Chicago Literacy Center Adds 6 Tutors for English Learners

Six new volunteers in Chicago just stepped up to help immigrant adults learn English, and they're already making a difference in their community.

The Aquinas Literacy Center in McKinley Park welcomed Rishi Chopra, Ashley Kim, Erin Kirk, Tony Thompson, Yanina Villagomez, and Joey Washburn as newly trained English tutors. They completed their training on January 31 and are ready to be paired with adult learners who want to improve their English skills.

Each tutor will meet with their student for 90 minutes every week at the center on West 35th Street. The best part? It's completely free for learners, and tutors don't need to speak another language since all training happens in English.

Program Manager Lori Rohde says the center depends on volunteers to fulfill its mission of helping adults engage more fully in their community. Students also get access to literacy resources, computer workstations, and online programs to support their learning journey.

The Ripple Effect

The six new tutors join an essential program, but the need keeps growing. Dozens of adult students still sit on the waiting list, hoping for their chance to work with an English tutor.

Learning English opens doors for immigrant adults in ways that ripple through entire families and communities. Better job opportunities, stronger connections with neighbors, helping kids with homework, and feeling more confident navigating daily life all become possible when language barriers come down.

The center is already planning its next training session for April 25. Rohde encourages anyone interested in volunteering to reach out by email at lori@aquinasliteracycenter.org or by calling (773) 927-0512.

Every new tutor means one more person gets off that waiting list and closer to their goals.