Volunteer at BIC

Our volunteers at the Berkshire Immigrant Center play a vital role, serving as connectors and bringing compassion to help the communities we serve.

Whether you're supporting language development, representing us at events, assisting at the front desk, or leading presentations, your commitment plays a crucial role in supporting our mission.

Learn about the volunteer opportunities listed below and complete an interest form today!

Volunteer Opportunities

ESOL Tutor

To pass the US Citizenship test and interview, applicants must show that they are able to speak, read, and write basic English. In addition to enrolling in BIC's citizenship classes, it is important for our clients to engage with volunteers facilitating conversational English practice to support their language development outside regular classes.

    • Assist learners in articulating responses effectively for interview and communication portions of the test

    • Actively listen to learners to facilitate absorption of vocabulary and sentence structures

    • Provide gentle correction and constructive feedback for language refinement

    • Collaborate with the BIC Education Director to understand specific focus areas that may be beneficial for the learners

    • Report progress made by learners to the BIC Education Director

    • Previous experience in teaching, tutoring, or facilitating language learning sessions, particularly in an ESOL context, is preferred

    • Patience for working with learners at various language proficiency levels

    • Empathy to create a supportive and encouraging environment for language practice

    • Ability to connect with individuals from different backgrounds respectfully

    • 3-4 times per month

    • Flexible hours

Event Assistance

BIC participates in and organizes various events, ranging from cultural celebrations to clinics, to share information about our organization's services and provide valuable information to immigrants.

    • Set up and dismantle table, chairs, and canopy

    • Engage with event attendees to disseminate information and answer questions about our organization's mission, services, and upcoming events

    • Maintain a well-organized and visually appealing display of promotional materials and resources

    • Collect contact information from individuals requesting our services, donors or prospective volunteers

    • Provide feedback and insights from interactions at events to the BIC Intake Coordinator

    • Strong interpersonal skills

    • Ability to connect with individuals from different backgrounds respectfully

    • Dedication to providing a positive and welcoming experience for event attendees

    • Ability to work outside (occasionally) for prolonged periods of time

    • Fluency in another language a plus

    • 5-10 times per year, with more frequency during the Summer and Fall

    • Typically weekends with occasional weekdays

    • Approximately 2-hour shifts

Front Desk Assistance

At BIC, our Intake Coordinator is key in welcoming, informing, and empowering individuals every day. When they take paid time off, our volunteers step in to ensure we continue to operate smoothly. Your support helps us maintain our standards of service and keeps things running as usual. Front desk assistants will be provided training before officially becoming a volunteer in this capacity.

    • Greet clients warmly and answer phone calls, and respond to email inquiries, providing information about BIC’s services and local resources

    • Call and email clients to confirm consultations or appointments

    • Collect client information and process payments

    • Bilingual or fluent in English and Spanish

    • Comfort with using technology

    • Comfort with working with Microsoft Office and Google Suite

    • Ability to manage confidential information with impeccable discretion

    • Ability to sit at a desk for prolonged periods of time

    • Based on need

    • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am-5pm; Wednesday 10am-6pm (flexible scheduling available)

Know Your Rights Presenter

We offer Know Your Rights presentations that inform and empower immigrants and community members with essential legal guidance and resources. Volunteers are needed to deliver these important presentations and help strengthen our community’s understanding and preparedness.

    • Learn and review Know Your Rights materials provided by the organization

    • Deliver in-person or virtual presentations to immigrants and community members

    • Answer basic questions and refer attendees to trusted resources

    • Support sessions by managing an information table or providing tech support for online presentations

    • Comfortable speaking in public

    • Confident using technology

    • Familiar with PowerPoint or Google Slides

    • Capable of working collaboratively and independently

    • 2-4 times per month

    • Typically weekdays, sometimes on weekends

    • Approximately 2-hour commitment

For more information, please contact us at volunteer@berkshireic.org.

Interested in becoming Board Member? Visit our Board of Directors page to learn more.

For information about employment opportunities, visit our Employment page.