Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester

Providing English language proficiency for Economic Security

Boost Your Summer ESL Learning with Free Apps

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Through our participation in the Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition, we’re excited to offer free access to two award-winning apps for our students to practice their English literacy skills.

While these learning apps will not replace one-to-one tutoring or ESL courses, we hope students will use them to supplement their learning beyond the classroom this summer. They are recommended for beginner- and intermediate-level ESL learners, and make learning fun with a variety of grammar practices, math puzzles, and reading comprehension lessons. Both apps are free to download and install, and are available 24/7 at your convenience.

In addition to helping you practice English, your use of the apps could help LVGW win a cash award. The Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition is a national competition that challenges organizations and individuals to recruit adults to use learning apps to improve their English language literacy skills.

Despite LVGW being one of the smaller organizations in the Communities Competition, our reach is broad. With a bit of help from friends near and far we’ve got a real shot at the award money, which would go so far in helping us secure our ESOL programming, opportunities and resources. But even if we don’t get the most downloads for the award, we still win because we’ve gained a new tool to make it easier for our students to practice English language literacy skills and participate in their community.”

– Jolene Jennings, Executive Director
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APPS AND REGISTER HERE

Student Family Scrabble Game Day at LVGW 4.7.19!

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Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester is hosting a Family Scrabble Game Day

for our students and their families in collaboration with the JCC on Good Deeds Day!

Where and When:  Sunday, April 7, 2019

LVGW Classroom, 90 Madison St. Room 303A

11:00am-1:00pm

Register by April 5th at  info@lvgw.org – Reserve your seat with Lena today!

For more details, see our  LVGW and JCC Student Scrabble Flyer for more

 

 Individuals and families are invited to learn a new word game and meet new members of our community.  We hope that you can join us!

 

18th Annual Scrabble Scrimmage Tournament Registration is Open!

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When: Join us on Saturday, May 4th, 2019 from 5:00pm-8:00pm!
Where: Worcester State University, 486 Chandler Street, Worcester MA.

We hope you can join us for this annual competition for adults of all abilities. Includes prizes, food, beverages, raffle, cash bar prizes and a fun time!  Pull a team of 3-6 players together and see if your company can claim first prize over last year’s winner, Bay State Savings Bank! Registration is $25 per person and includes dinner!

Proceeds support our English literacy education programs and the 600 adult students we educate!

Click here to register today or contact us at info@lvgw.org for more information about attending, sponsorship or volunteer opportunities!

Thank you to our current sponsors!

Leadership Level Sponsor: Bay State Savings Bank
Teacher Level Sponsors: Countrybank and Fletcher Tilton, PC

 

45th Annual Meeting and International Potluck Dinner

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45th Annual Meeting and International Potluck Dinner

Celebrating 45 years: 1973 to 2018

45th Annual Meeting and International Potluck Dinner. Thank you Kathleen for your four years of board leadership!

Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester has been providing English language skill education since 1973 in Worcester.  Our constituents came together for our special 45th Annual Meeting where we celebrated over a shared International Potluck dinner. Attendees included our Board of Directors, Program and Teaching Staff, Volunteer Tutors and Students and their families.  We are proud  and  honored to be a longstanding provider to 600 adults per year who are in need of ABE/ESOL English language skill education, to not only thrive in Worcester, but improve their future with English language proficiency and economic security.

Everyone at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester has a vital role to create a positive impact with our students and our community.

We are grateful for all who chose to contribute their time, talent, skills and contributions to help us make an impact on so many.

Yours in Community,

Jolene Jennings and the Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester Team

45th Annual Meeting and International Potluck Dinner FY19

 

 

Immigrant and Refugee Stories of Worcester Women

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Everyone has a story to tell.  The Worcester Women’s Oral History Project collects, preserves, and shares the stories of Worcester women including the stories of immigrants who have lived in Worcester for many years and have established themselves as doctors, entrepreneurs, teaches, and directors of nonprofit organizations.  This year WWHOP has collaborated with five Worcester organizations that work with immigrants and refugees in order to gather stories of women who have more recently emigrated from a variety of countries, including Colombia, Algeria, Brazil, China and Burma. Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester was one of the five collaborating nonprofits and we invite you to join us. Print out attached flyer and rsvp to WWOHP today.

