VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT GROW BUSTLETON

Esl Ministry

GROW Bustleton is an English as a second language (ESL) ministry that serves the immigrant and refugee communities in NE Philadelphia. Once a month GROW has conversation cafes, which are opportunities for 1-3 ESL students to talk with a native English-speaker (you!) in casual conversation. WPC members have been volunteering at GROW conversation cafes since Spring 2022 and have enjoyed the time getting to know refugees from Brazil, Albania, Ukraine, Russia, China and Turkey. If you like to meet new people, this is the perfect way to serve!

Winter Café Dates:

Monday January 16 – 11 a.m. - 12p.m. – MLK Jr. Day!

Tuesday January 17 – 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday February 15 – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Thursday February 16 - 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

• Monday March 13 – 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Tuesday March 14 - 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Time commitment: 1 hour

Experience required: None. All you need is curiosity and a love for people. Training: None. GROW provides conversation prompts

Address: GROW ESL Bustleton, Seven Mile Road Church, 525 Welsh Road, Phila, PA 19115

If you would like to volunteer on any of these dates, please email Seena Raj, Assistant Director - GROW Bustleton, bustleton@growesl.org. If you are interested in carpooling from the Wayne area, please copy WPC Mission team member Carol Diehl, ccdiehl8@verizon.net on your email to Seena.

Another volunteer opportunity also exists at GROW - GROW Bustleton is looking for a volunteer to teach Level 4 (advanced level). This would begin in January or ASAP and would be a commitment of one and a half hours a week, either Monday or Wednesday, 10:30-12:00pm. Training is provided, as is the curriculum. If interested in learning more or applying, email Seena Raj, Assistant Director – GROW Bustleton, bustleton@growesl.org or find more information at Volunteer – GROW (growesl.org). Make sure to let Seena know you are from Wayne Presbyterian Church.

HELP SEND MITCHELL SCHOOL’S CHESS TEAM TO NATIONALS

During the month of February, please visit a table in the connector to learn about the inspiring chess team at Mitchell Elementary, Wayne’s long-time partner in southwest Philadelphia. These students have worked hard to become strong chess players and they have earned opportunities to compete at the national level, however, they need support to cover travel expenses.

Chess builds many important skills, including concentration, confidence and resilience. Because of this, every student at Mitchell takes a chess-based class called Critical Thinking. It is taught by Jason Bui, who also coaches Mitchell’s chess team. As of November 22, 2022, Mitchell’s chess team was in first place in the Philadelphia School District Elementary Division. Coach Bui seeks $6,000 to fund trips this spring to the High School Nationals in Washington, DC and the Elementary Nationals in Baltimore.

Commentsfromacurrent7thgradestudent:

WhenIwasin5thgrade,myteacherstoldmethatwhenIstartedplayingchessmygradesstartedtogetbetteragain,andI believedthem.IthinkitwasbecauseIwasabletofocusmore.IthelpsmeimprovemyconfidencebecausewhenIplayhigh schoolplayersIfeellikeIcanbeatthem,andwhenIfeellikeIcanbeatthem,IfeellikeIcanbeatanyone.

For more information, stop by the City Lights table between services, visit waynepres.org, or contact Wendy Norman (wnoprmanpa@yahoo.com, 610-608-2572) or Jane Beatty (jnbeatty@verizon.net, 610-688-7529). Donations can be made online at waynepres.org/giving and select Mitchell School from the Fund dropdown or send a check to the church office with “Mitchell School – Chess” in the memo line.