Literacy Volunteers on the Green (LVG) provides free English language literacy services to adult learners in northern Fairfield and Litchfield counties. With only two paid part-time staff and a team of nearly 100 dedicated volunteer tutors, we provide literacy training to over 200 students each year.
Our History
Founded by the late Rita Guariglia and Anne Maitland in March of 2005, LVG started with just 12 trained tutors and 30 students. Since then, we have been part of many success stories as we’ve helped both native-English speakers and ESL students reach for their dreams and achieve success through English literacy training, mentorship and citizenship exam preparation. We’ve touched the lives of hundreds of new immigrants as they’ve learned basic English language skills and dozens of native English speakers as they’ve improved their reading and writing skills.
Many of our students have gone on to start successful businesses as musical instructors, restaurant owners, landscape contractors and electricians. Others have become nurses in area hospitals, daycare providers, pastry chefs, college students, and even LVG tutors.
LVG has 501(c)(3) non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service. We are an affiliate of ProLiteracy America and a GuideStar-rated agency.
LVG Staff
Lynn Davies, Executive Director, joined LVG as Executive Director in late 2018. Prior to joining LVG, Lynn was Program Facilitator with Mercy Learning Center of Bridgeport, Inc., a non-profit literacy and educational center for undereducated women. While there she served as an educational administrator, including oversight of intake and assessment for hundreds of students annually. Lynn has an Master of Arts in Management and a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English Literature from McGill University. She received a Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Another Language (TESOL) from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College. The recipient of numerous other certifications related to adult education and English language learning, Lynn received the National External Diploma Program (NEDP) Outstanding Advisor/Assessor Award in 2014.
Priscilla Mancinone, Program Coordinator, came to Connecticut as an AFS Exchange Student at Shepaug High School in Washington in 1987. She then returned her native Costa Rica and graduated from Fidelitas University in San Jose with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 1992. After getting married in 1993, she moved to Connecticut and has worked for various non-profit organizations in their accounting departments. In 2010 she joined LVG as bookkeeper and program coordinator.
Board Officers
Hank McWhinnie, President
Hank, a former LVG tutor, has acted as a management consultant to LVG’s board of directors since 2015. Agreeing to act as Interim LVG Board Chair in March of 2022, Hank’s extensive business background and expertise in Human Resources continues to be a valuable resource to LVG. Hank consulted for several large New York City firms, providing human resource turnaround management services. As an assistant soccer coach at South Kent School from 2007 until 2020, Hank worked with international and local students, guiding players as the team ranked nationally as the first-place prep school team in the U.S. Hank and his wife remain active in the Kent community.
Casey Pascal, Vice President
Casey has been an active board member and tutor since 2007. Having lived in Japan without the ability to read and write the language, Casey has personal experience understanding the importance of literacy. Offering an extensive background in Family Literacy, Casey is passionate about the importance of parents reading to their children and coordinates LVG’s involvement with local bilingual family reading initiatives. Casey graduated from Marymount International School in England and Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York.
Carol Beck, Secretary
Carol Beck was elected to the LVG Board in 2007. She taught elementary school in New Milford for 18 years, and served as an assistant principal for an additional 18 years. She graduated from UConn and has an MA in elementary education from Western Connecticut State College and studied Education Administration at Fairfield University.
Derek Deleo, Treasurer
Derek, an accounting professional and President of DeLeo & Company of New Milford, joined the LVG Board as treasurer in early 2023. With a wide range of professional qualifications and interest in the strength and equity of local communities, Derek is the perfect candidate to oversee financial operations critical to a sound, fiscally responsible nonprofit. Derek’s expertise will provide a framework for excellence in donor relations, new program initiatives and all aspects of strategic financial planning key to ensuring a sustainable growth model for LVG. Derek holds a marketing and accounting degree from Providence College.
Board Members
Kathleen Bertram, Board Member
Kathleen joined the Board in 2014 and is entering her 11th year as a valued tutor. Kathleen’s background in teaching, creative interior and garden design and civic involvement in the arts, affords her a unique perspective on the creative endeavors of planning LVG’s outreach and fundraising activities. In addition to her many board-level volunteer commitments, Kathleen continues to hold the position of design/project reviewer for BRT General Corporation. Kathleen received a BA from Mount St Mary’s University in West LA.
Suzanne Bona, Board Member
Suzanne joined the board in May of 2022. She is the Host and Executive Producer of Sunday Baroque, a nationally syndicated radio program since 1998. It is broadcast locally on her producing partner station, WSHU Public Radio in Fairfield. Suzanne is a classically trained flutist with a music degree from the University of Connecticut and continues to perform actively. While living in Cincinnati, Ohio, Suzanne was a volunteer tutor and active board member of The Literacy Council of Clermont & Brown Counties and, fortunately for LVG, her passion for literacy continues.
Anthony DiPentima, Board Member
Anthony received his B.A. from Hanover College, M.A. from Fairfield University, and J.D. from Quinnipiac University. He taught middle and junior high school for a number of years before attending law school. He served 3 terms on the Hartford City Council, as Deputy Mayor of Hartford and as a City of Hartford lobbyist prior to moving to Litchfield County. He practices law in Litchfield County with an emphasis in Municipal and Law Use law.
Janet Kamm, Board Member
A former LVG Board president, Janet Kamm has served as an English as a second language tutor for 20+ years. She has worked with Literacy Volunteers on the Green since its inception in 2005 and has taught numerous students in Kent over the past 15 years. She received her B.A. from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.
Sue McWhinnie, Board Member
Sue is an LVG tutor and Board Member and has taught ESL for the New Milford Adult Ed Program. She was an elementary school teacher for 20 years. She serves as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, FISH, and Kent Center School Scholarship Fund. Sue graduated from Marymount College, WCSU, received a Master’s at Fairfield University and is certified to teach ESL/ELL.
Mark Sparrow, Board Member
Mark is LVG’s newest board member, joining in July of 2022. An actor, teacher, and health coach, Mark has created a solo concert, “The Early Side of Late”, fulfilling a dream to perform and create a live show. As a lifelong learner, Mark pursued advanced degrees in language and literacy and taught English as a second language for 10 years in New Your City. Relocating to Connecticut, Mark is active in the Kent community and his passion for adult literacy continues. Mark has a graduate degree in language and literacy from City University of New York.
Steve Satoh, Board Member
Steve, an independent wireless technology consultant with over 38 years of experience in the wireless telecommunications industry joined the LVG Board in late 2022. Steve trained with LVG as a tutor in 2021 and as a member of the New Milford Refugee Resettlement Committee, Steve has played a key role in the assimilation of two Afghan families resettled in New Milford, consistently tutoring two students on a weekly basis. Steve brings a keen interest in operational efficiency and all aspects of strategic planning and is committed to guiding LVG as a sustainable forward-thinking literacy center. Steve earned an engineering degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology, in Chicago.
Service Area
- Bethel
- Bridgewater
- Brookfield
- Goshen
- Danbury
- Kent
- Morris
- Newtown
- New Milford
- New Fairfield
- Ridgefield
- Sharon
- Washington