WWOHP and LVGW December 5 2017 Event Flyer

We and our students were honored to collaborate with WWOHP  in recording these stories and look forward to sharing the experiences with you! Please join Worcester Women’s Oral History Project and Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester in celebrating the completion of these immigrant women stories at the public event on 12/5/17.

Immigrant and Refugee Stories of Worcester Women
Tuesday, 12/5/17, at 5:30 pm
Worcester Public Library, Saxe Room
free and open to the public – refreshments will be served
rsvp mryandoyle@aol.com or chmartin@townasp.com

Amanda Addeo, Volunteer Tutor and LVGW Board Director

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Amanda Addeo, Unum disability benefits specialist in Worcester’s Benefits Center, says volunteering with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester is good for the soul. 

Inside: When did you start volunteering?

Amanda: In high school, I was a member of several student organizations where we volunteered around Worcester.

Inside: Why do you volunteer?

Amanda: My motto is “my day-job pays the bills but volunteering feeds my soul.” It’s important for me to be an active member of my community and give back whenever possible, but it’s also
rewarding to see the ripple effect that comes with volunteering. Through my volunteer work, I’ve developed new skills, networked and made great friends, all while helping others. Volunteering can also be a meditative practice that helps you gain a deeper perspective of how communities connect with people.

Inside: What organizations do you volunteer for?

Amanda: I’m volunteering with Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester (LVGW) as a literacy tutor and member of the board of directors right now. In the past, I volunteered with Worcester State University and South High School for Massachusetts Education & Career Opportunities, Inc.’s College Success Institute. I would work with high school juniors and seniors to prepare them for college and beyond.

Inside: What does your volunteer work at LVGW look like?

Amanda: We help adults refine their literacy skills. We teach immigrants, refugees and adult basic-literacy students to read, write and speak English. Participants range from those learning English for the first time to citizens and residents of the community who are functionally illiterate or unable to manage daily living and employment tasks that require skills beyond an elementary level. Each tutor is matched with a student for weekly tutoring sessions. My tutee, Libo, is a young woman from China. She studied some English in China where she attended college, but ended up moving to the United States when her husband enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Every Friday, Libo and I meet at a coffee shop and focus on conversation, pronunciation, reading and writing. There was a significant cultural exchange that took place as well. We talked about history, politics, cultural norms and traditions – both American and Chinese.

Inside: Do you have a favorite memory or story from volunteering?

Amanda: When Libo and I started working together she was very quiet and isolated herself from the fast-talking American lifestyle. We began with restaurant menus and transitioned to reading Hemingway and Kafka. As her English improved, her confidence did too. Libo, now funny and social, is not just a tutee but my friend. Libo welcomed the birth of her first son and lovingly calls me his auntie.

Inside: What advice would you give to others who are considering volunteering?

Amanda: Volunteering breaks barriers like illiteracy. Whether you volunteer for LVGW or another organization, you are donating your time to build a sustainable community for the future. You learn about yourself and the people you are helping, and it’s an eye-opening experience.

Interview Credits: Unum internal newsletter 9/5/2017

 

Tutors Answer the Call

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Sandy, Judy and Jennifer are three of our dedicated Volunteer Tutors who gave their time, talent and financial support to pilot an under served group of women in Millbury for 6 months this year.
(L-R: Sandy and Judy pictured here )
We thank our shining stars at Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester for their support of English language literacy education!

Our Winter Schedule is here!

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Our winter session will run for twelve weeks, starting on January 23.  Registration will be held January 3 – 13, 2017 at our Main Office, located on the 3rd floor of the Worcester Public Library.  Students may register for no more than two courses.  Courses are free, but we suggest a donation of $25 to attend one course, $35 to attend two courses.  Weekly attendance is expected.  Please see our Winter 2017 Schedule for more information.

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