Meet Halima - People of MCAEL

June 1, 2020

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 FacebookInstagramLinkedIn , 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 fourth profile: Halima Ahmed !

Halima at Montgomery College
“I can speak four languages; when I talk to my mother we navigate in Somali, Hindi/Urdu, and English. English was the first language where I was literate in reading, writing and speaking; Somali and Hindi are the languages where I best understand myself and the world around me. The first English word I learned was thumb; the first big word was scrutinize. Learning—especially learning a language—never ends. I’m studying Arabic now.

As a former ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) student, I would tell new learners not to be shy about learning English, don’t deliberately try to change your accent. Embrace who you are and recognize that English is just another language.

I’ve lived on four continents. People think of home as a place where you have native ties. For me that is Somalia. But because of the war, we left when I was about three. We moved around the horn of Africa, lived in Kenya, and then were in India for about ten years before coming to America. The concept of home is strange for me because it transcends locality.

As children, our education was frequently interrupted; the focus was on how to survive from this moment to the next. My continuous learning journey really happened when I came to Montgomery County and enrolled at Montgomery College fifteen years ago. I went on to graduate with an associate degree in international studies. MC has a special place in my heart: it’s where my education was most consistent—and I got to explore different paths, learn with amazing professors and work with phenomenal staff who were of incredible support in navigating MC’s many options.

I completed a bachelor’s degree at Mount Holyoke College and a master’s degree at SOAS University of London. Now I work at MCAEL as the assistant director of programs. MCAEL is a capacity building organization and hub for literacy organizations in Montgomery County serving adult ESOL learners. We understand people cannot learn if they are sick, hungry, or worrying over a problem. So it’s not just ESOL we’re doing; we also hold network meetings to connect people to key resources, like help with taxes, jobs, immigration, food, and essential services.

I’m privileged in my life right now, but I’ve experienced extreme highs and lows. From my mother I saw that if you have something you need to pass it on—not just money but also how to navigate systems and identify help.

Because of my upbringing and moving a lot when I was younger, that need for community and relationship building was instilled in me at a very young age. That’s how we survived, that’s how we thrived—building community wherever we were. I find community here through MCAEL, as co-Chair of the African Affairs Advisory Group to the County Executive, and with my family in Germantown, MD and across the world.

As a black Muslim traveling, I tend to attract attention at airports. Once I was in the Mumbai airport with my family. My younger brother had a Tanzanian passport, my uncle had a Danish passport, my grandfather had a Somali passport, and I had an American passport. With the exception of my grandfather, we all speak English, but with different accents.

The security staff kept asking, “How are you a family?” I explained in Hindi that while we had to split off to different geographical places, we were still very much a family. Interestingly, it ended up being a positive experience when I spoke Hindi to the staff, as we were talking in a shared language which lessened the barriers and suspicions.

When I look at my family, it really shows me the world in a sense, all these different nationalities, cultures, and languages. These differences do not divide us; they make our bond that much more beautiful.

You can see Montgomery County through a similar lens—the light that is here in this county because of the different languages, cultures, and nationalities. As a student at Montgomery College, one of my favorite things was to watch the people get off the bus to go to class—here they were from all over the world, arriving in this one place for one common purpose: to learn. That’s beautiful.”

Halima’s story is part of MCAEL’S 15th Anniversary celebration; every month we’ll highlight some of the wonderful people at the heart of our coalition. Learn more about MCAEL and its mission here:  https://mcael.org. #MCAEL15

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.
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.
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