, fund and implement social change projects that tackle issues girls face in their own neighborhoods.
(650) 949-8650
Hidden Villa strives to foster educational experiences that build connections and inspire a deeper appreciation and respect for nature, food and one another. They provide beautiful acres for hikes and picnics and also have animal reserves and gardens for relaxation and education.
(408) 287-2290
History San Jose preserves and enriches the cultural heritage of San Jose and Santa Clara Valley through research, collections, partnerships, educational programs and events.
Ignited connects business leaders and scientists with teachers to transform STEM education and the classroom experience, while inspiring students to become the next generation of innovators.
(650) 562-6200
Innovate Public Schools works to make sure that all students — especially low-income students and students of color — receive a world-class public education that prepares them for success in college, careers and beyond.
(617) 542-5867
Jumpstart provides language, literacy and social-emotional programming for preschool children from underresourced communities and promotes quality early learning for all.
Junior Achievement of Northern California
Junior Achievement is dedicated to educating students about financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
Living Classroom works to make education come alive and to empower the next generation by growing environmental champions, inquisitive learners and healthy eaters who know where their food comes from. They inspire children to learn about and to value the natural world through garden-based education.
(408) 278-5593
Lyceum is a self-supporting, parent participation organization that provides after-school enrichment classes and other opportunities for gifted children that might not otherwise be available to them.
(408) 241-8161
The center helps children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities to maximize their potential in a dignified and positive learning environment.
My Digital TAT2 addresses how to build healthy habits, critical thinking, and thoughtful online behavior in order to integrate technology into our lives in a constructive way.
Pacific Autism Center for Education
(408) 245-3400
PACE works to enhance the lives of people impacted by autism through innovation, education and compassionate care.
(408) 484-6200
Silicon Valley Children’s Fund and TeenForce merged to become Pivotal. They work to help foster youth achieve their dreams through impact-generating models that focus on high school and college-aged foster youth.
(408) 351-6482
Project Cornerstone helps all children and teens in Silicon Valley feel valued, respected and known by building a web of support around young people so that they grow into healthy, caring and responsible adults.
RAFT (Resource Area for Teaching)
(408) 451-1420
RAFT provides creative ideas, affordable project materials, pre-packaged activity kits, one-on-one mentoring and professional development for educators who believe in the power of hands-on teaching.
(510) 444-9800
Reading Partners works with underresourced schools and engages volunteer reading partners to help students who struggle with reading unlock and develop the foundational skills they need to succeed in school and in life.
(877) 806-0920
Rocketship promotes change in low-income communities through a public school model that propels student achievement, develops exceptional educators and partners with parents who enable high-quality public schools to thrive in their community.
(408) 947-3635
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is an educational institution that aims to increase knowledge about the past, present and future, especially related to the diversity and relationships in nature and among cultures.
San Jose Public Library Foundation
(408) 808-2081
The San Jose Public Library Foundation provides advocacy, financial support and leadership to our public libraries and educational programs throughout San Jose to create an educated, equitable and engaged community.
Science is Elementary works to empower generations to better the world through science and scientific thinking. It effects systemic change in elementary school science education by teaching students, training teachers and engaging the scientific community.
Silicon Valley Education Foundation
(408) 790-9400
SVEF is working to deliver and advocate for STEM education that inspires underserved students to succeed in college and careers.
(408) 795-6249
The Tech Interactive is a family-friendly interactive science and technology center in San Jose with hands-on activities, experimental labs and design challenge experiences.
(408) 946-2727
Think Together partners with schools to change the odds for kids. The organization equips students with the tools they need to succeed and equips schools with solutions that transform teaching and learning.
By increasing literacy skills, Vision Literacy empowers adult learners to reach their personal goals, build confidence and develop a successful vision for their future.
The Walden West Foundation seeks to make Outdoor School programming as accessible as possible to Santa Clara County students both financially and logistically. Established in 1996, the Walden West Foundation has helped to develop and foster collaborative science partnerships with leading Silicon Valley companies and educational institutions.
(408) 356-4945
YSI works to inspire enthusiasm for science and a love of learning by offering hands-on, nature-based, science education.
NO EXCUSES
Read to kids.
Learn about Project Cornerstone’s Developmental Assets and put them to use.
Start a book club.
Take a class and learn something new.
Check out Silicon Valley Reads.
CHAPTER EDITOR
This Field Guide chapter was edited by Austen Mok.
Austen is a student at Pioneer High School who will graduate in 2025.
When she’s not editing the Field Guide, she likes to read, rock climb and spend time with friends.
The 2019 chapter editor was Sasha Mok who is now a student at UC Santa Barbara.