Jumpstart Puts Children First

Boston Tutoring Services is introducing a new series of blogposts about local nonprofit organizations. Our goals are to raise awareness about their work and to share how other people can get involved. If you or someone you know is part of, has worked with, or knows about a local nonprofit, please contact us and share your experiences. All submissions are welcome!

In the sixth part of our nonprofit series, Boston Tutoring Services interviews Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto, Deputy Director at Jumpstart, a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community Corps members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods.

Boston Tutoring Services: Tell me a little about your organization.
Kristyn Buhl-Lepisto: Jumpstart began in 1993 when a group of Yale University students recognized the life-changing impact individualized attention could have on low-income children who were already falling behind their peers academically. During the first year of the program, 15 college students worked with 15 preschoolers at a Head Start. Today, the organization still pairs Corps members with preschool children from low-income neighborhoods. They work together, for an entire school year, developing critical early learning skills children need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

BTS: What are the organization’s biggest goals? What is its mission?
KBL: Jumpstart is working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed.

BTS: What is the most gratifying aspect of your work?
KBL: Seeing the lives of both the volunteers (Corps members) and the children changed as a result of participating in Jumpstart.  One of my favorite quotes is from a Corps member this year:  “I like to think that I have made an impact on the children I have been privileged enough to work with this year; however, at the end of every session, I cannot help but reflect on how much working with these kids has taught and impacted me.  I have learned more this year in the classroom at my preschool about life and how to be the best version of myself than at any other point in my life.  Working at Jumpstart has allowed me to grow into a person I am proud to be.”

BTS: What are some of the organization’s greatest accomplishments?
KBL:  Since its inception, Jumpstart has recruited and trained 36,000 volunteers who have served 76,000 children across the country. By inspiring a collective love of learning in children, and of teaching in adults, Jumpstart affects the individual children, the culture of an early learning center and the larger neighborhood. Ultimately, Jumpstart’s work is about lasting systemic change so that every child enters kindergarten ready to learn.

BTS: Does your organization host or launch any special events throughout the year?
KBL: Yes! Two upcoming events are our volunteer event (for folks who want to get to know Jumpstart and help create materials for the children for the school year) and our Read for the Record campaign.  Here’s the link to Read for the Record: http://www.jstart.org/campaigns/read-record.

BTS: How can other people get involved?
KBL: College students and community members can volunteer to serve with us!  Apply here: https://application.jstart.org/. People can also follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletters, and join in on volunteer events!