About us | UB Homework Helpers

What we do: provide free tutoring and other educational services to K-12 students in the Buffalo, New York area.

Our Story

Get to Know Us

We are an organization at the University at Buffalo (UB) that provides free 1-on-1 virtual tutoring and other educational services to local K-12 students. Our goal is to give back to our local community and enrich students' lives. We know that some students need extra help and are not able to afford tutoring, which can lead them to fall behind. We want to make sure that all children get the extra help they need so that they thrive educationally and are able to achieve their goals.

UB Homework Helpers is made possible by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and her team. AOC's Homework Helpers was launched by Team AOC in 2020 in order to assist families with the demands of online learning. Since then, AOC's Homework Helpers has provided families across New York City with over 5,000 hours of virtual homework assistance.

Meet the Team

Co-Founder

Julia Dietz

Julia graduated from the University at Buffalo summa cum laude with Highest Honors in Political Science. In addition to co-founding and directing our program, Julia works full-time as a Housing & Impact Litigation Paralegal at Center for Elder Law & Justice, a nonprofit dedicated to improving quality of life for older, disabled and low-income adults through the provision of free legal services. She is an aspiring attorney who is passionate about utilizing law and social projects to bring about positive societal change.

Co-Founder

Evan Forti-Hong

Evan graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelors in Political Science in May 2023 and is currently pursuing a JD with a focus in public policy at the University at Pittsburgh School of Law. He hopes that this program can help Buffalo students gain access to quality tutoring to help further their educational pursuits. In his free time, he likes to practice martial arts and read Wuxia literature.

Co-Founder

Shanaz Uddin

Shanaz is a recent graduate from the University at Buffalo, where she majored in Political Science. She is passionate about working in her local community and using digital strategies to enact progressive change. In her free time, she likes to make jewelry and play with her nieces and nephews.

Co-Founder

Gubaz Giorgadze

Gubaz graduated from the University at Buffalo in May 2022 with a degree in Political Science (concentration in International Politics) and a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was involved in the Men's Rugby Club and the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Club, the latter of which he was the President and Co-Founder. He graduated with Political Science honors distinction. After graduating, he served the country as part of the National Guard.