Interpreting

People Served/Type of Services: Life Transition Support, Refugee Resettlement

Types of Help Needed: Family Support, Activities with Agency Clients, Interpreting

Service Opportunity Details: RefugeeOne seeks short-notice volunteers and interpreters. Short-notice volunteers assist RefugeeOne staff and clients by providing transportation to medical appointments, job interviews, or in-office meetings. Volunteers also assist with other miscellaneous needs such as helping refugee families move, setting up apartments, receiving and organizing in-kind donations, and showing newly arrived refugees how to use public transportation, access the bank, and more. Volunteers are called on an as-needed basis. Flexible day-time availability and a car is helpful, but not required. Volunteers with language skills are highly encouraged to apply.

Location: Chicago-North Side

Volunteer Ages: Young adults, Adults

Frequency: Periodic

Frequency Details: Short-notice volunteers are called on an as-needed basis to see if they are available to support. Volunteers may be contacted as often as once per week or only every few months depending on the need.

Contact Info: Staff: James Corliss, Volunteer Coordinator, volunteers can apply online through Refugee One’s website

Other Information: A volunteer orientation and background check is required for all volunteers. Volunteers must be 18 years or older or accompanied by an adult.

People Served/Type of Services: Urgent Services, Homelessness, Domestic Abuse

Types of Help Needed: Teaching, Tutoring, Coaching and Mentoring, Interpreting

Service Opportunity Details: WINGS offers a program (ALAS) that addresses the unique needs of the often underserved Latina population seeking services for domestic violence in the northwest suburbs of Cook County. Volunteers needed to serve as Bilingual/Bicultural (Spanish/English) Level II Mentors. Mentors work directly with Latina survivors of domestic violence in the community promoting self-sufficiency through emotional support, resources and education. A level II Mentor will be assigned to provide emotional support and work directly with Latina clients on such things as seeking practical options and appropriate services, and assisting them with resources and referrals, for domestic violence counseling, immigration services, legal services, public benefits, and other services. They will also have the opportunity to facilitate Spanish support groups in a safe space for women to connect with other women and gain peer support to set and reach goals.

Location: Palatine

Volunteer Ages: Adults

Frequency: On-going

Frequency Details: Volunteer would commit to meet weekly for at least 1 year. Weekly time requirements will vary and will usually range from 2-5 hours per week based on a mutually convenient time with your schedule and those of the clients.

Contact Info: Staff: Bruna Srb, Kenilworth Union: If interested in this opportunity, you can also contact Chris Cole, to get more detailed information about whether this may be a good fit for you.

Other Information: Requirements: Completion of the 40 Hour Domestic Violence Training (provided by WINGS three (3) times a year); Fluency in Spanish and English; Experience with the Latino/Latina culture; Any personal experience with domestic violence should be more than two (2) years prior to applying for this volunteer opportunity.

People Served/Type of Services: Healthcare, Physical Health

Types of Help Needed: Activities with Agency Clients, Interpreting

Service Opportunity Details: Volunteers needed to act as Spanish and Polish interpreters. Medical interpreter training is provided. Interpreters must be bilingual and fluent in English and Spanish or Polish, but need not be fluent in medical terminology.

Location: Chicago-West Side

Volunteer Ages: Young Adults, Adults

Frequency: On-going

Frequency Details: Clinic volunteers commit to at least two 4-hour shifts per month for at least one year of consecutive service.

Contact Info: Staff: Ava Zeligson, 773-969-5923

Other Information: Agency has other clinic support opportunities listed on its website as well.