What: District MENtor Orientation for Houston Real Men Read, a mentoring program that allows men from across the Houston area to volunteer to read to second-, fifth- and seventh-grade students for one hour per month for five months — November December, January, February and May. In addition to reading, the volunteers also spend time discussing the book with the students. Books also are provided to both students and volunteers. Launched five years ago by HISD Trustee Paula Harris and Sen. Rodney Ellis, the program has roughly 300 volunteer mentors working at 45 HISD schools. The district orientation provides an overview of the program and allows mentors to network with each other and share ideas.

Who: HISD Chief Academic Officer Daniel Gohl, Chief Elementary School Officer Karla Loria, Director of Literacy Carol Bedard, longtime Red Elementary School volunteer and mentor Jonathan Randle and many other program volunteers.

When: Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Where: Peck Elementary School, 5001 Martin Luther King Blvd