Alina Ramirez Joyner Joins MCAEL’s Board of Directors

July 11, 2025

MCAEL is excited to welcome Alina Ramirez Joyner to the Board of Directors. Alina brings extensive experience as a consultant, advising senior leaders in government, private industry, and nonprofits on corporate social responsibility, community investment, and multicultural engagement strategies in both Mexico and the United States. She serves as Chair of Community and Inclusion in an educational setting, as a financial stewardship advisor, and as a civic community engagement coordinator in Bethesda, MD, where she leads initiatives to foster connection, transparency, and financial sustainability within local communities. 


Her professional path has included work with domestic and international organizations such as the Embassy of Mexico, the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, CBS Radio, the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Mexico’s Electoral Institute, and various civic and local organizations. She's also collaborated with clients like National Geographic and leading healthcare systems including MedStar Health, Inova, and Adventist HealthCare.  


“As an immigrant myself, I understand both the challenges and the possibilities of navigating new systems—a perspective that fuels my dedication to advancing language access, inclusion, and fairness as essential tools for community growth and individual success,” said Alina, who is originally from Mexico City. “I integrate global strategy, risk management, and sustainable operations to design systemic solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities, minimizing resource inefficiencies and accelerating social progress.


“Joining MCAEL’s Board is an exciting opportunity for me to help harness the transformative power of language to build connections, create a sense of belonging, and open doors for individuals and communities alike. I’m inspired by MCAEL’s mission and look forward to applying my experience in community engagement, fundraising, and cross-sector collaboration to help strengthen and sustain the organization’s impact.” 


Outside of work, Alina loves exploring art, history, and the outdoors, especially hiking with her family and their dog. 

Still Buzzing About MCAEL’s 11th Annual Spelling Bee

By Emma Starr • May 12, 2026
With the correct spelling of funambulism (noun: the act of walking on a rope between two points elevated from the ground), the Montgomery College Spelling Bee team secured the Honeybee Trophy at MCAEL's 11th Annual Grown-Up Spelling Bee. The competition was robust, with all five teams demonstrating impressive spelling skills. Along with Montgomery College, this year’s team line-up included Burness, Bethesda Magazine, GBCC NextExecs, and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Even the audience proved their prowess, spelling zenzizenzizenzic (noun: a number to the eighth power) during the Audience Spell, with a group of four audience members winning the prize (once they chased down the Bee, who had taken off with it). The event was buzzing with energy and good spirits. At the reception, guests posed in the photo booth and enjoyed refreshments while donning antennae headbands and bee sunglasses. This year’s People, Power, and Potential Award went to two women who were once English language learners themselves. Bibi Mohamed is the force behind the English language program at ISWA (the Islamic Society of the Washington Area). As Program Director, Bibi goes above and beyond to remove learning barriers for women, including childcare, housing and food insecurity, and transportation. Likewise, Milagro Flores, the CEO, Founder, and Executive Director of Mujer Fuerza y Coraje, is focused on women. She started her organization 16 years ago, when she realized that many women were facing the same challenges as she was – “difficulties communicating, limited job opportunities, and a deep fear of speaking with their children’s teachers. Many of us were also afraid to visit the doctor because we could not fully understand what was being said. We felt frustrated, isolated, and, at times, invisible.” Milagro’s words remind us of why adult English language learning is so vital. “We aren’t just supporting English classes,” MCAEL Executive Director Gerard Etienne explained in his remarks at the Spelling Bee. “Learning English is essential to workforce development, economic stability, healthcare access, safety, community connections, equity, mental health, and so much more. So, when adults learn English, the impact extends far beyond the individual – it strengthens and benefits the entire community. 

From Learner to Instructor: My Journey with ESOL at ISWA

By MCAEL • March 26, 2026
Story written by Tamana Mehran

MCAEL on TV

By Emma Starr • February 18, 2026
MCAEL Executive Director Gerard Etienne sat down with Cheryl Hawkins of MMCTV’s Solutions to discuss all things MCAEL. Learn out about what MCAEL does, why it’s important, and Gerard’s own experiences as an English language learner. Watch the full 30-minute program by clicking the link above!