Special Volunteer Spotlights: Erica & Liliana

As our 2017-2018 Parent-Child Education Program year comes to a close, we are feeling incredibly grateful for all the community support we’ve received along the way. Our volunteers are some of our greatest supporters, aiding teachers and staff in making AVANCE programming a great success!

We are lovingly spotlighting two extra special volunteers whose hard work and dedication brightened our days. Mil gracias to Erica and Liliana for making this program year our best yet!

Erica Foster
Volunteer Teacher’s Aide

 “I love working with the kids and being able to practice Spanish. They often end up teaching me! It’s nice to work with the same kids every week, building a connection with them. I think the mission of AVANCE is really important and I can see the value it brings to the community. The sustainability is great and relationships are formed and continue even after the program is over.” -Erica

 

After a serendipitous encounter with AVANCE’s ESL instructor, Erica decided to come check us out at a Café y Cuentos tour. She fell in love with our early childhood education classes and quickly became an integral part of our Wednesday toddler’s class as a teacher’s aide. Erica’s calm and peaceful nature creates balance in our active and exciting early childhood education class. She has watched our Wednesday toddlers group grow and cannot wait to see them cross the graduation stage at the end of this month. We are so appreciative of Erica’s assistance in nurturing our little learners!

Added bonus: Erica owns a coffee shop just down the street from the AVANCE classrooms! Check out Flitch for a delicious cup of coffee with a fun East Austin vibe.

 

Liliana Romero
Volunteer Staff Support

“I enjoy giving my time to another person, especially to these moms and kids. It brings me peace, and I sometimes learn from them because I have the same experiences as a mom. I love AVANCE, the people, and passion they have for the mission. I also enjoy helping in the classroom and with toy making.” – Liliana

While adjusting to a recent move to Austin from her home country of Colombia, Liliana found herself searching for friends and familiarity. A google search brought her to the AVANCE-Austin homepage, where she learned about our many opportunities to get involved. Liliana visited during a Café y Cuentos tour, where our Parent-Child Education Program and familiar Latino culture captured her heart. Since then, she has been volunteering at AVANCE almost every day of the week! She has helped as an assistant in our classrooms, crafted sashes for our moms to wear at graduation, served snacks at family enrichment events, and so much more! Liliana’s enthusiastic and bubbly personality makes her great with kids and a joy to be around. We are so thankful to have her help!

 

Interested in joining the AVANCE-Austin Family as a volunteer? Click here for more information.