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The Literacy Letter
Summer 2024
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Message from the Leadership Team
Scott Curtis, Board President & Aimee Lam, Executive Director
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Hello LVSC Friends,
In June we marked LVSC’s year-end with the Annual Meeting and Recognition Night. We celebrated student accomplishments, thanked tutors for their selfless dedication, acknowledged our cherished community partners, and expressed gratitude to our generous donors. It was a great way to kick off summer!
As we've seen tremendous demand for our services, at the Annual Meeting we were proud to also celebrate growth. You may know that in 2023 we announced a return to pre-pandemic levels of service. Since then, we have experienced significant expansion: we doubled our space and staff to increase programming and train more volunteers. Consequently, we can provide free, everyday English instruction to a greater number of students.
In this newsletter we are pleased to share highlights from the Annual Meeting, including the Executive Director's Annual Report and a listing of award recipients. We also have news regarding personnel changes and are excited to share a new video. Here's a snapshot of our Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2024:
- Nearly 300 students received tutoring from 180 volunteer tutors. That's more than 4,000 hours of free instruction.
- Conversation groups remain a popular way to practice speaking English. Volunteers logged 400+ hours of discussion in 12 conversation groups reaching 100+ students.
- 18 students became new citizens. Volunteers provided 500+ hours of free on-demand instruction for 28 students applying for US citizenship.
- The First Steps Basic English pilot is going strong. More than 150 students are being served through classes run by our partners and small groups led by LVSC tutors.
Fall is right around the corner and we are in the middle of student enrollment. To date, more than 175 students have registered for services. We'll do our best to find each and every student the services they need and we have YOU to thank: our new and seasoned volunteers, generous donors, and supportive partners.
Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thank you for being part of the LVSC community.
Warm regards,
Aimee Lam, Executive Director
Scott Curtis, Board President
P.S. As we were putting final touches on this newsletter we learned that the founder of Literacy Volunteers of America, Ruth Colvin, passed away. She was 107 years old. We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for visionaries like Ms. Colvin. You can learn more about her inspiring life and literacy journey here.
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Goodbyes and Hellos: Staff Changes at LVSC | |
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On Thursday August 15th, we said a bittersweet goodbye to Lisa Ries who has served as our Student Success Manager for the past two years. Lisa accomplished so much in support of students and tutors.
At the same time, we said a happy hello to Jennifer Kushinka who is succeeding Lisa as our new Tutor Support Manager. Jennifer's focus will be on supporting our valued volunteers so that they have the information and resources they need to help students improve their English skills and reach their goals.
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When Lisa retired from her first career at Johnson & Johnson, she did not anticipate finding a second career in the nonprofit world. After becoming an LVSC tutor in February 2020, she embraced the virtual nature of pandemic tutoring and even developed a virtual lesson library to share with fellow tutors. She led a popular conversation group and ran an Apple Pie Making Zoom for students prior to the first pandemic Thanksgiving. For her efforts and enthusiasm she was recognized as LVSC's 2021 Tutor of the Year.
The following year, Lisa joined the LVSC staff as Student Success Manager and, no surprise, she added great value to this new part-time role. She provided the vision for our Student Success Center and created a robust lending library of ESL teaching materials for our tutors. She developed a starter kit for new tutors, and has been a friendly, reassuring voice providing tutors with ongoing support. She created mini-training courses for tutors who need a refresher or want to become conversation group leaders. She played an integral role on our Cultural Connections planning team and she streamlined our entire student assessment process.
Now, Lisa and her husband are moving south to be closer to family. Lisa will be sorely missed, but we wish her all the best in this new chapter of her life and we thank her for her significant contributions.
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LVSC is thrilled to welcome Jennifer Kushinka to the LVSC staff as our new Tutor Support Manager. Jennifer became an LVSC volunteer in 2005. Since then, she has tutored eight students, and also served as an assessor, advocate, and supporter. For her commitment to LVSC's mission, she received the Martha Davis Award for Outstanding Service at LVSC's 2024 Annual Meeting and Recognition Night. She will make an excellent addition to the LVSC team and is ready to pick-up where Lisa Ries left off.
Jennifer recently stepped aside from a life-long career as a radio newscaster and reporter. Various stops along the way included Compass Media Networks, Wall Street Journal Radio, Bloomberg News and local radio stations WCTC/WMGQ in New Brunswick. Jennifer also worked as a pharmaceutical researcher, copywriter and news curator for PharmIntell and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Jennifer is an active volunteer for several organizations. She is president of the board of Second Chance for Animals, a non-profit that supports the Franklin Township Animal Shelter. She is also a mentor for refugees through Interfaith-RISE in Highland Park, and a volunteer for Raritan Valley Habitat for Humanity.
Jennifer has been a Somerset County resident for all of her adult life. She currently lives with cats Freckles and Ringo, and a slew of foster kittens. Please join us in welcoming Jennifer to the LVSC staff.
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Welcome to our Newest Tutors | |
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Winter 2024 Tutor Training Class
28 new tutors matched with 32 students from 17 different countries.
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Spring 2024 Tutor Training Class
24 new tutors matched with 27 students from 15 different countries.
