2025-26

Volunteers Stories 2025-26

Everyone has a unique story to tell, just waiting to be heard by others. From the front lines in Bosnia to the front offices in Manhattan, LVA’s volunteer tutors come to us with fascinating backgrounds. We are proud to share the stories of these amazing individuals who bring their varied experiences to their tutoring sessions with students.

Enjoy learning about people such as the former missionary who delivered medical supplies to remote villages, retired business professionals, lawyers, healthcare providers, college students and caregivers who balance home life, work and volunteering.

Marisol Ramirez

There’s a moment Marisol still remembers clearly. She was newly arrived in the United States, standing in a deli, unable to order a sandwich and a soda. She pointed instead—to the bread, the fillings, the bottle in the fridge—trying to make herself understood. “I felt deaf and dumb,” she says now, not unkindly, just honestly. “That’s when I learned that knowledge is a powerful tool in every aspect of life.”

That memory sits quietly beneath everything Marisol does as Student Coordinator for Literacy Volunteers of America–Essex & Passaic Counties. She has been connected to LVA for more than a decade, first through her work as an NCC teacher and by attending annual awards ceremonies. One year, she heard a student speak about how learning to read, write, and speak English had changed her life. The story felt familiar. It felt personal.

In 2014, when then-director Cristhian Barcelos was strengthening the LVA team, Marisol was invited to step into the role of Student Coordinator. He told her it wasn’t just a job—it was joining a family. Over the years, she’s found that to be true.

When Marisol began, tutoring was largely one student paired with one tutor. But demand grew. Evening groups expanded. Morning tutors asked to take on more students. Soon, libraries across Essex and Passaic counties were filled with small learning communities. To support this growth, LVA launched tutor gatherings affectionately called “Coffee and Friends,” where tutors could share ideas, troubleshoot challenges, and learn new strategies together. For Marisol, watching that network take shape was deeply exciting.

Ask her to name a tutor or student who stands out, and she won’t choose just one. “Every tutor makes a difference,” she says. “In a world where indifference is common, they choose to care.”

Some of the most lasting impressions came during moments of recognition—when larger institutions acknowledged LVA’s work, or when students confidently entered statewide contests like NJALL, seeing for themselves that their efforts mattered.

The hardest chapter came with COVID. When offices closed in 2020, the team worried everything might stop. Instead, laptops were delivered to doorsteps, and within weeks, tutoring moved online. Tutors improvised with Zoom, WhatsApp, phone calls—anything that worked. One tutor even drove homework back and forth between mailboxes to keep lessons going. Marisol called students daily, offering encouragement and listening through uncertainty.

What people may not know about her is how deeply she believes in the power of teamwork. Tutors, students, and staff, she says, are united for an honorable purpose: helping people prepare for driver’s tests, job interviews, citizenship exams, or simply reading to their children. Dreams that once felt unreachable begin, slowly, to feel possible.
For Marisol, that transformation—quiet, steady, human—is the work.

Ling Fan

When Ling Fan arrived in New Jersey in August 2023, she brought with her more than three decades of teaching experience—and an undiminished curiosity for learning. Before joining Literacy Volunteers of America, she was a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, where she taught English to Ph.D. and postgraduate students for 32 years and authored multiple textbooks and research papers on linguistics and intercultural studies.

Today, she applies that lifetime of knowledge in a very different classroom. As a volunteer tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America Essex & Passaic Counties, Ling teaches beginning English learners from Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Her students include restaurant workers, preschool aides, and warehouse employees, all bringing strong motivation to learn and improve their communication at work and in daily life. “Sometimes they struggle to understand, so I have to change my way of teaching,” she says. “It’s a big challenge—but also how I grow.”

That adaptability has shaped Ling’s entire career. She holds a Ph.D. in English Linguistics from Beijing Normal University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in English from Northeast Normal and Jilin Normal Universities. Since arriving in the U.S., she has continued studying, earning a certificate in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages at Columbia University and completing graduate coursework in Adult ESL and Literacy at Rutgers University. She credits LVA’s tutor training and Rutgers partnership with helping her “see adult learning in a new way.”

Ling’s classroom is lively and multicultural. In one recent lesson, she taught words related to volunteering and donating, sparking a conversation about cultural differences. In their home countries, some students said it’s common to donate medicine—something not allowed in the U.S. The discussion helped them not only practice English but understand community life in their new home and the ways generosity is expressed across cultures.

One student, Rosmery, a recent immigrant from the Dominican Republic, stands out for her enthusiasm and determination to belong. Ling often shares her own experiences of adapting to American life to encourage her and other students to stay curious and confident in their new environment.

