About the Volunteer Outreach CoordinatorAs the Volunteer Outreach Coordinator at the Rizal Center in Chicago, I play a crucial role in engaging and managing volunteers to support our diverse cultural, educational, and community programs. My responsibilities include:- Recruiting and coordinating volunteers- Planning and executing events- Supporting various programs- Liaising between our working board and the volunteer community- Training volunteers and developing educational programs- Enhancing cultural offerings, including events like Sining sa Silangan- Fostering relationships within the Filipino-American community and broader Chicago populationMy background in education, arts administration, and community building allows me to contribute significantly to the Rizal Center's mission of creating a welcoming, dynamic space for cultural exchange, learning, and community service.How You Can HelpWe welcome volunteers who are passionate about Filipino-American culture and community service. Here's how you can get involved:1. Event Support: Help organize and run cultural events and programs2. ducational Programs: Assist in developing and delivering educational initiatives3. Community Outreach: Aid in building relationships with local communities4. Arts and Culture: Contribute to our cultural offerings and exhibitions5. Administrative Support: Help with day-to-day operations of the center6. Specialized Skills: Offer your unique talents (e.g., graphic design, marketing, IT)Get InvolvedInterested in volunteering? Here's how to reach out:Visit our website: https://rizalcenter.org for more information about our center and programsEmail me directly: gleopoldo@rizalcenter.org to inquire about specific opportunities or how you can contribute your skillsWe look forward to welcoming you to our vibrant community at the Rizal Center!Ginger LeopoldoVolunteer Outreach CoordinatorRizal Center - Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago

www.circapintig.org

Adjunct Professor specializing in creative lesson planning for ESL students.

Versatile performer and organizer involved with a diverse group of Chicago's premiere theater companies.

An actor for an interactive dinner theatre show in Chicago and Schaumburg.

Research MentorUROP Research Mentors are faculty and post-doc researchers who provide undergraduate student researchers an opportunity to engage in research activities that help them learn about the pursuit of knowledge within an academic discipline. This early exposure to research fosters a valuable academic experience for students. Through this collaboration, students gain research skills and mentorship that lead to academic retention, a more positive undergraduate experience and paths to graduate school.

VIPTeach was launched in 2018 with the goal of empowering educators to shape the future of teaching and learning. In fact, VIPTeach partners with VIPKid REP to empower educators and increase access to quality education. This innovative partnership was recognized in 2020 by Fast Company as a World Changing Idea in Education.https://vipteach.org/https://vipteach.org/fellowship/?fbclid=IwAR0c3yaOMQmqV-uG4POdKK6yEaXET43md6VqpTOX_M8MfQ_ysT0JJMOq-S4

ESL teacher for an E-learning company, presenting one-on-one instruction for children ages 5 to 12.

Providing Safe, Caring, Dependable, and Efficient service to United Airline passengers.

www.classhare.com

After building a national children’s literacy nonprofit with a strong base of evidence, our founder launched BookNook out of the belief that only through technology can rigorous programs truly scale. After a small pilot in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016, BookNook has quickly spread across hundreds of schools and after-school programs, throughout dozens of states.Completed Safe Schools training on Mandatory Reporting, Sexual Harassment, Safety Procedures, and Trauma Informed modules.

Drama based literacy program implemented In-School with CPS students in grades K through 8th.

Available for occasional nannying services in Chicago.

After building a national children’s literacy nonprofit with a strong base of evidence, our founder launched BookNook out of the belief that only through technology can rigorous programs truly scale. After a small pilot in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016, BookNook has quickly spread across hundreds of schools and after-school programs, throughout dozens of states.

The purpose was to gather stories of individuals’ experiences and create a platform by podcast as storytelling. They sought to extend the mission of CIRCA - Pintig in advocating for the well-being and cultural understanding of Asian immigrants, Asian Americans in Chicago. In portraying and giving voice to community members at the intersection of mental health and Asian immigrant/Asian Americans identity, mental health stigmas give way to Mad Pride, and form alliances throughout the student population of the University of Illinois at Chicago and surrounding Chicago immigrant communities.The work is essential to, not simply telling our immigrant stories, but also, engaging our community in a collective reflection of key issues, and, most importantly, uncovering creative solutions for our community’s particular concerns.CIRCA - Pintig is a Chicago based non-profit community arts organization that is an ally for disability and mental health activism in Asian and Asian American communities, this program’s mission is to continue the invaluable dialogue created across students and faculty, families and communities.DHD 400 is a 16-week capstone course at UIC for undergraduates. Students are matched with activist groups and community-based organizations to produce a service-learning project that they develop— in partnership with people with disabilities, and their families, as well as self-advocates, practitioners, researchers, legal and civil rights advocates, educators, disability leaders, local officials, policymakers, artists and theater groups, and allies.The capstone is structured to cultivate interdisciplinary, innovative project-based partnerships that bring students, faculty, and community leaders--- together to advance disability studies to new levels! The DHD 400 experience is transformative for our students, who move from service learning to activism.

