Get involved in 2025! Our Summer semester runs from June 9th to August 7th, 2025.

Many of our programs offer special volunteer opportunities to connect with our community’s newcomers. Volunteers serve once a week in English classes or in after-school programs. If you’re interested in joining our team of incredible volunteers, please contact us at volunteer@rdclansing.org. We’d love for you to join us! Additionally, you can fill out this interest form, and our Volunteer Coordinator will get back to you within 1-2 days.

Volunteers commit to serving in a weekly program for one semester (about 8 weeks). Volunteers must be 18 years old and must have completed high school. The RDC requires that all new volunteers attend a mandatory training and submit paperwork to process background checks before they begin their service. Our Spring semester runs January 13th to May 15th, 2025. As of right now, we are unable to accept new volunteers for our Spring 2025 semester, but we will definately need your support this summer! Please fill out the form above for updates regarding our next volunteer orientation!

Next Volunteer Orientation: Late May, 2025. Final date TBD

Questions regarding volunteering can be directed to Savanna at volunteer@rdclansing.org

Programs Offered:

• Adult English Class (ESOL): Assist weekly in our Adult English Classes (various levels) to support language acquisition. Volunteers will be helping with greeting students before class, familiarizing new students with classroom expectations, leading small groups, and providing support to teachers in the classroom. (Levels: Literacy= lowest level of English, students focus on learning the alphabet and phonics. Level 1= Beginner English, students typically know the alphabet and basic English phrases. Level 2/3= Highest level of English at RDC. Students are conversational, working on writing skills and preparing for LCC ESOL courses).
• Adult Digital Literacy Learning (DLL): Assist weekly in our Adult Digital Literacy Learning program to support language acquisition and new computer skills. Volunteers will be helping with greeting students before class, familiarizing new students with classroom expectations, leading small groups, and providing support to teachers in the classroom. Class is focused on basic computer skills, learning google suites, and utilizing technology as a tool for language learning.
• First Steps (FS) (Ages 0-5): Assist in our First Steps program to support staff in our nursery and toddler rooms. Focus on early literacy learning, language acquisition, and developing fine motor skills. Volunteers in this program must be comfortable being silly with kids and holding young children. Volunteers in this program should be willing to learn and ask questions, have the ability to thrive in a bustling environment, and has experience or skills related to working with children. It is important that volunteers are physically capable of sitting on the floor for extended periods of time and of getting up from the ground safely. Volunteers are expected to arrive 15 minutes before programming to prepare the classroom.
• Youth Tutoring: Assist in our Afterschool Youth programs, including homework help, tutoring, and peer mentoring.
• Elementary Youth Programs: Assist in our Elementary Youth programs, including homework help, English lessons, games, coloring, and other enrichment activities.
• High School Youth Programs: Assist in our High School Youth programs, including homework help, tutoring, English lessons, games, coloring/crafts, and other enrichment activities.
• Sewing: Sewing volunteers will assist in our sewing class. Experience with machine sewing and ability to troubleshoot machines is necessary.
• Teatime: Teatime volunteers will help prepare water and coffee for afternoon teatime, set up teatime station, and assist students in teatime flow. Volunteer will help with setting up teatime or taking down teatime/clean up.
• Driving Simulator: Assist students with scheduled driving simulator appointments, oversee driving simulator, and close-down driving simulator after appointments. Driving simulator aides will be individually trained. (Individuals looking to commit to 4+ hours a week encouraged to volunteer in this program).