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  • ABOUT
    • Our Mission
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Sponsors & Partners
    • Latest News
    • Impact
  • PROGRAMS
    • Student Yearbook ’20-’21
    • Literacy Foundations
    • High School Equivalency Diploma (HSE)
    • English Language Learners (ELL)
      • Want to Learn English?
      • ¿Quieres aprender inglés?
      • အင်္ဂလိပ်စာလေ့လာချင်ပါသလား
      • Veux-tu apprendre l’anglais?
      • هل تريد تعلم اللغة الإنجليزية؟
      • Queres aprender inglês?
    • Certifications
      • Customer Service Certification
      • Paraprofessional Training and Certification
  • BOOKSTORE
    • Hours & Location
    • Shop Online
    • Donate Books
    • Shop Audiobooks
    • Shop Merch
    • Consignment
  • GET INVOLVED
    • Join Our Team
    • AmeriCorps
    • Volunteer
    • Ways to Give
    • Submit an Event
    • Newsletter
  • EVENT CALENDAR
  • CONTACT
    • Prospective Student Form
  • DONATE
October 2, 2018

Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Katie Franks!


October 1-5 is National Tutoring Week, where education organizations across the country recognize those who help teach learners of all ages. Indy Reads classrooms are built around the support of volunteer tutors, and one of the ways we’ll be celebrating our volunteers this week with a series of volunteer spotlights.

To learn more about volunteering at Indy Reads, email MaryAnna Ferris or visit indyreads.org/volunteer!


 

Katie is a tutor in our literacy Community Classroom at Central Library and is a fierce advocate for Indy Reads. We sat down with this Salesforce employee to learn more about why she supports the cause of adult literacy.

When did you start volunteering with Indy Reads?

I’ve been a volunteer since February of this year.

Tell me why you chose to volunteer with Indy Reads.

I’ve been interested in Indy Reads for a long time and then Jennifer [Malins, Indy Reads’ Vice President of Programs] and Ryan [King, Indy Reads’ CEO] came to our company one day just to kind of give an informational talk and it seemed like all the stars were aligned.

You mentioned your company. Where do you work?

I work at Salesforce. I’m an Executive Assistant. I work for the technology and product executives that are mostly based here in Indianapolis. It’s an absolutely fantastic company to work for and they have a real culture about giving back to the communities where our offices are.

Could you tell me three things that you enjoy about working with Indy Reads students?

I absolutely love tutoring with Indy Reads, it’s the highlight of my week sometimes. I love the passion that adult learners bring to what they’re doing. You know, everyone who’s there wants to be there. They are working towards a goal, you can tell how much it means to them.

What have students taught you in the classroom?

One of the most important things I’ve learned is how it’s never too late to make these huge changes in your life. So many of these students aren’t just adults, but they’re older adults. There’s so much bravery and so much passion that they all show just by showing up. I love it.

When you talk about Indy Reads with other people, what do you say?

I talk about Indy Reads all the time. I talk about the huge impact it’s had on my life to work with these adult learners. I talk about how much I learned through being part of Indy Reads about the literacy problem in Marion County, specifically and Central Indiana in general. So many of us who are at a higher reading level don’t think about all of those things.

Tell me something interesting about yourself.

I’m doing a book challenge this year where I’m reading a book a week. And I have a whole series of categories that I was supposed to fill. I’m currently on track to finish my 52 books. It’s been really amazing, it’s really broadened the things I read.

This may be more difficult to answer now that you’ve started this new book challenge, but what’s your favorite book?

I think my favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. I’ve come back to it a zillion times over my life and it never stops being that book that made me feel like I understood literature in a way that I hadn’t before.

Indy Reads Indy Reads Volunteers Tutor Week 2018
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About

Our mission is to build the literacy, English language, and job readiness skills to empower adults and families to reach their full potential.
 

Upcoming Events

February

March 2023

April
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TU
WE
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FR
SA
SU
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28
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2
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Events for February

27th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for February

28th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

1st

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:00 pm

Indy Reads Volunteer Info Session

Indy Reads
6:00 pm

Financial Literacy Series with Centier Bank

Indy Reads
Events for March

2nd

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

3rd

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

1:00 pm

Four-Eyed Media on First Friday!

Indy Reads
Events for March

4th

2:00 pm

Lisa Hendrickson: Burning the Breeze

Indy Reads
Events for March

5th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
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7
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9
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Events for March

6th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

7th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

8th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

9th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

10th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

11th

2:00 pm

Indy Reads Celebrates STEM with Nyla Nova

Indy Reads
Events for March

12th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
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14
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Events for March

13th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

14th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

15th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

16th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

17th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

18th

No Events
Events for March

19th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
The cover of Embracing the Journey by Sarah Styf. A beach scene with a woman with auburn hair and a long blue shirt on looking out to sea.
2:00 pm

Sarah Styf: Embracing the Journey

Indy Reads
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Events for March

20th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

21st

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

22nd

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

23rd

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

24th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

25th

10:30 am

Drag Story Hour with Prince Brentlee

Indy Reads
12:00 pm

Monthly Indianapolis Riot Reads Book Club Meeting

Indy Reads
2:00 pm

Empire of Strings: Jeffrey Lee Book Signing

Indy Reads
Events for March

26th

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
27
28
29
30
31
1
2
Events for March

27th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

28th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for March

29th

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual Pre-High School Equivalency Class

5:00 pm

Indy Reads Volunteer Info Session

Indy Reads
7:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Step Into Your Power with Tamara Winfrey-Harris

Indy Reads
Events for March

30th

Sarika Agarwal
11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Sarika’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Anne’s High School Equivalency (HSE) Class at Indy Reads

Indy Reads
5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Chess Club with Colin Hargreaves

Indy Reads
5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Paul’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

5:30 pm - 8:30 pm

David’s Virtual High School Equivalency Class

Events for March

31st

10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Cindy’s Virtual English Language Learner Class

Events for April

1st

7:00 pm

Celebrate National Poetry Month with Jacob Sunderlin and Michael Robins

Indy Reads
Events for April

2nd

2:00 pm

Queer + Trans Community Yoga with Indy Community Yoga

Indy Reads
2:00 pm

Gal’s Guide Anthology: Journey – Book Tour

Indy Reads

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