Delivering outstanding tours day and night!

Developed programming for childcare program serving children 3 months old to 13 years of age. Spearheaded a following and format for Parent Night Out events. Managed childcare staff and administration for the Kids Club Program in Lincoln Park. Ensured safety and positive engagement for staff, children, and families.

Delivering outstanding results with Improvement, Safety, Friendliness, Superior Service, and Integrity. Recruits, trains, and coaches team members in Kids Club, FitBar, and Front Desk. Director of childcare programming and enhances community outreach in Lincoln Park. Committed to serving the needs of all our members. FFC Mission: to build, own, and operate great clubs and deliver outstanding RESULTS!

Director of Programs at the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation (DKEF) focused on delivering America's Children's Museum on Wheels: StoryBus experience to young children throughout the Chicagoland area. With the goal of enhancing children’s learning through the support of exemplary teaching, the Dolores Kohl Education Foundation was launched in 1972 as a private, not-for-profit international operating foundation, which creates and directs its own programs. A catalyst for excellence in education, the Foundation has developed numerous education and arts programs in the United States and abroad. The Foundation currently directs early childhood teaching awards and an urban early literacy program that includes a traveling children’s museum-on-wheels. The Foundation is located at 1770 First Street, Suite 500, in Highland Park, Illinois.

Celebrating 21 years of impacting the community, CIRCAPintig's mission is to create a vibrant community of artists, teachers, organizers and researchers that speak to the immigrant experience.

AboutIt's 37 feet of literacy fun! Seventeen thousand pounds of early childhood development! It's a children's museum on wheels that visits classrooms in Chicago's low-income neighborhoods to get pre-k and kindergarten students excited about books!MissionAmerica's Children's Museum on Wheels: StoryBus builds better teachers and better students. The program empowers preschool and kindergarten teachers by encouraging them to develop their own curriculum, teaching to the whole child, utilizing a single classic story. It enables young students to have collaborative literary experiences that bring stories to life, so that they better understand the stories. As a result, the children will develop a lifelong love of reading.Company OverviewStoryBus shows teachers how to develop a curriculum that addresses all of the Illinois Early Learning Standards through a single story; gives those teachers 15 hours of professional development from the Erikson Institute, a sample curriculum guide, five multicultural versions of the year's story, and a DVD featuring a recorded storytelling; sends a professional storyteller to the school to perform a live telling of the year's story; and brings to the school the StoryBus, a children's museum on wheels that features interactive exhibits that reflect the setting of the year's story. The StoryBus stays for the whole school day, and 45 minutes beyond, as part of a family literacy workshop for the students' parents.

Ginger has been with Reading In Motion since 1998 and works on facilitating partnerships with new schools and is a Citywide Coach of Chicago Public School teachers.

Created New School Partnerships

To plan and carry out all relationship building activities with new and current schools for Reading In Motion.

Provide direct service for students in Chicago Public Schools, implementing an arts-based reading programDesign and lead arts-based reading workshops for teachers and adultsConsistently improve student scores as measured by standardized assessmentConsistently receive high rating and satisfaction from administrators and teachersCoordinate schedules and data for schools

Trained and coached teachers and instructed students in a specialized reading curriculum toachieve core curriculum objectives while engendering a love of learning. Managed the in-school, direct service program by ensuring key methodologies and effectiveness amongteaching artists. Nurtured relationships with administrators and added new school partnerswhile maintaining continual renewal of classroom programming.Key Contributions: Earned high marks for quality and creativity of classroom teaching and teacherdevelopment. Consistently improved student achievement as measured by standardized assessment. Consistently receive high rating and level of satisfaction from administrators, teachers andtrainees. Developed innovative approaches that were repeatedly held up as the model standard formeeting district goals in areas including teaching practices and experiential learning inreading skills and literacy. Taught general education students as well as individuals with learning challenges andspecial needs within a mainstreamed, inclusive classroom. Established positive relationships with students, parents, fellow teachers and schooladministrators/staff. Track record of exceeding sales goals with new and existing clients; Designed and implemented youth heritage workshops with urban students in immigrantcommunities. Trained and mentored student leaders as artist-trainer-organizer-researcher incommunity theatre arts productions. Administrator and producer of programming.

Curate art and performancesManage special eventsLeader in marketing and promoting catering services and eventsMaintain customer relations

Located in the "Heart of Chicago," Cafe Aorta offered food, drinks, art and entertainment that catered not only to appetites but also to the hearts of all that we served.

Founding Artistic Director

CIRCA Pintig is a not-for-profit community arts organization dedicated to the development and popularization of community arts that speak of the immigrant experience within the changing multicultural landscape of America.