Meet Aryani - People of MCAEL

May 2, 2022

The People at the Heart of MOCO’s English Language Learning - Meet Aryani Ong

It’s MCAEL’s 15 year anniversary, and we’re celebrating with a “People of MCAEL” series featuring first person insights and photos from some of the wonderful people involved in English language learning in Montgomery County, MD. You’ll find stories here and on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter; please share and use our hashtag #MCAEL15. We know this coalition thrives because of committed people like you; thank you!

Today we’re introducing our second profile: Aryani Ong !


“My husband and I moved here in 1995 from the Bay Area. It was my turn to go to law school and I wanted to be near the emblems of democracy, near government and politics. I became a civil rights attorney and worked in national advocacy spaces, so I understood ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) from a policy perspective.

I also very early on in my own life had a connection to English language learning. My parents had emigrated from Indonesia, and I was going to school in southern California. Between my mother’s serviceable English—she mixed some Indonesian words in with English—and my truncated answers to a vague essay question, I was put in an ESOL class. Even at the age of 6, I felt that it was remedial, and I know many second-generation immigrants who have had a similar experience. It’s something for teachers to keep in mind as they evaluate and look at placements, though I’m sure it’s much different now.

Montgomery County is a special place; it’s home to people who are committed to diversity and inclusion, who work hard to make this a welcoming place for all residents, regardless of immigration status. This county forges public-private partnerships to improve the lives of everyone. As a board member in the early days of MCAEL, I was impressed with the mission and vision to support people to be their full selves, to help them reach their dreams.

I find community in civic life, with vibrant people from all walks of life, people from around the world. One of my volunteer roles is with a group called CUAH ( Communities United Against Hate). I’m a founding member and I’ve also served as a grants review panelist for a CUAH youth program called Youth Creating Change, where we hear students pitch diversity and inclusion projects for grant funding. I was at one of these panels right after the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburg. Hearing those students and their vision for a brighter future brought me from the depths of despair to hope.

My daughter went to a Quaker school and I like how they talk about people holding the light inside them. When my husband and I married, we both lit a unity candle. If you transpose that into community, it’s about everyone bringing their inner lights into a communal large candle. It’s the coming together that salves our wounds whenever acts of hate or bigotry threaten to tear our community.”

Learn more about MCAEL here and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest MCAEL news and stories like Aryani's. 

Executive Director Spotlight: Channeling Frustration into Purpose

By Gerard Etienne • July 23, 2026
Over the past several months, I’ve found myself avoiding the news, not because I don’t care—quite the contrary—but because the sheer volume and constant stream of “bad” news can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to feel exhausted and frustrated by problems that seem far bigger than any one person can solve. When I’m in that place, I try to remind myself that the work that my team and I do every day, the work that the nonprofit community does in MoCo—which is fundamentally about helping others—is a way to combat the harmful impact of what we see happening in the news and in our community. I may not be able to solve every problem or change harmful policies, but I can choose how I respond. I can help a neighbor, donate my time, work for a cause, advocate for someone, or support my community. Those actions may seem small, but I know for a fact that they can matter a great deal to the people receiving them. And I know they mean a great deal to me.  Helping others doesn’t solve everything, nor does it make the world’s problems disappear. But it can help to channel frustration into purpose. Even if we can’t control all that is happening, we can still have a positive impact on the people around us and on our community.

2026 MAACCE Conference

By MCAEL • 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.

Executive Director Spotlight: My First Year

By Gerard Etienne • June 24, 2026
It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a year since I arrived at MCAEL as Executive Director. Time has flown by in the best way possible — a sign that I’ve been fully invested in the work. I could write a 20-page essay on what I learned and observed this past year, but I won’t do that to you! Here are a few thoughts from year one: I’m happy to be past the initial learning curve! Starting any job with this level of responsibility can feel daunting and overwhelming at times. While there is no question I still have plenty to learn (I always will), I no longer feel like the “new guy". And that feels good. Managing a coalition of ESOL organizations can be challenging, particularly when needs can vary greatly from one organization to another. The upside is that our relationship with coalition partners is collaborative, constructive, and supportive. Everyone is working toward the same goal, even if the path sometimes looks different. One of my favorite parts of the job is attending community and coalition partner events, especially ESOL graduations. These events help me stay connected to the people behind our work. They also remind me of what it was like to arrive in this country not speaking English and how limiting that was. Every graduation is a reminder of why MCAEL’s mission matters and why we should never take it for granted. Thinking back to arriving in the United States without English, I still have moments when I can’t quite believe that I am leading an organization like MCAEL. My path here was anything but straightforward, and I feel a great deal of gratitude for every challenge, every opportunity, and all the people who helped me along the way. As I look forward to the coming year, I know I am in the right place doing work that is very meaningful to me and that I am proud of. The next fiscal year will undoubtedly bring more challenges, but with an exceptional staff, a supportive and engaged board of directors, and a cohesive coalition, we have a strong foundation to meet them.