Volunteer Training and Event List

***Location and dates of activities are subject to change as stadium event information is released (we are located near Century Link and Safeco Fields). Please check back regularly for updates!***

Family Mentoring Fundamentals

Join us for a Family Mentoring Fundamentals training to learn how you can support a newly arrived refugee family as they transition into a new home and culture. We’ll explore the nuts and bolts of refugee resettlement, challenges refugees face when they reach the U.S., situations mentors may encounter during their service, and tips and resources for working with English language learners. Note: All sessions are similar in content/structure.  This training is most relevant to family mentors; however, all IRC volunteers are welcome.

Upcoming sessions:

• Saturday, February 16, 10am – noon

• Saturday, April 27, 10am – noon 

• Saturday, June 15, 10am – noon

Prerequisites: Must attend an IRC Volunteer Orientation and complete a one-on-one volunteer interview.

Location: IRC Seattle Office, 100 S King St, Suite 570, Seattle, WA 98104

Beyond the Basics: ESL Workshop Series

Learn how you can support newly arrived refugees as they work toward acquiring a new language! Delve into the world of English language tutoring with this new, five-part workshop series. Each session focuses on a different topic. Register for all five sessions, or pick and choose which sessions sound most interesting to you. 

• Where do I start?  Intro to a basic initial assessment, setting realistic goals for learners and how to break them down.  Learn strategies for creating truly teachable moments.

NEW DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 5:30-7pm  (changed from March 13)

• No materials? No problem!  Learn how to use items from everyday life to teach English. From your kitchen, to your wallet, to your car – the world around you is full of teaching materials!  

Thursday, May 9, 5:30-7pm

• Creating a tutoring toolkit  Spend time creating games, activities, picture files, etc. to aid students in the learning process.  

Thursday, June 27, 5:30-7pm

• Activities for the whole family  Learn to develop activities and tutoring strategies that engage both the grownups and the kids.  

Date/Time TBD

• Language Experience Approach (LEA)  LEA is a strategy to teach basic literacy skills using activities and stories developed from personal experiences of the learner.  

Date/Time TBD

Prerequisites: Must attend an IRC Volunteer Orientation and complete a one-on-one volunteer interview, or be a member of the Refugee Support Network VISTA project.

Location: IRC Seattle Office, 100 S King St, Suite 570, Seattle, WA 98104

Volunteer Meet-Ups and Other Events

Volunteer Meet-Up

Tuesday, February 26, 5:30-7pm 

Location: Elysian Fields Brewery

Spring Celebration Potluck 

Saturday, April 13, 12-2pm 

Location: Showalter Middle School

Volunteer Meet-Up

Tuesday, May 21, 5:30-7pm

Location: TBD

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