2026 MAACCE Conference

June 24, 2026

Last month, MCAEL sponsored three adult ESOL professionals from the coalition to attend the Maryland Association for Adult, Community and Continuing Education (MAACCE) 2026 Conference. Centered around the theme, Empowering Communities Through Education: Empowering People Where They Are, the conference brought together adult education professionals from across Maryland for workshops, resource sharing, networking, and professional learning.


Anieta from Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI) particularly enjoyed a session on scenario-based problem solving. The session "emphasized the importance of going beyond grammar and helping students become problem solvers—giving them opportunities to find their voice and advocate for themselves. This is something I am excited to continue building into my classroom."


For Tanya from Identity, a standout session was Invisible Luggage: Leading with Emotional Intelligence, Not Emotional Weight. "The workshop emphasized that everyone—clients, teachers, staff—carries some form of emotional baggage, whether it’s a carry-on, a checked bag, or a whole conveyor belt. It began by prompting us to reflect on our own emotional “luggage” with the question: 'What emotional weight are you carrying right now, and has it been making decisions for you without your permission?' The concepts introduced shifted many participants’ perspectives.” Tanya appreciated the reminder that while learners and colleagues may share parts of their stories, much of what they carry remains unseen. The session reinforced the importance of approaching others with empathy and understanding. 



MCAEL is grateful for opportunities to support adult ESOL professionals in accessing continuous professional development and bringing back new ideas, resources, and perspectives to their programs and the coalition. 

Beyond Barriers: MCAEL'S 2026 Professional Development Conference

By MCAEL • November 12, 2026
MCAEL's Professional Development Conference, held on October 24, 2026, brought together almost 100 adult English language instructors and program administrators to explore topics and techniques that can be used in the classroom. The theme, Beyond Barriers, focused on ways to get around barriers to learning through the sharing of ideas, perspectives, experience, and connection. At the start of the day, conference participants heard from a panel of adult learners who discussed their experiences learning English and offered ways that programs could better help them to succeed. The panel set the framework for the conference, where participants worked together in group exercises and took part in their choice of three workshop sessions throughout the day. Workshops topics included: Integrating Digital Literacy into Your ESOL Program: A Step-by-Step Framework; Trauma-Informed Teaching and Learning for Adult ESOL; To Play or Not to Play: Selecting and Creating Speaking-Oriented Games for Adult ESL Learners; and More Than Words: Building Literacy, Confidence, and Independence , among others. Workshop presentations and materials are available on the website, along with a photo gallery for you to explore. MCAEL's next Professional Development Conference will take place in 2028.

Finding A Voice: Learning English in MoCo

By Dariana Guzman • October 29, 2026
As a child, I felt helpless watching my parents struggle to communicate in a language that was foreign to them. As I grew older, I took on the responsibility of helping them navigate those barriers — becoming a bridge between two languages and cultures. While doing so, I grew more comfortable in a world that was sometimes less familiar to them. I’m now a student at the University of Maryland, and this past summer, I found myself revisiting this experience from a new perspective. As a Digital Futures Institute Fellow with Montgomery Community Media, I had the amazing opportunity to learn and connect with local Montgomery County leaders and organizations focused on adult English language learning . What started as a news package became a chance for my team to explore how the county can help their residents overcome language barriers, an issue that was so deeply personal to me. Through this project, I connected with MCAEL. Learning about their efforts helped me better understand the network of dedicated people and community organizations working behind the scenes to make language education accessible to as many learners as possible. For me, this story is about more than learning to speak English. It is about the challenges that come with navigating an unfamiliar environment and the importance of feeling connected to your community. It is a story about belonging. I hope you enjoy watching it!  Dariana Guzman, Montgomery Community Media Digital Futures Institute Fellow and current MCAEL Digital Media Intern Posted with permission of Montgomery Community Media

Creating a Safe Space for Latina Women

By MCAEL • September 23, 2026
Like many immigrant families, we arrived in this country with many dreams, hopes, and goals for a better future. However, one of the first and most significant barriers I encountered was language. I began volunteering at my son’s school, where I met other women who were facing the same challenges I 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. These shared experiences inspired me to take action. I decided to create a safe space where Latina women could feel heard, supported, and empowered. In 2010, I had the opportunity to volunteer with GBCI, where I coordinated conversational English classes for a group of mothers. Then, in 2011, we began a partnership with Epworth United Methodist Church, offering morning English classes and expanding our work in collaboration with AABF. For more than 17 years, I have dedicated my life to motivating women to follow their dreams, to believe in themselves, and to recognize their own strength. Today, Mujer Fuerza y Coraje is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting women and their families through a variety of programs and resources. These include Welcome Baby, designed for pregnant women; Los Años Dorados, created for Spanish-speaking seniors; summer arts programs for children and youth; and English classes during the summer. In addition, we provide training sessions, educational and mental health programs, workshops on child abuse prevention, substance abuse prevention for youth, food distribution, and assistance in connecting families with essential community resources. Our mission is to continue expanding our programs supporting more families by providing tools like English as a Second Language classes, helping them access better job opportunities, and strengthening communication within their communities and their own families.  We are working together for a better future. Milagro Flores is the CEO, Founder, and Director of Mujer, Fuerza y Coraje. She’s lived in Montgomery County for 20 years.