PPL College House Tutor/Mentor Program

The College House is a geographically targeted tutor/mentor program, which focuses on healthy adult role models and academic achievement.  Each house has a separate, kid friendly tutoring center with academic resources. 

PPL operates three College House sites:

Jeremiah’s Porch – open since 1998, houses 12 women and 4 men, serving 32 children from a 20 block radius target area.  This building is owned by PPL. 

Hope College House – open since 2002, houses 5 women, serving 10 children from Hope Community and surrounding area.  This building is leased from Hope Community

Village College House - PPL’s newest College House project, a pilot project started in 2004 that expanded in a new location in 2007, housing up to 18 in the Ventura Village area of Phillips, serving children in and around PPL’s Collaberative Village.

Full Program Description for 2008-09 (.pdf)

College House Resident Application (.pdf)

College House Resident Application (.doc)

College House residents for 2007-08 are 33 Juniors, Seniors, recent Grads, and Grad students from Bethel University, Augsburg College, MCTC, U of MN, and local AmeriCorps who commit to working with two children, of similar age and ability, from the immediate area around the house, 2-4 hours a week each, one-to-one, for the school year. Additionally, there are monthly
group activities that are non-academic in focus.

[ College House Tutors: Where are they now? ]

College House Veterans Group on FACEBOOK

Highlights of PPL youth programs:

PPL Youth on YouTube: Success in School, Success in Life

Evaluation Tools.  Using best Youth Development practices, evaluation of program, staff, volunteers, parents, teachers and youth is completed through a variety of tools, including written surveys, focus groups, electronic surveys and staff observations.  Evaluation tools are based on collecting data for funders, program enhancement and student progress.  

Family involvement.  PPL youth programs encourage family involvement through a variety of means including, family events, Parent Advisory Committee meetings, parent-teacher conferences, collaboration with other PPL Human Service department areas (SSP), and frequent AmeriCorps/VISTA parent contact.

Community Service.  We believe strongly in teaching the importance of giving back to the community and provide many opportunities for youth to serve in the community.  Some examples of past service projects include, facilitating a game of BINGO at a local nursing home, gathering and donating travel size hygiene items to a homeless shelter, park clean up and much more.

Experiential Learning Opportunities.  In PPL youth programs, participants are encouraged to explore alternative learning options and projects that they may otherwise not be exposed to in their day to day lives.  This is illustrated through the following projects, exploration of youth media and the creation of a group video, a series of spoken word workshops ending with an open mic family celebration and the design and implementation of a community room mural depicting peace.

Community Partners