Bridge the Gap –
The Story of our Youth Mentoring Programs

Bridge the Gap’s Mission

Our mission is to improve reading skills, provide homework assistance and academic tutoring and engage parents in the education of Marin City youth in our program, so that students stay in school and improve academically.

Our credentialed teacher works with our tutors, our student families and the schools, throughout the week to encourage communication and an improved learning environment.

The benefits of volunteering to build community

The seeds for Bridge the Gap’s youth mentoring and tutoring programs grew out of a desire to reach kids who needed both help with homework and the benefits of mentoring.  We wanted to bridge not only the educational divide but the cultural one.  In 1995, we began with a handful of students and tutors working in generously donated space in the heart of Marin City. Since then, we have successfully provided tutoring and mentoring support to more than 300 low-income, at-risk K-12th grade children residing in the Marin City community of Marin County. 

Bridge the Gap fosters tutor/student relationships that encourage students to visualize the world beyond Marin City, while strengthening a sense of community within Marin City.

Started by a few dedicated volunteers, our tutoring program has grown to include 50+ volunteers from a variety of professions and affiliated with community service organizations, civic groups, high schools and faith communities – volunteers from throughout Marin County, San Francisco and the Bay Area.  Our community service volunteers provide more than 4,000 hours each year working with approximately 40 kids in our program.

If you can help, please contact our Tutor Coordinator/Student Advocate
Samareh (Sam) Eskandaripou at 415- 810-3137
or Denni Locke at 415-221-3592
or email: