When Albert Ray first heard about Lead to Read KC, it wasn’t just another volunteer opportunity—it was a call to action.
Working at Populous, Ray saw colleagues volunteering as reading mentors at Citizens of the World Charter School and was immediately intrigued. “I listened to a presentation about expanding the reading program and thought, ‘We need this at Hogan Prep,’ ” he recalled. As a longtime board member at Hogan Preparatory Academy, he has seen firsthand how valuable mentorship can be.
There was just one obstacle: not enough Lead to Read KC volunteers to start at Hogan. Ray didn’t let that stop him.
“I said, I can get volunteers,” he explained. He turned to his Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brothers in Kansas City, a chapter that has served the community since January 1919. Their history of service, particularly through programs like Project Alpha, made them a perfect fit to bring the reading mentoring program to Hogan.
“We’ve been involved with lots of schools and events,” Ray said. “But I thought, what if we concentrated our collective efforts at one school?”
That vision of recreating a sense of community, even when volunteers might not live nearby, is what brought Lead to Read KC to Hogan Prep.
Ray’s own love of reading started young. His mother kept him stocked with books and, noticing his passion for sports, began subscribing to Sports Illustrated. An aunt gifted him a biography of Carl Rowan, one of the first African Americans in the U.S. Army during WWII and a renowned journalist. “I still have that book,” Ray said. “It made a big impression on me.”
Now, as a reading mentor, Ray focuses on encouraging students and recognizing when they need a little extra support. “You can tell when a student is frustrated or not excited about a book,” he said. “Everyone needs encouragement.”
When asked what he loves most about volunteering, Ray doesn’t hesitate: “Seeing the spark in a student when they connect with a story or gain confidence in their reading—it’s incredibly rewarding.”
And why Hogan? “Hogan has such a rich history,” he said. “We’re creating opportunities for students to succeed in whatever they decide to pursue.”
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to make a difference in a child’s life apply now at leadtoreadkc.org/volunteer.