My Nonprofit Reviews

I have been involved with the Opening Word Program for 16 years, as both a volunteer and board member. I am continually amazed at the contribution this program makes in the lives of the immigrant women it serves. As in past yeArs, the program has continued to provide language instruction, citizenship preparation and job readiness skills, but during Covid, the program has expanded to include food distribution, health care information and helping the women face the challenges brought about by Covid. I am so proud to be a part of this organization which is helping so many.

I have been a volunteer teacher/ tutor in this program for 14 years. It has been an experience that has enriched my life as much as it has helped the women who attend classes in our program. The Opening Word Program was founded over 25 years ago and Through the years, has continued to grow. The women, immigrants from many different countries, attend classes to improve their English language skills, prepare for jobs, and overall, improve the lives of themselves and their families. Every year we have students who become United States citizens after attending our citizenship classes. The extraordinary effort and determination of our students is amazing! Many hold jobs and are raising a family, but still make their classes a top priority. Their dedication and hard work is so appreciated by the volunteers that many, myself included, have returned year after year. There is never a day where we are not thanked and appreciated. Throughout my years volunteering in this program, I have learned so much from the women we serve. It is clear to me that I have gotten much more than I have given.