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. 

Alina Ramirez Joyner Joins MCAEL’s Board of Directors

By Kayla O'Neil • 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.

Executive Director's Spotlight: A Message to All Our English Learners

By Gerard Etienne • July 8, 2025
Something important struck me during our recent end-of-year convening of program instructors and administrators. It was a day of celebration, sharing, connecting, brainstorming, and problem-solving – all centered on two fundamental questions: How can we serve our learners better? And how can we improve? The passion and dedication in that room were palpable. What struck me was how deeply everyone cares about this work: it matters to them. It matters to all of us. But as the day progressed, I realized something: many of the English learners in the programs we support may not know just how many people are cheering them on. They may not see the full village behind them – rooting for their success. Everyone in the picture above is part of that village – and they’re only a small fraction of it. Across Montgomery County, program administrators, instructors, volunteers, elected officials, and organizations involved in ESOL instruction are all working toward the same goal: helping our learners achieve the English proficiency they need to improve their financial stability, thrive in their communities, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. So, to all our English learners: even though you may never meet any of us, please know that you are not alone. We are rooting for you. We are cheering you on. We want you to succeed. In today’s political climate, that’s a message we must repeat – and amplify.

End-of-Year Celebration Recap

By Kairy Castro Barrios • June 18, 2025
Last Friday, June 13th, 2025, MCAEL hosted its End-of-Year Celebration & Sharing Session, attended by adult English Instructors and program staff representing 24 programs from the MCAEL network. This End-of-Year Celebration was designed to bring ESOL professionals together to celebrate their dedication and commitment to helping a community of non-native English speakers learn English as a second language, thereby supporting them in their daily lives. Their passion for teaching English as a second language contributed to everyone's eagerness to share the ways their lessons work, teaching methods that engage learners, and identifying the specific instruction skills they'd like to develop. One English instructor mentioned that, towards the end of class, she plays "Hangman" with the learners to help with spelling words; so far, no one has been hanged!  All English instructors and program staff share a common goal: to make a difference in their communities and make a direct impact on those around them. During this celebration, they were asked, “what inspired you to work in the ESOL field?" Instructors mentioned that enabling a community to learn English empowers them to grow and better integrate themselves within society. Brenda Voit, an ESOL instructor at the nonprofit Identity, mentioned that she is an English instructor who fulfills community needs and is passionate about the work she does. Christine Patton; an ESOL teacher at JSSA, spoke about her family’s personal experience emigrating from Germany to the United States and the shared frustrations of not knowing English, as well as navigating that experience in their daily lives. Christine views Montgomery County’s ability to provide free and accessible English classes as a reassuring sign of support. This invaluable resource can make a difference in the lives of many, creating a vibrant, growing coalition of Adult English learners. Kairy Castro Barrios MCAEL Intern