Do you want to
make a difference?
Do you speak English?

by Suwattana Sugg

Consider volunteering with Richmond Refugee and Immigration Services (RIS) to help newly settled families develop English language skills. Beverly Koerin, Jane Reeves, Mary Dolan, Ann Beall and Norm Kropp are retirees who teach English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) classes to adults from Asia, the Middle East and Africa. They help newcomers gain language skills needed for living and working in the United States.

RIS provides orientation, training and instructional resources to ESL teachers/tutors. Most of our ESL volunteers have not previously taught English or worked with refugee and immigrant populations.

Dr. Beverly Koerin teaches Job Readiness ESL to a group of refugees at Welborne United Methodist Church. She is an emeritus professor and former Associate Dean of the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University.