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Summer 2024 Tutor Training Class
18 new tutors matched with 19 students from 12 different countries.
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Welcome to our Newest Board Member | |
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Cathy Peckens, M.B.A.
Johnson & Johnson: Innovative Medicine, Head of Technology - Cardiovascular
Cathy brings to the LVSC board both business acumen and more than 20 years of experience as a technology leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Cathy recently completed BoardConnect, a program offered by NonProfit Connect which trains volunteers to serve on non-profit boards. Cathy has a long history of community service and connects to the LVSC mission through her parents' immigration story. Says Cathy, "Thinking about how my own parents immigrated to the United States, I know the resources, services, and opportunities LVSC provides is life changing for families."
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Annual Meeting & Recognition Event | |
At our June 5th Annual Meeting and Recognition Night we celebrated the 195 volunteers and nearly 500 students who participated in our programs this past year. We thanked our community partners and generous donors. We heard heartfelt stories and enjoyed the warmth of the LVSC community. So many smiling faces! | |
Congratulations to LVSC's 2024 Award Recipients | |
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Students of the Year:
Ana, Carol, Fanny and Stefannia
| This amazing group of four women have worked diligently together for more than two years. In that time, they have achieved many personal goals -- like getting better jobs, communicating with doctors, and learning computer skills. But what stands out most is their camaraderie, work ethic, and focus. | |
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Tutor of the Year:
Diana Mendez
| Diana trained to be a volunteer tutor in April of 2021 after retiring from a 30-year teaching career. Her positive and contagious spirit, coupled with her years of teaching experience, has made her an excellent tutor and a tremendous asset to the LVSC community. | |
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Volunteer of the Year:
Kala Sivasubramanian
| Since 2020, Kala has tutored eight different students, helping many of our early language learners with their transition from beginner classes to tutoring. She’s supported students in reaching their life goals and given them the confidence to participate in LVSC activities. She leads a popular weekly conversation group and recently took on a small group of beginner students. In addition, Kala generously supports LVSC fundraising initiatives and has taken on the role of “staff” photographer. | |
Martha Davis Award for Outstanding Service: Jennifer Kushinka | |
Martha Davis was LVSC's board president when she passed away unexpectedly. This award is given to an individual who embodies Martha's spirit of volunteerism, her dedication to LVSC's mission and her support of all aspects of our organization.
Volunteering since 2005, Jennifer is all that and more. She is dedicated and valued tutor, assessor, supporter, and advocate.
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Community Partner Award:
Francine Leddy & Debora Voria
Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission
| The Community Partner Award is given to an individual or organization which provides extraordinary support in collaborating with LVSC. Fran and Debbie of the Hunterdon County Educational Services Commission (HCESC) have been invaluable partners and collaborators on the First Steps Basic English pilot which is reaching more than 150 beginner-level ESL students. | |
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NEW VIDEO
Learn More About the First Steps Basic English Pilot
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Milestone Years of Service | |
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LVSC asks our tutors to dedicate one year to tutoring – and that is a big ask. But many volunteers hit that one year and fly past it, either working with the same student, or with multiple students, or taking on new roles. We are thrilled to honor members of our community who have hit milestone years of service this year, and by doing so have demonstrated a dedication to LVSC students and the greater LVSC community.
5 years of service:
- Aubrey Flanagan
- Pat Kime
- Doreen Ladinski
- Pam Lester
- Phil Lewis
- Fr. Louis Mattina
- Robert Skrabal
10 years of service:
- Lauren Randolph
- Janice Rose
- Charlie Smith
- Tammy Westmark
25 years of service:
- Susan Engelstein
- Aimee Lam
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Cultural Connections Project | We had a great time celebrating cultural diversity and cross-cultural communication. More than 70 people joined us for a panel discussion and luncheon. Thank you to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities for funding this engaging project! A big congratulations to the student authors and panelists. | |  |
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Garden of Literacy
Brunch & Silent Auction
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We were so happy to return to the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge for our signature event.
Thanks to all who made our 5th Annual Brunch & Silent Auction a big success: 100 guests! 40 great donated prizes! Generous sponsors! $11,000+ raised to support LVSC's free literacy programs.
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Somerset Patriots
Evening at the Ballpark
| Fun night at the ballpark! Thank you to the Somerset County Commissioners for sharing their box with local nonprofits. Our students, along with teachers, LVSC staff, family and friends, enjoyed a Patriots game complete with fireworks. | | |
Thank you golfers, sponsors, donors, supporters, volunteers, and event committee! Our 8th annual Golf Fore Literacy fundraising event was a big success. This year, we were in a new location, the beautiful Neshanic Valley Golf Course. | | |
Give the Gift of Literacy | |
You can honor a student, volunteer, or someone special with a donation and you will be sharing the gift of literacy! | |
One-time donations help us train new tutors, serve more students, support our volunteers, and grow our programs. | | |
Monthly donations support crucial behind-the-scenes expenses: staff, office space, internet, and phones. | | | |
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Tuesday, September 17, 2024: Fall Tutor Training Begins
Sunday, March 16, 2025: Garden of Literacy Brunch & Silent Auction at the Olde Mill Inn, Basking Ridge
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