Studio City Hero: Teen Launches Free Tutoring Program

STUDIO CITY, CA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented times. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes

This submission comes from Tracy Shaffer of Studio City, who nominated her daughter Emme Shaffer:

Name of the nominee: Emme Shaffer

Is the nominee considered an “essential worker”?: No

What does the nominee do for work?: She’s a high school student providing free tutoring to kids K-8

Why do you believe the nominee should be recognized or honored? My daughter is a local high school student and a staunch advocate for educational equity amongst many other things. Driven to help, she worked diligently through her spring break to launch a free tutoring service called Tutor Together to assist families without the means or access to tutoring by providing free, quality online tutoring sessions for students. Her mission statement says: “Especially during this unprecedented time of quarantine when many children in our communities do not have equal access to instruction from teachers, we strive to support and enhance their education....Everyone should have equal educational opportunities which should not be inhibited by socio economic status or any other limiting factors.”

Since launching this much needed resource for families that need support for their kids but can not afford tutors just a week and a half ago, she already has 30 students registered!

Emme built the website and is managing intake herself, handling all communications and scheduling. She has thus far recruited a dozen of her high school friends who are also volunteering their time through Tutor Together to help kids in need. They can tutor kids from all over the country, the student just needs access to a computer or cell phone to do a Zoom call. Here is this website: www.tutor-together.com

What’s one thing you want everyone to know about your hero?:
Emme has known that she wants to be a Human Rights Attorney since she was a little girl. Creating TUTOR TOGETHER is an extension of her lifelong passion for wanting to help the underserved.