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The Literacy Letter
Winter 2025
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Message from the Executive Director | |
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Hello LVSC Friends,
This year started with much activity, both in the office and out. Through it all, LVSC remains committed to teaching English and helping students feel welcomed. Our work is as important as ever.
We continue seeing record student interest in learning English. In December, more than 200 students applied for either our tutoring program or basic English classes! We couldn't meet this demand without our amazing tutors. Dedicated to teaching English and sharing culture, they provide thousands of hours of free instruction every year.
We’re all about goals at LVSC and that is the primary purpose of our programs. Tutors and students work together on everyday English skills which helps students achieve goals like getting a better job, reading to a child, and becoming a U.S. citizen.
In order to do this important work, fundraising goals are important as well. Training and supporting tutors, and coordinating many students and programs takes significant behind the scenes effort -- made possible by the devoted LVSC staff and your financial support.
You may recall that last fall the LVSC board issued a matching gift challenge. Our goal was to raise $20,000 with members of the board pledging to match all donations, dollar for dollar, up to $10,000. The LVSC community rose to the occasion and generously exceeded that goal – significantly! Your donations, board member donations, and corporate matching gifts totaled more than $50,000! We are forever grateful to our individual supporters, as well as recent grant donors and event sponsors. Your donations go a long way in furthering our mission.
I hope you'll enjoy this issue of The Literacy Letter. You will read about the great programs and people you are supporting and the tremendous work it takes to make it all happen.
Warmest regards,
Aimee
Aimee Lam, Executive Director
PS. Ready for spring? Join us at our Garden of Literacy Brunch & Silent Auction on March 16th at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge. Tickets are on sale through our website. Hope to see you there!
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Celebrating Student Success | |
We love celebrating student successes and here's a big one: brand new US citizens! Artur and Agnes have worked with their LVSC tutor, Wendy, for five years. During that time they met many life-changing goals, like completing certificate courses in accounting and getting new jobs. Most recently they've been working with Wendy to prepare for their US citizenship test and interview. Congratulations on a job well done! | |
Congratulations also to Bibi, Angelica, and Judit! Did you know we provide free on-demand tutoring to help students prepare for their citizenship test and interview? Last year 18 LVSC students became new citizens. | |
Celebrating Our Volunteers | |
Our Volunteer Appreciation Reception was one way we were able to express our gratitude to volunteers. Without the kindness, dedication, and welcoming spirit of LVSC volunteers, there would be no LVSC. We are so grateful for each and every one of you! | |
Special congratulations to Lois Smith, Yvonne Selander, and Marian Zeldin -- volunteers who received the 5-year Milestone Years of Service Award! | |
Introducing the Tutor of the Month Program | |
Our new Tutor of the Month program highlights the engaging ways that different volunteers teach English. Each of our volunteers is special, meet three of them. | |
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Bryant Wong
December 2024
Bryant works at a life sciences consulting firm and enjoys giving back as a tutor. Bryant is working with a student whose goal is to find a job in her field of arts and crafts. To help her learn vocabulary, Bryant used ChatGBT to write an article on filigree, which is the art of making intricate, detailed metal jewelry.
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Beth Noble
January 2025
Beth has tutored four students since she started as an LVSC volunteer in the fall of 2021. She focuses her lessons on practical uses of English, such as how to call in sick to work, ordering food at a drive-thru, asking for directions, going to the doctor and speaking with staff at the grocery store.
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Sau Steiner
February 2025
Sau is an avid reader who understands that being an English tutor is more than just teaching English. She helps her students navigate U.S. culture, history and how things work. Sau finds it particularly rewarding when her students apply her lessons to real-life situations.
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Conversing with Conversation Group Leaders | |
What a great time we had with our conversation group leaders -- new and seasoned. These creative volunteers shared the fun and interesting ways they teach everyday English. So inspiring! Did you know we offer 10 weekly conversation groups? With in-person and virtual options, there is something for everyone. | |
We gratefully welcomed 38 new tutors who completed our last two tutor training workshops. They are working with 49 students who come from countries all around the world: Ecuador, Malaysia, Ukraine, China, Brazil and South Korea, to name a few. | |
If you're looking to make a difference locally, attend one of our Information Sessions to learn more about becoming a tutor. If you're already a trained tutor, please spread the word! We have 50 students on our waiting list. | |
Welcome to our Newest Board Member | |
LVSC's 14 board members are volunteers with diverse areas of expertise. Their role is to ensure LVSC"s financial health while supporting the executive director and staff in carrying out LVSC's mission. | |
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Rachel E. Campbell, Esq.
Attorney, DiFrancesco, Bateman, Kunzman, Davis, Lehrer, & Flaum P.C
| Rachel is the newest member of the LVSC board. She is an attorney skilled in all aspects of the litigation process and has a comprehensive understanding of the legal landscape. She has successfully represented clients in diverse areas, including but not limited to insurance defense, personal injury claims, contract disputes, and commercial litigation. In addition to her civil practice, Rachel is an Assistant Municipal Court Prosecutor in numerous townships throughout Morris, Somerset, and Hunterdon County. Rachel also represents victims of domestic violence in restraining order hearings. | | |
LVSC is serving 400 students through a network of 175 trained tutors. Here's a glimpse of behind the scenes work that your donation supports. | |
The calm before the storm: 16 of our volunteer assessors were prepared to welcome more than 200 new student applicants during five testing sessions in January. It's a privilege to meet these new students and learn about their hopes and dreams for the future. | |
There are many factors in making a good tutor-student match. Date and time available? In-person or remote? Which library? Personal interests? LVSC staff Jennifer Kushinka (l) and Susan Engelstein (r) were fully engrossed in making nearly 50 new matches this month. | |
Stella Nieves, LVSC's Literacy Navigator, offered 80 beginner-level students a spot in free English classes offered through First Steps Basic English - a collaborative program funded by Somerset County. Students are currently enrolled in classes taught by our partners. | |
Rainy weather didn't stop LVSC staff from enjoying a day at the Somerset County Diversity Festival. Many people stopped by to learn more about our services. Did you know we serve students from 47 different countries right here in Somerset County, NJ? | | |
Thank You to Our Recent Grant Donors | |
- Billian Family Foundation
- County of Somerset
- George H. and Estelle M. Sands Foundation
- New Jersey Community Fund by Johnson & Johnson
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Nora Roberts Foundation
- Munich Re America
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PSEG Foundation
- Shapiro Family Foundation
- State of NJ
- The Fred C. Rummel Foundation
- Ullmann Family Foundation
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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. | | | | | |
