My Vision (to be led by the Keylatch directors)

My goal is for Keylatch to become an organization that volunteers are eager to identify with, that fosters a sense of community and belonging among its volunteers, and that creates a sense of loyalty that keeps volunteers returning semester after semester. In order to do this, it is important to recruit college students who are passionate about Keylatch’s mission. To ensure that students are committed to the cause, recruitment strategies will be aimed at students who share identities with the kids we serve or who are passionate about education. Additionally, it is important that we lessen the burden on our volunteers by shortening, as much as possible, the lengthy commute and by making it easier for them to fit Keylatch into their schedules. Moreover, to increase retention, the directors will need to create spaces for the volunteers to get to know each other outside of program time in order to build friendships and create a sense of community. This will be done through a series of Keylatch Kickbacks that will encourage teamwork through fun activities that are not related to Keylatch. Lastly, it must be clear to volunteers that their time is being used in a way that is creating real impact for the kids and for their futures. For that reason, there will be an emphasis on making the volunteers feels appreciated and on creating networking events that will allow them to make connections with past Keylatch volunteers and directors. 
 

1. Recruitment Video
2. Promoting Keylatch before Shopping Period
3. Thank you notes
4. Keylatch Kickbacks
5. Networking Event with Alumni

• Recruitment
  • Recruitment Video
    • Short video that highlights Keylatch’s history, mission, and current work. A special emphasis will be placed on who we serve and why our role is important for the Keylatch community. This will allow prospective volunteers to get a feel for the program and to enter their volunteer work with an understanding of how they fit into the bigger picture.
  • Publicizing to the Latinx and Black student organizations
    • Reaching out to Latinx and Black student organizations to emphasize the importance of having tutors who look like our students. Appeal to Moore et al’s “positive affect” motivation.
  • Reach out to the students joining the new education secondary in order to attract students looking to advance their career goals. Keylatch is a great way to apply the skills that Harvard students will learn through the education secondary and to build connections with other students and alumni interested in education.

• Fighting Restraints
  • Recruiting more van drivers to fight the hefty commute
  • Promote at Visitas and during opening days in order to ensure that students have room in their schedule for the four-hour commitment.
  • Promote STRIDE, which is a PBHA initiative that pays low-income students for doing community service work. This would help lessen the burden on students that have to work while they are in college.
  • Build a relationship with Wellesley in order to find ways to make the commute easier for Wellesley volunteers including having vans that bring the students into Boston.

• Community Building
  • Volunteer dinners
    • Hosting catered dinners both at Harvard and at Wellesley to show appreciation to our volunteers
  • Reflection Events
    • These end of the semester events will allow volunteers to reflect on their experience and on the impact of their work and motivate them to join the organization the following semester.
  • Keylatch Kickbacks
    • Monthly outings to things like the movies, laser tag, or escape the room will ensure that volunteers get to know each other outside of Keylatch in order to build friendships and provide students with a social group through the program.

• You Matter
  • Thank You notes
    • Each volunteer at the end of the semester will receive a thank you note written by one of the directors and one written by one of the kids in order for them to feel valued and like they are an essential part of the program.
  • Pictures
    • Taking pictures throughout the semester would allow us to make an end of the semester slideshow to remind volunteers of the highlights of the semester and of their role in the program.

• Perks
  • Alumni Network
    • Compilation of former Keylatch volunteers and directors and information on what they went on to do and where they are now.
    • Directory with the contact information of former Keylatch volunteers and directors
    • Keylatch Alumni Networking Event

1. Increasing Keylatch name recognition
   • Some of the other PBHA programs, such as Mission Hill Afterschool Program, have been able to publicize so effectively that their organization is well-known to most Harvard students. That name recognition makes it easier for them to recruit volunteers. At the moment, Keylatch is not very recognizable. That makes it difficult to attract volunteers. The goal is for Keylatch to become a well-known organization, especially amongst the Latinx and Black student communities.
2. Building a relationship with Wellesley
   • At this point in time, Wellesley volunteers do not receive much support from their school for participation in organizations like Keylatch. The goal is to create a partnership with Wellesley so that they will at least ease the transportation burden that appears to greatly influence volunteers’ decision to stay in the program.
3. Building a relationship with local high schoolers
   • Keylatchers benefit so much from having role models who look like them. For this reason, it is important to find high schoolers who are already living in the same communities as the children we are serving and encouraging them to join Keylatch as tutors.
4. Creating a strong alumni network
   • The list of Keylatch alumni is full of successful graduates who have experience in many different fields. These connections serve as essential opportunities for networking that should be provided to current Keylatch volunteers.