Benjamin Oliver Email & Phone Number

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids Metropolitan Area

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Grand Rapids, Michigan

I serve as the liaison between the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, Grand Rapids Public Schools, and community partners and families served by the collaborate nature of this particular collective impact program. I develop key strategies to assist in enhancing the effectiveness of Challenge Scholars and evaluating the outcomes of students related to outputs. In addition, to the aforementioned tasks I curate program related content in external communications as well as evaluating up and coming developments in the field for integration into internal planning.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

I oversaw the launch of, what was at the time, a newly formed community-driven webpage; organizing weekly content through the engagement of civic-minded writers and partner organizations. Weekly articles centered around a particular theme or issue pertinent to local community development in the city of Grand Rapids and has gone on to stimulate conversations on civic participation, economic development, equity and inclusion, gentrification, and environmental justice.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Through creative curriculum design and instructional activities, I assisted in helping students gain, an average of, 7 points on the CASAS test (above average gain by 4 points). By building a sense of community in the classroom that served as a springboard and cultural bridge for parents to be empowered school navigators and advocates for their children's education, I recruited 46 parents to ESL classes. During the cultivation of relationships with school personnel and community organizations, I was further able to tie the loop to resources for program participants.

Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan Area

I Provided ELL instruction and support services to over 160 kindergarten to fourth graders, and collaborated with other teachers in adapting individualized educational plans for ELL students. In addition to serving as interpreter and cultural liaison between the school and Spanish-speaking families, I assisted in two afterschool programs—Parents Are Teachers, and Parent Literacy Program—which helped Latino parents understand school navigation and involvement, all the while increasing native literacy among their children.

Berrien Springs, Michigan

I developed professional written and oral communications in multiple languages, led and assumed responsibilities of my supervisor and utilized proprietary technology to manage prospective international student data.

Bachelor'S Degree, History And Spanish Studies, J.N. Andrews Honors Scholar, Magna Cum Laude, G.P.A. 3.78/4.00

Activities and Societies: Founder and Director of Village Green Preservation Society--a student environmental organization to that.

Advanced Spanish

Immersion in Argentinian/South American culture and history and Spanish Language

Italian Language And Literature

Immersion in Italian language, culture, and art history