by Oli Loeffler, Development Coordinator
Words Alive is excited to recognize Lilliana Gutierrez and Diana Alvarez as our March Volunteers of the Month! Lilliana and Diana are Community Inclusion Professionals with The Arc of San Diego, an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering people with disabilities to achieve their life goals. Through their work, they regularly bring their clients to our Where the Wild Books Are service events, creating meaningful opportunities for connection, teamwork, and community engagement.
Ready to check out our Where the Wild Books Are service events? New dates have just been posted. Check out our upcoming dates here!
Lilliana first discovered Words Alive through a coworker while searching for a volunteer site for her clients. “I came to look at it and figured [that] if they liked it, we would stay — and they did!” she shared. Diana had a similar introduction. “A former coworker volunteered here and told me about it. I thought it would be perfect for my group, and so far they love it.”
Since then, their groups have become a consistent and joyful presence at our volunteer events. Together, they’ve supported projects like building learning kits for young readers in our Family Literacy Program.
Lilliana and Diana at the Words Alive office.
For Lilliana, one of the most meaningful parts of volunteering is the teamwork. “I like it when we get to work as a team. We do a lot of teamwork here, and I love that.” Diana shared that some of her favorite moments come when she sees her clients step into their independence. “I like when my clients get in a rhythm and you can tell they’re excited that they’re doing it on their own.”
“We take our groups out into the community so they can learn social skills and work toward their goals,” Diana explained. “We’re there to support them, but they’re the ones doing it.” At Words Alive, that mission comes to life through shared space. “I like how open it is,” Lilliana said. “We can bring people along, meet other groups, and the clients get to socialize. I love that.” Diana also highlighted the welcoming environment. “The staff are very patient and always willing to help. If something is a little too difficult, they find another activity so the clients can still be successful. They’re happy working on the activities.”
When asked what they would say to someone considering volunteering with Words Alive, Diana didn’t hesitate: “It’s a great site. There’s something for everyone, and people really care.”
BOOK FAQ
Did you have a favorite book growing up, or one that had a big impact on you?
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Lilliana shared that “In high school I read a couple books by Ellen Hopkin titled Crank and Glass. I loved the way [they were] written, it's more a poetic style. It’s a story about high schoolers dropping out [which] was interesting.”
Diana recalled reading Pride and Prejudice in a single day. “I loved it,” she said. She also shared her appreciation for Fried Green Tomatoes, adding that the book stands out even more than the film adaptation.
Do you have a special memory of reading with a caring adult?
For Lilliana, “Maybe around elementary school when we had those reading groups and a volunteer would come and we would read it together. It was just like you all do here, and they would give us books too!”
While Diana reflected on early school days like Lilliana, a different kind of moment stuck out to her, “I think it was more when my children would read to me when they liked a book and wanted to share it.”
What are you currently reading, or what would you recommend?
Lilliana is currently reading The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene, while Diana shared that her reading list is always growing, “I read a lot on my Kindle, but I also have a stack of books at home my daughter wants me to read.”