Last week, we had the joy of witnessing something truly powerful: a graduation ceremony for students in our tutoring program. As they crossed the stage, it wasn’t just about finishing a course — it was about reclaiming confidence, hope, and a love of learning.

Afterward, I spoke with the tutors who have been working side by side with these students for months. Their stories moved me. They told me the students are excited to read now — asking for books, reading out loud, and beaming with pride. Their confidence has grown, not just in academics, but in themselves. And perhaps the most touching part? Many of them were sad to see the program end.

It’s a reminder of how much our presence matters. How consistency, care, and connection can transform lives. With a 43% literacy rate in our community, we know the work isn’t done. But today, we saw the impact. And it was beautiful.

Here’s to more graduations. More breakthroughs. And more futures rewritten.

Best Wishes,

Cassandra Petersen Harris

Executive Director

Event Details: 

• Date: April 17, 2025  

• Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm  

• Location: The Corner Door, 12477 Washington Boulevard, Culver City  

• Hosted by world-renowned Whiskey Expert & Connoisseur, Grahame Wood

• 21 and older only, please

• For more information, visit our website

Tickets include the guided whiskey tasting, gourmet food pairings, live music and entertainment, and networking with fellow community and corporate leaders, whiskey enthusiasts, and other philanthropists such as yourself.  Tickets will be available at the door.

So far, we are on track to tutor 110 students during our Spring 2025 tutoring cycles in three school sites in Southeast Los Angeles!  We have just concluded tutoring cycles at Felton Elementary and Aspire Gateway Elementary, and we started a cycle at Vernon City Elementary.

And our results match what schools across the nation are seeing:  high-dose tutoring works!

Overall, our program increases test scores in over 80% of the students we tutor in a nine-week cycle.

Results like these, along with the confident smiles we see at our graduation ceremonies at the end of our cycles, show us time and time again that our work matters and improves the lives of the students we tutor.

We are proud to offer our programs to families free of charge so students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to achieve their goals and thankful for support from friends like you.