Volunteers are an instrumental part of the work we do at Riis. Even in a virtual setting, volunteers across all programs are making a positive impact on our community, and we appreciate everything they do!
Charlotte Arbogast has been a dedicated volunteer with Riis’ Immigrant Services team since September. She has helped enroll students in our free, virtual English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes by doing outreach, scheduling and conducting registration appointments, and administering placement tests. Now, she is paired with a student through our 1:1 tutoring program, which provides additional help for English learners of all levels.
Charlotte has a background in theater, but had been considering switching career paths because of her interest in nonprofit work and social justice. When the pandemic hit and both of her jobs in the art and entertainment field were completely shut down, she was able to look more seriously for opportunities to volunteer and get involved in the nonprofit sector. “My whole view on art is that I want to make a change in the world,” Charlotte said. “But I wanted to have more of a direct impact.” After seeing a posting on Idealist, Charlotte began her volunteer work with us!
About her volunteer work, Charlotte said: “Meeting students (virtually) and working with a student one-on-one has really given me a sense of connection in these disconnected times. Having family from Queens and having lived in Queens for several years myself, it’s a very special place to me, and it’s been very rewarding to get involved in the community. I love having conversations with students during registration and getting to know a student one-on-one as she improves her English during our tutoring sessions.”
Recently, Riis received additional funding for an evening program assistant for ESOL classes, and Charlotte was a perfect fit. Now a member of our staff, Charlotte is able to continue to enroll students, make sure classes run smoothly, and help the immigrant community improve their English skills.
If you are interested in volunteering, please see the Volunteer tab on our website for open opportunities and the application!
