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 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 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

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

Not “Just” English Classes

By Gerard Etienne • June 17, 2025
This past Saturday, I was invited to speak at the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)’s Learning English Together graduation ceremony – and what a wonderful event it was! The first thing that surprised me was the number of people in attendance: there were over 320 attendees, of which 146 were proud graduates. Even more impressive is the fact that there were another 150 graduates who did not attend the ceremony! But what stood out even more was how important this ceremony clearly was to so many of the learners. As a guest speaker, I joined the entrance procession and lined up with the graduates. The pride and excitement were palpable, not just among the learners, but among the instructors as well. Almost everyone was dressed up for the occasion. This was the first clue that these weren’t “just” English classes to the graduates—this was a meaningful milestone, a real achievement. As the ceremony progressed and certificates were awarded, several learners gave speeches. I found myself nearly in tears as I listened to them describe what learning English had meant in their lives. It would be easy to reduce ESOL classes to simply language instruction for immigrants—but these classes are so much more than that.  They are a gateway to connection, self-expression, better jobs, and more education. They foster belonging, friendships, relationships, and a kind of freedom that only language can provide. For many learners, these classes are truly life-changing, as many of the student speakers described. And the fact that these classes were so meaningful to them is a testament to the care and quality of instruction that JSSA and its instructors have provided. As each speaker shared their story, I thought back to my own English-learning journey. I could relate strongly to their experiences: the feeling of isolation, the frustration of not being able to say the simplest things, the fear of picking up the phone, the avoidance and anxiety around engaging with others. And the feeling of sometimes being reduced to “someone who doesn’t speak English” – as if that’s all there was to me. Learning English is a way out of those limitations. It gives learners the chance to grow, to build relationships, and to show who they really are. Congratulations to the graduates!

MCAEL Announces $1,465,853 in Grants to Support Adult ESOL Learning in Montgomery County

By Emma Starr • June 16, 2025
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), announces $1,465,853 in grants awarded to support adult English language learning programs across Montgomery County. Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council. Adult English language learners experience life-changing benefits as participants in these programs, from being able to navigate the health system and their children’s schools, to attaining better-paying jobs. The goal of the MCAEL grants program is to increase the availability of adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services that support identified community needs and diverse populations, while also improving the quality of those services. Blanca, who was a teacher in Guatemala and is now a housekeeper, is currently enrolled in her third consecutive English language class. She says learning English has “made communication with doctors, teachers – everyone – easier. I have more confidence and am able to speak clearly with others.” Blanca hopes to eventually get a better-paying job so that “I can continue to raise my family in the U.S. while also supporting those still living in Guatemala. But my most important goal is to see my three children graduate from college.” This year, grants have been awarded to 24 organizations that provide 29 programs across Montgomery County, including eight brand new programs, both small and large in scale. In addition, MCAEL is actively pursuing the expansion of services to communities where adult ESOL learning opportunities are scarce and there are increased barriers to participation. MCAEL thanks the panel of community members who donated extensive time and energy to review and evaluate the grant applications. MCAEL also thanks the Montgomery County Government for increasing funding for program grants this year, as well as for their ongoing support of English language learning opportunities in Montgomery County. Read the complete Grants Announcement.