National Volunteer Month: Meet Our Volunteers!

Since CIANA’s founding 20 years ago, volunteers have been the backbone of our holistic integration model. Whether our professional staff was large or small, volunteers have assisted in all our programs and services– classes and tutoring for youth and adults; immigration legal services; and case management– as well as community outreach, fundraising, and other behind-the-scenes support.

Our volunteers come from a wide range of ages, professions, and cultural backgrounds, but are united by a genuine desire, and in some cases a personal interest, in helping immigrants thrive and integrate in the U.S. With National Volunteer Month narrowly behind us in April, we want to spotlight a few of them. Meet Brianna, Grace, and Rachel!

Brianna P.

Volunteer Afterschool Tutor

How has volunteering at CIANA impacted you?

Volunteering at CIANA has impacted me in many ways I will never forget. It has taught me great lifelong skills, such as leadership, patience, and communication. It also has given me a sense of purpose, as the pathway to a child’s understanding of a subject they’ve struggled with. Especially when tutoring kids who are learning English, it is truly amazing to help bridge the language barrier.

Why did you decide to tutor at CIANA’s after school program?

I chose to volunteer at CIANA’s after-school program to give back to the immigrant community that once helped me. Coming from an immigrant family myself, I understand how difficult it can be to learn and succeed on your own. There was a time when I felt like the immigrant community was struggling, and I felt useless for not doing anything to help. CIANA has helped me change that feeling completely. Now, I feel proud to be a part of such a strong and passionate community, and it motivates me to tutor every student with care and dedication.

Are you a student?

I am a high school junior at Sewanhaka High-school!

What languages do you speak?

I speak English and Spanish fluently!

What is your hidden talent?

My secret talent is that I can wiggle my ears!

Overall, what has your experience tutoring immigrant children/children of immigrants been like?

Tutoring immigrant children has been a great experience. It's astonishing how even though I am in the position of teaching and mentoring students, I leave my session learning something new and meaningful every time. I look forward to talking to my student every week, whether that’d be working through a whole math session or simply talking about the kind of pizza they ate at school.

Grace L.

Volunteer Afterschool Tutor

How has volunteering at CIANA impacted you?

Volunteering at CIANA has shown me that every student is willing to learn as long as it's in their learning style.

Why did you decide to tutor at CIANA’s after school program?

I decided to tutor at CIANA because I wanted to give back to my community. I also wanted to try something new while spending time outside of school and home.

Are you a student?

I am a high school senior :)

What languages do you speak?

My home language is Spanish, but I speak English at school. I've also been taking Mandarin for 4 years. Recently, I've been picking up a lot of Nahautl from my dad's family.

What is your hidden talent?

I know how to crochet lace.

Overall, what has your experience tutoring immigrant children/children of immigrants been like?

It's been great! I feel that because I have also been in their position I can relate to them more. I'm also happy to hear about their classroom stories

Rachael B.

ESL Intermediate Instructor

Why did you decide to volunteer to teach CIANA’s ESL Class?

I attended a Justice Team meeting at Hope Astoria church, and learned about the different initiatives I could be a part of in a volunteer capacity. After teaching ESL in Madrid for 3 years with a TEFL certificate, and then online back in the US, I thought it would be an honor to bring that expertise to a local community based org, truly making a difference in the immigrant advocacy community.

What do you do professionally?

I am a media analyst, facilitating deep discussions on Zoom to rate articles and videos for reliability and bias. This skill is helpful in the ESL classes, as I occasionally discuss media literacy during heavy geopolitical events.

What have you learned through this experience?

Many who come to this country, and NYC, are incredibly grateful and humbled to be here. More immigrants contribute to our society here in a positive way, and we must share those stories.

What languages do you speak?

English and Spanish. I was in Spanish immersion elementary school, and 3 years in Spain after college increased my fluency.

What is your hidden talent?

I play the flute! I love playing music while students are doing short writing activities during class.

Overall, what has been your experience teaching immigrants English and what is the most rewarding part of this?

The students can teach each other; they regularly share community tips and recipes, and many have known each other for over a year at this point. They are friends, cheering each other on and remembering important events in the lives of others. We are a community.

CIANA sends its deepest gratitude to Brianna, Grace, and Rachael, as well as to all our past and present volunteers. Thank you all!

View open volunteer opportunities on our website here.