MIDLAND, Texas — Many people may not have enjoyed reading as children—or even now—but what if they had a little extra encouragement?
That is the case at Bunche Elementary School in Midland.
The program at Bunche Elementary, called "Reading Buddies," is hosted by Diamondback Energy and now includes Opportunity Tribe as a partner.
The goal is to help young students build reading confidence with help from adult volunteers.
“It really is all about growing the love for literacy," said Erin Bailey, corporate communications at Diamondback Energy.
For kids at Bunche Elementary, literacy at lunchtime is luxury.
"Thank you, Diamondback!" exclaimed a group of kids in the program.
“We have over 40 volunteers that rotate weeks here at Bunche and meet with kids and mentor them – they read a book, they eat lunch together, they play a game – and it’s really about fostering that love for literacy and creating that partnership with those kids and the volunteers," Bailey said.
Bailey said more than 100 students from second through fourth grade are in the "Reading Buddies" program, emphasizing that starting early is an important piece of the puzzle.
“Reading to students and reading with them – the younger you start the more beneficial it is for their progression through school," Bailey said. "You always hear readers are leaders and that really is the truth, so the younger that we can start with them the better it is for their growth. And these are going to be the future leaders of Midland and that is why we want to invest in them now."
Also investing in them is non-profit, Opportunity Tribe.
The organization has had 'Fun Clubs' with Midland Independent School District since 2017 and now have partnered with Diamondback at Bunche.
“Our simple thought is this: that kids are one caring adult away from success – from changing their whole life’s trajectory," said Ben Wall, Executive Director of Opportunity Tribe.
That caring factor helps forge a relationship.
“When a kid is hurting, that happens in relationship -- and to heal from that, you need more than just one relationship," Wall said. "And for us, relationship is the center of everything we do, and that’s why we see such dramatic changes is because kids get connected to caring adults.”
Relationships that begin with a book, a conversation and a mentor.
“Students that are involved are with the same mentor every time that they come back to the program, and having that familiar face is what really creates that partnership and relationship between the two to make them want to come back and feel comfortable with the 'Reading Buddies' or 'STEM Camp' or whatever it may be," Bailey said.
Opportunity Tribe, established in 2002, serves about 800 Midland ISD students from second through 12th grade with approximately 450 volunteers.
If someone or their student would like to get involved with the organization, more information is available by clicking here.