Our Team

Rebecca is our Director of Programs. She ensures that students have the proper resources they need to succeed. She has a Bachelors in Political Science from UConn and a Masters from Teachers College at Columbia University. Rebecca has a passion for travel and education which is clear from the moment you meet her. She is fluent in Italian and even had the chance to live in Florence, Italy where she taught ESOL for five years! Previously, before moving back to CT, she worked as a High School Social Studies Teacher in NYC. You’ll usually find her keeping her tiny humans and plants alive.

Rose heads up our Basic Literacy program, coordinating and supporting Basic Literacy students and tutors in Hartford, and she does so with enthusiasm, warmth, and a good sense of humor. Rose also manages our Community Development Block Grant and oversees the work of our Basic Literacy Program Assistants. She’s been with LVGH for over fifteen years, and during that time she has touched the lives of countless students in Hartford, Bloomfield, and formerly at the Clark Family Resource Center.

Diane is our Development Officer, managing all fundraising efforts to support LVGH’s mission and its programs. She first joined LVGH as a volunteer ESOL tutor in 2018. Like so many of our tutors, Diane believes she has gained much more in experience and inspiration from her hard-working students than she could ever provide during their weekly classes. Diane is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. When not at LVGH, you will find her reading, taking long walks or attempting to tame her backyard garden. She loves spending time with her family, traveling and cheering on the Hartford Yard Goats.

Cecilia is a Basic Literacy Program Assistant. She was originally a student at LVGH and eventually sought out the opportunity to work with us! Cecilia is from Peru and travels there with her husband to visit family and friends. One of Cecilia’s favorite activities is going to the movie theater and watching the latest movies in sci-fi or fantasy.

Angie moved to the U.S. in December 2022, and working at LVGH has helped her so much with adapting to a new country. She understands the students and feels passionate about supporting them in their transitions as well. Angie studied Education and English for two years at a university in her home country, Argentina, and is hopeful to continue her studies here. She loves to learn and believes that learning makes us all better people. Outside of work and school, Angie also loves reading, cooking, and watching comedy movies.

Melyllet is our Childcare Assistant; she ensures that our students' children have a safe environment while they are learning English. Having recently come to America with her own family, she understands the importance of learning the language and having a reliable place to turn to for help. Her friendly and hardworking attitude light up the childcare room as well as the classroom. While she makes progress taking her own class here, she does her best to ensure her peers are doing the same.  

Hora is originally from Haiti but has been living in the US since September 2023. In his home country, Hora went to school for agronomy science. Since moving to the US, Hora is working at HomeGoods in addition to studying English here at LVGH twice a week. He’s excited to continue to advance his language skills while helping others as a Program Assistant.

Brenda is our ESOL Program Manager. She oversees the ESOL programming and intakes to ensure both tutors and students have the resources and support they need. She’s bilingual and can speak both Spanish and English. She attended Trinity College where she earned a bachelor's in Educational Studies and Studio Arts. During college, she volunteered as an ESL tutor for two years and helped develop a tutor program guide. Outside of LVGH, you’ll find Brenda doing something creative, such as painting and photography, or plotting her next road trip adventure.

Kathy works as a Career Navigator. She provides career planning and job search services for LVGH’s Career Pathways students. She also partners with employers, educational institutions and community organizations to facilitate placement opportunities. Kathy previously served as our Training and Development Manager and has taught ESOL classes for ten years at LVGH. She has a B.A. in Spanish and Secondary Education and a Master’s in Human Resources Management. When not at LVGH, you’ll find Kathy spending time with friends and family, and exploring the Maine coast.