Moments like these make tutoring deeply rewarding. Ling recalls teaching directions and asking students to draw maps based on her instructions. When one student exclaimed, “I made it!” she felt his joy as her own. That sense of progress, she says, “is what makes all the effort worthwhile.”

Outside the classroom, Ling teaches Chinese at Baruch College and Montclair State University. She also practices yoga and Chinese calligraphy—hobbies that, she says, keep her balanced and young at heart.

Her advice to students is simple: keep learning, keep growing, and stay curious about the world.

Jorge Chavez

For more than a decade, Jorge has been a steady, guiding presence at Literacy Volunteers of America, Essex & Passaic Counties. Since 2014, he has served as Data Processing Coordinator, but his connection to LVA began—as so many good stories do—with a desire to help.

“I started as a volunteer,” Jorge recalls. “It was always my desire to help others learn English, even though I didn’t have experience teaching. What impressed me about LVA was not only that they helped students improve their English, but that they also trained volunteer tutors and gave them the tools they needed to succeed. And I loved meeting students from all over the world.”

Over the years, Jorge has watched countless students and tutors grow—sometimes in ways that changed the course of their lives. He remembers one tutor, Bob Bounczek, who began teaching in 2004 at the Passaic Public Library and whose ability to bring real-life topics into class kept students coming back week after week, even during the pandemic. “Bob didn’t stop teaching during COVID-19,” Jorge says with admiration. “Students’ feedback was always very high.”

He also recalls a student from Colombia who arrived in the U.S. in 2015. “She was shy at first, a mother of two, but she worked hard,” he says. “After volunteering in our office, her confidence grew. She eventually applied to volunteer with the United Nations—and later earned a paid position there.”

Jorge has also seen how small changes can lead to big insights. “When students paid nothing for classes, their attendance was often low,” he explains. “But after LVA introduced a modest annual registration fee, attendance and engagement went up. It showed me how much students value what they invest in.”

Through every shift—whether in data, technology, or teaching models—Jorge’s commitment to LVA’s mission has remained unwavering. “More than a job, this is my passion,” he says. “Everything we do is because we want our tutors and students to succeed. Their success is our success.”
The most challenging part of his role, he admits, is when native English speakers come to LVA struggling with reading and writing, sometimes unaware of underlying learning challenges. But the most rewarding? “Seeing students who once were shy stand up and speak confidently in English at our annual awards ceremony—that’s the best feeling.”

Perhaps what ties Jorge’s story together is his empathy. “When I was learning English, I was shy too,” he shares. “But my teachers never gave up on me. They pushed me gently to grow. That’s what I try to do now—help others believe they can grow, too.”

Megan McFarland

When Megan moved from Massachusetts to New Jersey in the spring of 2024, she was searching for a way to connect with her new community. A math major with a minor in Hispanic Studies, she had long felt the pull of teaching. As a teenager, she tutored a middle school student in English and math—an experience that stuck with her. So, when she discovered the opportunity to volunteer with Literacy Volunteers of America, she knew it was a chance to contribute to something bigger than herself.

Megan, who now works as an actuary at a bureau for workers’ compensation insurance, began tutoring in October 2024. In less than a year, she has taken on four students, each bringing unique strengths, stories, and challenges to the classroom. What drives her is not just the mechanics of English, but the opportunity to make her students’ daily lives a little easier in a new country.
“I won’t pretend to know what immigrating is like,” she said. “But I have seen that the barriers for many students don’t stop at language. The United States is different from much of the world in a lot of ways—even with something as small as our measuring systems—and that inherently makes many immigrants’ lives more difficult.”

One moment early in her tutoring left a lasting impression. A student asked if she could spend a few minutes of each class explaining something “random”—a slice of American life, whether history, insurance, or daily systems. Megan realized how even small bits of context could make life in the U.S. less bewildering. Since then, she has built these mini-lessons into her classes, sharing knowledge most Americans take for granted.

Her students also teach her. One, a mother and churchgoer, consistently demonstrates courage by speaking up in class about what she needs to improve. Megan admires her honesty and persistence. “That bravery on her part improves everyone’s learning,” she reflected.

Like many tutors, Megan balances challenge with reward. The greatest challenge, she says, is meeting each student where they are, given the wide range of prior English learning experiences. But the reward is unmistakable: laughter. “Whether it’s something we read or a spontaneous conversation, laughter at a mutual understanding among people whose native languages span the world is a beautiful thing.”
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Outside the classroom, Megan is rarely still. She enjoys running, pickleball, crocheting, decorating sugar cookies, and cheering on Boston sports teams. She also keeps a decidedly old-fashioned hobby alive—letter writing—with a circle of four or five pen pals.

