Classical High School alum Zoe Cooper (pictured above) just passed the bar exam last year after receiving her juris doctorate from Boston University.  When she’s not interning at the federal court in her hometown of Providence, freshly minted attorney  Cooper is spending her afternoons with a younger generation of Providence students at the headquarters of VIPS (Volunteers in Providence Schools) just around the corner from her former high school.  

More than just being an academic tutor, Cooper is one of many VIPS that are helping youth like Dunia DeCarvalho, a sophomore from Central High (pictured above), succeed academically in hopes that those lessons will carry on beyond the walls of the classroom.  For Cooper, being involved in VIPS is also a way to give back and serve the community where she grew up .  She believes, “It’s important to realize that if these kids are … succeeding academically and in life, we will all reap the rewards of that as a community.”  Undoubtedly, Cooper is living proof of that.  

City News caught up with this Very Important Providence native to learn more about what inspires her to volunteer. 

Why do you volunteer for VIPs?

I volunteer for VIPS because I went to Providence Public Schools.  I’m from the South Side of Providence. This is my community and I thought that this was a way to give back.  I have a friend who is participating in the VIPS Power Lunch program and she was really excited about what was going on there and about the progress that her students are making.  So once I moved back to Providence after law school I knew I had to get involved.   

Why do you think it’s important to give back to your community?

For those of us who are from this community, we should all have a vested interest in it.  I don’t think we should sit back and wait to have the work done for us.  It’s important to realize that if these kids are doing better in school, if they’re succeeding academically and in life, we will all reap the rewards of that as a community. 

What schools did you attend in Providence?

I went to Sackett Street Elementary School, Nathaniel Greene Middle School, and Classical High School.  

What’s your average weekly commitment to VIPS and what do you do?

I’ve been volunteering since September 2009.  I normally come in from 3 to 5 pm on Wednesdays and 3 to 5:30 on Tuesdays.  During those times I walk around the room, going from student-to-student and figure out what they need help with.  I’m definitely more comfortable with math so that’s probably what I spend a large percentage of my time helping the students with.  And other times I help them with writing assignments.  We do a bunch of different things, whatever the students need help with – as long as it’s not science! I don’t do science! 

Did you know about VIPS when you were a student?

I graduated from high school 7 years ago.  I remember hearing about it when I was a student but I wasn’t involved in it.  I was involved in plenty of organizations like VIPS though.  Growing up, my mother was a busy parent.  So she put us in any and all afterschool programs there was, especially if they were related to academics.  I was part of Artemis, a program at Brown University.  I was part of Summerbridge, which is part of Wheeler School.  I did the College Crusaders.  You name it, I was in it!  

From the perspective of a young student, how do you think this program benefits him or her?

First off, the program that VIPS offers – especially to high school kids – is great.  These kids are coming through voluntarily.  No one is forcing them to come here.  In my eyes, they are self-starters and they have a vested interest in their own success.  So what VIPS provides is an opportunity to help them improve in their weak areas .  Whether it’s math, science, or writing skills, or if English is their second language – there are programs here that can help them.  VIPS serves a resource for these kids who recognize that there are areas where they need help and who are trying to be proactive in getting that help so they can improve and succeed in school. 

Generally, kids have more adult responsibilities now and a lot more is expected of them outside of academics.  So I think that’s why it’s great to have places like VIPS where they can just come and focus on schoolwork and make that a priority in their lives.   

What inspires you to volunteer?

There’s something about that a-ha moment for me.  When you see a kid who is struggling in a particular area or with a particular assignment finally get it.  Or when you see them grow and build their confidence in that area, I think that’s what makes it worthwhile.  Dunia is a prime example of this.  In the beginning, there were certain areas in math that she wasn’t so comfortable in and today she brought in her report card and her tests, and she’s scoring in the 100s! She’s making the grade in areas that she was struggling in just a few months ago. 

What kind of difference are you making in the lives of Providence students by being involved?

My hope personally is that they would have higher standards for themselves.  I believe that at VIPS we challenge them to have high expectations academically.  I hope that translates into other areas of their lives.  The tutoring that we offer, in my eyes, could be the difference between a kid slipping through the cracks or graduating from high school and moving on to college.  So I think that’s the difference that is being made here at VIPS and that I hope will continue to be made.   

Why should others volunteer for VIPS?

Because it’s awesome! Look, these are students who come here of their own accord.  These are students who want to do better.  They’re just looking for the resources and the people to help them do that.  It’s awesome! 

I’m enjoying this experience so far and I think the kids appreciate the time that we dedicate to them every week.  They come here on a daily basis and I hope more people would volunteer for VIPS.  

To learn more about how you can get involved with the Volunteers in Providence Schools, email program director Matt Billings at mbillings@vips4kids.org or visit them on the web at www.vips4kids.org.