LVGW Quarterly Newsletter

March 2024

Provides social and economic empowerment through culturally compassionate English language education.

Spring is a time for

growth and new beginnings!

This semester, of the 185 students who enrolled for our classes, 100+ students are new to the LVGW community, and 42 students participate in our tutoring program. We welcome new ESOL teacher, Sienna Ablorh and new volunteer board members, Raquel Mota-Hays & Hilda Rosa Maldonado. We've also launched a new workshop series on topics including career and communication readiness. Finally, we recently welcomed 11 new volunteers who are in the process of training as ESOL tutors. If you are interested in volunteering at LVGW, please fill out this form.

We are so grateful to the corporations, foundations, and individuals who continue to support our mission. If you believe in the important work we do at LVGW, please help support our continued growth by becoming a monthly donor. Monthly contributors are the foundation of every new beginning such as Fatemeh's (see her "Thank You" letter below), and we are most grateful for their ongoing generosity.

Sincerely,

Ping

Pingsheng Chen

Executive Director

pchen@lvgw.org

Spring is in the Air!

WELCOME

Join us in welcoming new Board members

Raquel Mota-Hays & Hilda Rosa Maldonado,

and our new English teacher Sienna Ablorh!!!

Raquel Mota-Hays, has a strong passion for personal growth and community development. She works as a Wraparound Coordinator for the Worcester Public Schools, where she consistently strives to promote literacy and passionately advocates for ESOL students. She obtained a degree in Law in Brazil and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies and Psychology from Bunker Hill Community College. These qualifications significantly enhance her skill-set and enable her to bring a unique perspective to her work. She feels honored to serve on the Board of Directors for LVGW and to contribute her expertise to this exceptional team that aims to deliver the best for the Worcester community.

Hilda Rosa Maldonado, originally from Canóvanas, Puerto Rico is Program Director at Worcester's Green Island Neighborhood Center, a program of Friendly House, Inc. Hilda has a background in Education from the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico. In 2023 she completed a Human Service Associate of Science Degree from Quinsigamond Community College. She is pleased to be serving on the LVGW Board of Directors, with the purpose of continuing to make a difference for people seeking to better their lives. Understanding that her skills and years of experience could be of great benefit to others, Hilda seeks to be an advocate and voice for our community.

Sienna Ablorh

joined us this spring semester as a Survival-level English Teacher. Sienna is a Worcester native and proud alumna of College of the Holy Cross where she majored in Psychology and History with a concentration in Africana Studies. Sienna spent a year teaching English at a primary school in Bilbao, Spain. Before heading to Spain, she volunteered with us here at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester to get familiar with ESOL learners. In addition to teaching at LVGW, Sienna is pursuing an MBA at Babson College. She welcomes any tips or tricks on creating an engaged learning environment for all learners. Join us in welcoming Sienna back to the LVGW community!

For Students

Communication Readiness Classes are available through March & April!

For Volunteers

Are you interested in becoming a tutor to change someone's life? Join us for Tutor Orientation on Thursday, March 21st, 6:00pm - 7:30pm on Zoom. Sign up today!

Let's Celebrate Together!

LVGW Spring Field Trip

Saturday, April 6, 2024

12:00pm-2:00pm

Worcester Historical Museum

Students, teachers, tutors and volunteers are invited to tour the Worcester Historical Museum with us! Bring your family or a friend to explore and learn about our city and its history.

We will follow up on details for signing-up.

"WORCESTER HAS A REMARKABLE STORY. This city has a story, made up of the evolving history of its people. Each of us is part of Worcester’s story—

how we work and live, what we fight for, and whom we love. Someday our present will be the past, and future generations will want to know our history."

A Thank You letter from Student/Volunteer Fatemeh!

We are so grateful to the corporations, foundations, and individuals who continue to support our mission of providing English language literacy skills to the Greater Worcester community. Thank you for your generosity!