How I Became an ESOL Supporter

November 6, 2020

One of my staff recently asked me about how I came to work at MCAEL. She said, “You have a good story.” Well, I don’t know if it is a good story, but I will say that as I reflect on the last eight years and certainly the last seven months, there are many daily reminders and stories that affirm how I came to be at MCAEL – and much of it boils down to the opportunity to work for an organization that is critical to the well-being of our community. English language is a key for adults to reach their own goals, get jobs, take care of their own health, and support their children in school.

I love my job and I still don’t know exactly what I want to be when I grow up. I have had many jobs and job titles in my career. One thread that has been always be woven into my work has been a connection with education and community. I’ve worked in the corporate, education and nonprofit worlds. I am a recovering lawyer, fundraiser, community builder and I have a counseling degree. I took the job (I was offered this job and one other in the same week – big decision !) because I thought the job would allow me to combine my interests, it was a new challenge, – even though I was a little nervous that I was not an ESOL expert.

Not only have I used a broad skill set, but I have the opportunity to make sure that adults in our community can get quality English classes and that is beyond rewarding. The impact MCAEL makes with the organizations that teach English, the instructors who are in classrooms (or on ZOOM) every day, and most importantly the almost 17,000 adult learners we serve each year is necessary to the health, economic growth, and overall success of our community.

Kathy Stevens

Executive Director, MCAEL

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Picture of WUMCO Help's location in Poolseville, MD.

MCAEL Partner Spotlight: WUMCO Help, Inc

By Kayla Savoy • November 1, 2024

On Friday, October 25th, the MCAEL staff had the privilege of visiting WUMCO Help's facility in Poolesville, MD. What began as a quick journey to distribute our Adult English Language Program Directories turned into an insightful tour of WUMCO’s expansive ESOL classroom, designed for local residents, and their food pantry, where they provide shelf-stable goods and fresh produce to the community. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, community members, and local Boy Scout troops, WUMCO is committed to addressing food, language, health, and financial insecurities in Poolesville and the surrounding areas. We are proud to partner with WUMCO Help , which began with MCAEL as a Start-Up Grant recipient in 2023 and then grew to become an Access Small Grant recipient the following year. To learn more about WUMCO and the good work of all of our current Grant Partners, click here.

Leadership Change at MCAEL

By Kathy Stevens • August 29, 2024

Dear MCAEL Community: I am writing to share with you that I will be leaving MCAEL as of early October. I have accepted a position as President and CEO at the Healthcare Initiative Foundation. After 12 years of stewarding and growing the coalition, our team, and the organization’s role in the county, it is time for me to pass the torch to new leadership and pursue some new challenges of my own. MCAEL is a strong organization that has proven the value of having one entity coordinate the work of the coalition to build a diverse network of adult English language learning opportunities. With the partnership of Montgomery County government, dedicated coalition organizations, and incredible supporters and volunteers, MCAEL continues to provide much needed and much desired English classes. With an incredible staff, the organization is well positioned to continue to meet the needs of our community. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served as MCAEL’s Executive Director. It has been rewarding to work alongside such a remarkably talented team, engaged Board members, dedicated program staff and instructors, and committed funders and supporters. While I'll miss MCAEL, the people I've worked with, and most especially the thousands of adult learners we have been able to support, I am excited to see MCAEL continue its growth and leadership in the county. The Board of Directors is meeting to identify the search process and timeline for a successor leader of MCAEL and that information will be shared as soon as practical. I will be working with the staff, board, and coalition to ensure a thoughtful and smooth transition. Thanks to you and the many other people who support MCAEL’s work, I am confident that the organization will continue to be strong and impactful. With gratitude, Kathy Stevens

Uber Impact

By Kathy Stevens • July 30, 2024

I’ve had to use Uber more in the last month than the entire last year while my car was out of commission. As you may know, the app offers you the option to indicate your comfort level with conversation. While I was trying to lean into just relaxing on the car rides and not talking much, I couldn’t help myself and quickly started conversations with my drivers. Many of my drivers were non-native English speakers, and they shared their experiences adjusting to a new country while not being comfortable with the language. Their stories echoed an all-too-common experience among immigrants in our community, who often work at jobs below their training levels. We discussed how to find English classes, should they be interested, and I was even able to connect one of my drivers to a workforce development opportunity. Sure, it would have been more convenient to have my car in working order so I could drive myself to work. But I never would have made these rewarding connections.