An innovative partnership brings ESOL home.

March 7, 2019

Organizations like the ECC are serving an under-served population using innovative partnerships. Partnering with the Community Preservation and Development Corporation (CPDC) an affiliate of Enterprise Homes, English classes are being held in an apartment building called The Essex House. The Essex House is home to over 400 residents and a predominantly African immigrant population. This innovative place-based approach meets learners where they are - in the home, removing any of the usual barriers a learner might encounter: distance, transportation, and time.

CPDC Resident Services Coordinator Seble Seyoum shares:
“Through direct engagement and resident feedback, CPDC has observed limited English proficiency as being one of the most significant barriers to economic security for Essex House residents who are predominantly African immigrants, with a significant Ethiopian population. Essex House community is located along Maple Avenue, home to an even more extensive African immigrant community. When ECC approached us and said they were interested in providing English classes to Takoma Park residents, we saw this as a perfect fit. ECC’s has a long history of providing quality English Language and job readiness programming to African Immigrants in the DMV and the population has responded positively. ECC currently implements weekly English classes at CPDC through funding received by MCAEL. These classes are open to all, so we are able to serve CPDC residents and also impact the greater community which is along with CPDC’s mission. We have seen that these classes are meeting the demand of the community, with 47 students registering for the program since September 2018. The feedback from students and response from the community has been positive as we are addressing one of the many challenges faced by a large percentage of Takoma Park residents. English classes not only better prepare adults, but it has a direct IMPACT on the children of these families as parents gain essential resources to help which assist their children to thrive in school and life.”

By leveraging resources and partnerships, ECC & CPDC are a great example of how we can expand English classes in Montgomery County in ways that make sense and that meets learners where they are.

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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.