Volunteers Who Changed Everything

Patricia Nguyen spent thirty years teaching fifth grade before retiring to what she imagined would be a quieter life. Instead, she found herself at a Hope Has No Borders orientation, signing up to tutor newly arrived children in English. 'I thought I was done with teaching,' she laughs, 'but these kids reminded me why I started in the first place.' Three years later, Patricia meets with six students every week. Two of her former students have graduated high school. One is now enrolled in community college, studying nursing.

Chef Roberto Alvarez owns a small restaurant in Aurora's Colfax corridor. Every Saturday morning, he turns his kitchen over to a cooking class for refugee families, teaching them how to adapt their home recipes using ingredients available at local grocery stores — and introducing them to American staples along the way. 'Food is memory and identity,' Roberto says. 'I want them to know they don't have to leave their culture at the border. We can cook it right here.' His classes regularly draw fifteen to twenty participants, and several graduates have gone on to work in local restaurant kitchens.

Jaylen Brooks is a junior at the University of Denver studying pre-law. He spends ten hours a week at Hope Has No Borders' resource center, helping families understand asylum paperwork, court notices, and benefit applications — all under the supervision of a licensed immigration attorney. 'I came here wanting to build my resume,' he admits honestly, 'but now I can't imagine stopping. These families are navigating a system that would overwhelm anyone, in a language that isn't theirs. Being able to help feels like the most important thing I do all week.' For Jaylen, the work has also clarified his career: he plans to practice immigration law after graduating.