21 Organizations Receive Grants from Montgomery County Totaling $1,425,000 to Support Adult English Language Learning

Per Montgomery County: The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), in partnership with Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council, recently awarded grants totaling $1,425,000 to 21 organizations that provide 27 adult English language learning programs across the County.

MCAEL is a community coalition of public, nonprofit and business partners that support nearly 60 adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and literacy service programs. The goal of the MCAEL grants program is to increase the availability and quality of adult ESOL services, thereby helping adults gain the English language skills needed to reach their potential as parents, workers and community members.
“Montgomery County is one of the most diverse jurisdictions in the nation—home to individuals and families from all over the world representing hundreds of languages and dialects,” said County Executive Elrich. “Learning literacy is critical for creating economic opportunities as well as our County’s workforce development. We have invested more than $1.4 million to help ensure our residents have access to ESOL services. I appreciate MCAEL and the organizations that received these grants for the work they do, which can be lifechanging for thousands of our residents.”

Adult English language learners experience a range of transformative benefits as participants in these programs, from being able to speak to staff at their children’s schools to attaining better-paying jobs.
“MCAEL’s work to promote literacy and break down language barriers improves the lives of program participants and the interconnectedness of our community,” said Council President Evan Glass. “For more than 14 years, MCAEL has provided capacity building grants to providers of adult ESOL classes across Montgomery County. This new round of grant funding provided in partnership with Montgomery County Government will build on this important work and create lasting results for English language learners and our community.”

Larissa, who moved from Cameroon last year, describes not knowing the language as nerve-wracking and lonely. She was afraid to go out.
“I was afraid, and I was ashamed,” said Larissa, who enrolled in English language class at CASA. Soon, she said she “started to have some hope. English was my key.”

Another beneficiary of the program is Karen, who has been taking classes through Family Services, Inc., in Gaithersburg.
“I understand better when someone talks to me,” said Karen. “I feel more confident having a conversation by phone—like doing a medical appointment or requesting information. I have improved my writing. I write emails and notes to my child’s teacher now. English classes helped me to get a job.”

Recipients of these grants include:

• Ana A. Brito Foundation, Inc.
• Briggs Center for Faith and Action
• CASA (Life Skills ESOL Program)
• CASA (Workforce ESOL Program)
• Catholic Charites of the Archdiocese of Washington, Inc.
• Chinese American Parent Association of Montgomery County
• Chinese Culture and Community Service Center
• City of Light Helping Hands
• Classroom 2 Community (formerly Literacy Council of Montgomery County)
• Community Reach of Montgomery County, Inc. (Language Outreach Conversation Classes)
• Community Reach of Montgomery County, Inc. (Language Outreach Program)
• Covenant Life Church
• Ethiopian Community Center
• Family Services, Inc./Sheppard Pratt (ESOL Program)
• Family Services, Inc./Sheppard Pratt (Family Discovery Center)
• Family Services, Inc./Sheppard Pratt (Conversation Classes)
• Francophone Africans Alliance
• The George B. Thomas Leaning Academy, Inc.
• Identity Inc.
• Impact Silver Spring
• Mill Creek Parish United Methodist Church
• Rockville Seniors, Inc.
• Seneca Creek Community Church (Saturday ESOL Classes)
• Seneca Creek Community Church (Weekday ESOL Program)
• Vietnamese American Services (Citizenship Class and Workforce Development)
• Vietnamese American Services (Conversation English Class for Adult Learners)
• Washington New Covenant Fellowship Church

To learn more about this year’s MCAEL adult English language learning grant recipients, visit the MCAEL website.