LVGW Newsletter - December 2025

December 2025

'Tis the season!

Dear LVGW community,

This Friday marks the close of our fall semester of ESOL classes. We registered more than 180 students in September, and we’re already looking forward to opening our doors to new and returning learners in January.

Thank you to everyone who made this semester possible from hosting workforce readiness workshops, referring students to our services, and sharing culturally appropriate community engagement opportunities, to the generous donors who sustain our work.

These first six months in this role have been filled with kindness and support, and I’m excited for all that’s ahead!

Sienna Ablorh

Executive Director

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday (December 2) is the annual day of generosity!

Shifting immigration policies and ongoing ICE activity have destabilized daily life for migrants across the U.S. including our neighbors right here in Greater Worcester. Now more than ever, it is critical that we redouble our efforts to create a free educational space where everyone belongs.

Donating to Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester funds 1:1 English language tutoring, ESOL classes, and career readiness workshops that help adults navigate work, school, and daily life with confidence. Your gift not only protects our students’ access to free English education, but also promotes their confidence to dream.

Make A Gift!

New Community Members

Nicholas Roberts has been an ESL teacher for 4 years. Before becoming a teacher, he served for nine years in the United States Navy. Languages are his passion, and he loves contributing to the community through education. He has taught in Annapolis, MD and Lawrence, MA.

Nicholas currently teaches in Worcester, MA, along with teaching adult English class with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester.

Jane Palensiia was born and educated in Ukraine, where she earned her degree in English education and began her teaching career. After teaching for seven years, she moved to the U.S.A. and continued working in the field of education. Jane currently teaches at Central Massachusetts Collaborative during the day and at Quinsigamond Community College and LVGW in the evening. Teaching is truly meaningful to her. She enjoys sharing her knowledge, supporting student growth, and helping learners improve their lives through education.

Tutor Story

This past quarter, 20+ NEW VOLUNTEERS completed our 18-hour ESOL Tutor Training.

Josie Libonate

Josie is a senior at Clark University studying psychology and creative writing who completed our ESOL Tutor Training. Josie reflected on her experience as a tutor thus far:

"After I finished the training, I had the opportunity to sit-in with the Friday conversation circle class. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see language learning in action prior to tutoring. Watching learners support one another and foster community through learning was an exciting experience. I recently started tutoring my own student, and it has been a great experience. Designing lessons that meet her goals has pushed me to think creatively and adaptively, and I genuinely feel like I’m learning just as much as I’m teaching."

Fall Events

On October 15 volunteers, students, and community members gathered at our annual meeting to celebrate our FY25 achievements.

We had the privilege of hearing from community partner Jillian Phillips (Friendly House) and former student Benjamin Kagigi (African Community Education) and honoring our former Executive Director, Ping Chen.

THANK YOU all for your effort in sharing and attending our Benefit Bake hosted at American Flatbread Worcester on November 4th.

A sincere thank you to College of the Holy Cross for inviting our students and tutors to the exhibition “The Vietnamese Áo Dài in a Time of War: Fashion, Citizenship, and Nationalism (1954–1975)” at the Cantor Art Gallery.

The exhibition offered a powerful look at how the áo dài reflects cultural identity, history, and political change. A meaningful takeaway came from our students, who observed similarities between the áo dài and traditional garments from Afghanistan and India which is a reminder of how clothing can serve as a bridge across cultures and lived experiences.

International Holiday Potluck Party

Join us to celebrate the end of our semester and holiday season! If you are able to, please bring a traditional family food from your home country for everyone to share. If you are not able to bring something, you are still welcome to come and enjoy dishes from around the world!

December 17, 5pm - 7pm

Worcester Public Library (Saxe Room)

RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/mum25xrr

Spring ESOL Classes

LVGW is finalizing the schedule for our Spring semester of adult ESOL classes (January 26-April 3, 2026). When student's complete this form it helps us assess what the current community needs are.

Please feel free to share this info with any community partners or adult learners you have in mind. We'll follow up with the finalized course schedule and registration details once available.

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester

3 Salem Square, Suite 332

Worcester, MA 01608

info@lvgw.org|508-754-8056