For Megan, tutoring isn’t just about teaching English. It’s about human connection—about giving students the tools to succeed and receiving the gift of their resilience, humor, and determination in return.

Daniel Kramer

For nearly a decade, Daniel has served as a dedicated tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America, returning to the program again and again because of a simple belief: language matters. He first taught in Kearny, then later in Bloomfield, and most recently returned in February 2024. His motivation has never wavered. “There are so many people in this country who need language skills,” Daniel says. “It’s a basic need, and I wanted to help.” His decision to keep coming back stems from the fulfillment he finds in helping others grow.

Daniel currently tutors one student and is preparing to welcome another in the coming weeks. While the class is small, the learning is rich. His current student stands out for her dedication and engagement. “She’s very reliable and punctual,” he explains. “She never misses a session and always participates actively.” Her consistency and effort serve as a reminder of how motivated adult learners can be, even when managing full lives.

Teaching adults, Daniel says, comes with its own unique challenges. “It’s very different from teaching younger students,” he says. “Adults are often balancing work, family, and life responsibilities. Sometimes they come to class tired or preoccupied. That makes it harder to retain lessons.” Still, he is continuously inspired by their resilience. Over time, even small progress leads to meaningful change—whether that’s being able to speak with a child’s teacher, navigate public services, or read a job posting. “Watching that growth is why I keep doing it,” Daniel adds. “You see their confidence grow, and that’s everything.”

Daniel values the relationships he builds as much as the lessons themselves. “I want my students to know I truly care about their progress,” he says. “Their success matters to me not just as a tutor, but as a person.” For him, tutoring is not only about teaching English—it’s about listening, encouraging, and creating a safe space for learners to express themselves, make mistakes, and build trust over time.

He also acknowledges the important role of the LVA team. “I’ve been really impressed with Sydnay and Cristhian,” he shares. “They’re both incredibly supportive, organized, and committed to making this program work for everyone.” Having strong leadership and consistent structure, he adds, makes it easier for tutors to focus on what matters most: their students.

Asked what others might not know about him, Daniel smiles and says simply, “I enjoy helping people.” For him, tutoring isn’t about recognition—it’s about connection. He believes small actions can lead to big change. His story reminds us that progress often begins quietly: one hour a week, one student, and one tutor willing to show up with patience, compassion, and belief in what’s possible.

Jun Matsuyoshi

Jun Matsuyoshi’s journey with language began early. Born in Tokyo and raised in Hawaii, she spoke Japanese at home but learned English quickly in pre-kindergarten. That early shift in language gave her a lifelong awareness of how differently children and adults experience language learning—a perspective that now deeply informs her work as a volunteer ESL tutor with Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA).

Though Jun briefly taught English in a middle school setting, her professional career was spent in mental health services. But teaching never left her heart. In September 2024, he joined LVA, drawn to the opportunity to work face-to-face with adult learners. After years of online meetings, she relishes the return to in-person interaction. “It’s wonderful to see students in person again,” she shares.

Her decision to volunteer is also deeply personal. Teaching is a way to honor her late mother, a Tokyo native who studied English throughout her life. “She was proud to become a U.S. citizen and get her driver’s license within seven years of arriving in this country,” Jun recalls. “Her perseverance continues to inspire me.”

Currently, Jun works with four women students, all balancing motherhood, work, and family obligations while studying English. She’s moved by their dedication, particularly because several come from countries where education is costly—and often reserved for boys. One student especially stands out. As a teenager in West Africa, she financed her own schooling and training as a seamstress, eventually launching a successful clothing business. After immigrating to the U.S. with her husband and children, she became a citizen, raised four sons, and worked full-time—continuing her education all the while. “Her resilience is extraordinary,” Jun says.

Jun approaches teaching with empathy and creativity. “Some students struggle with reading comprehension or remembering facts, and I remind myself that their lives are filled with challenges outside of class,” she says. To keep lessons engaging, she connects them to real-life events. One class used a news story about sinkholes on Route 80 as a springboard to discuss Revolutionary War history and George Washington’s army mining iron for cannonballs.

“I try to make learning relevant and cultural,” Jun adds. She encourages discussions about American holidays and invites students to share traditions from their home countries, which makes the classroom a richer, more inclusive space.

For Jun, the greatest reward is seeing students grow in confidence. “I want them to know I respect their stories and admire their determination,” she says. “We’re learning from each other.”