Connect Casino Road & House of Wisdom launch new tutoring program

EVERETT, Wash., May 18, 2023—This month, Connect Casino Road and House of Wisdom established a new collaboration to promote academic success for children in the Casino Road neighborhood of South Everett. Tutoring will be provided on a weekly basis at Connect Casino Road’s community center (The Village on Casino Road) by House of Wisdom’s volunteer tutors. 

The Casino Road neighborhood is distinct; it is known for its high levels of community engagement and numerous immigrant-owned small businesses, but also for the higher-than-average poverty rates (up to 36% when children are included). Nearly 1 in 4 residents are foreign-born, and 80% of the student body at the local elementary school identify as a race other than white. Only 17% of children in the community are entering school ready for kindergarten.

“Connect Casino Road works closely with families in this neighborhood and tries to meet the emerging needs that they voice,” says Alvaro Guillen, Director of Connect Casino Road. “Having regular tutoring for students of all ages at The Village community center is a program that our families have been requesting for months. We are thrilled to partner with House of Wisdom to meet the community’s needs and foster student success in our neighborhood.” 

This partnership will provide one-on-one tutoring for K-12 students within walking distance for Casino Road families. Nearly all families in Connect Casino Road’s programs are immigrants and experience multiple risk factors such as low incomes, traumas, racism, and language exclusion. House of Wisdom specializes in tutoring within immigrant and refugee communities, which was a motivating factor for establishing this partnership. The nonprofit started its programs by providing afterschool support to Afghan immigrant children in Lynnwood.

“We are excited to expand our services to reach an even broader community and be a strong partner with Connect Casino Road to address the needs of our communities together,” says Ahmad Hilal Abid, founder, and President of House of Wisdom. 

About Connect Casino Road: Launched in 2017, Connect Casino Road (CCR) is the backbone organization of a 22+ partner collaborative that is working with residents of the Casino Road neighborhood to achieve their vision for thriving families and a resilient community. CCR operates the Village on Casino Road community center as well as the “All Families Are Ready” culturally relevant case management program. 

About House of Wisdom: The House of Wisdom started as a small class with 20 immigrant and refugee students. Since then, the House of Wisdom has more than doubled the number of students they serve thanks to staff volunteers with diverse areas of expertise. House of Wisdom’s primary purpose is to help children and teens from different backgrounds, cultures, and religions succeed academically and spiritually. House of Wisdom is dedicated to helping them with school assignments, preparing for exams, and inspiring them to achieve high grades. Their team is committed to helping the youth of all ages develop healthy habits and a positive lifestyle.