Volunteers Support Adult Learners at the CLC

Students at the Community Learning Center (CLC) learn a lot from their teachers. They also learn from volunteers. Every year we have more than 75 volunteers at the CLC. Our volunteers support students in the classroom and help with technology. They also meet one-on-one to tutor students that need extra practice. They help in classes morning and night, and at the CLC’s locations in Central Square and North Cambridge.

Hunter Payne, a graduate student at Tufts University, was not planning to be a volunteer. But after meeting Felipe, who coordinates CLC classes in North Cambridge, he was interested in working with adults. “Felipe told me what the CLC does and encouraged me to consider volunteering,” Hunter explains. “Through AmeriCorps, I was working with preschoolers at Head Start in Cambridge, but I had not worked with adults, and I thought: Let’s try this!”

Hunter has been a volunteer with the CLC’s ESOL Program since September. He really enjoys connecting with CLC’s English students. “With level 1 students, I can see a lot of growth!” he explains. “In the class, students speak 7 different languages, but we still communicate. We smile more and use our bodies to communicate.”

Tom Ash is a retired social worker. He knew he wanted to be a volunteer to help support the immigrant community. He found the CLC in the same way many of our volunteers do: through Cambridge Volunteers, a nonprofit that connects community members with volunteer opportunities in Cambridge. “I started volunteering at the CLC in 2019 in a level 2 ESOL class and have now volunteered with 3 different teachers,” says Tom. "It feels very, very good to be in the class.” He has also tutored some students.

Tom was recognized as Volunteer of the Year at the CLC in 2024. You can hear more about Tom in this video from the 2024 CLC Graduation Ceremony.

“There are really wonderful, wonderful people at the CLC – students and staff,” says Tom. “I tell my friends I would pay to do this. I now have many friends who I met in class and see around the community. “

Are you interested in volunteering at the CLC? We will have our next volunteer training in early 2026. Learn more about our volunteer and employment opportunities.