People of MCAEL - Meet Rachel Peric

June 27, 2022

It’s MCAEL’s 15 year anniversary, and we’re celebrating with a “People of MCAEL"

The "People of MCAEL" series features 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 sixth profile: Rachel Peric

My grandparents were Holocaust survivors and refugees; community building and social justice have been part of my DNA for a long time.  I was lucky to grow up in Montgomery County, where those values were communicated all around me.  I was even luckier to attend the Spanish immersion program at Rock Creek Forest Elementary School, where multilingualism and inter-culturalism were valued as skills.  We just applied there for our five-year-old but she’s 188 on the waiting list, which speaks to the unmet demand for multilingualism here in the county.


My people are the ones working to expand who belongs.  I was running the Montgomery County United Way campaign when I heard about MCAEL.  It was a time of major demographic shifts for the county, and serving as the first Executive Director of MCAEL was the job of a lifetime. I saw that English language learning was at the core of people’s ability to participate in the broader community, to be involved in their kids’ education, to thrive.  And beyond the English language aspect there’s the communal experience offered by many of MCAEL’s member programs: being in a space where you encounter your neighbors, exchange ideas, and learn to survive together.

Rachel Peric

Montgomery County could have taken a singular approach and chose to fund one organization to provide all English language learning programming, but leaders recognized the importance of meeting people where they are and offering programming designed for a wide ranging diversity of residents—with this connective tissue of a coalition binding it all together. The early design of MCAEL set up a beautiful, democratic space for people to engage and collaborate. There’s a really vibrant community of learners, teachers and providers here. They reflect the multiracial, multiethnic character of the County, and by working together on a shared challenge, reinforce our solidarity while also tackling the cause of disparities head on.


Welcoming America, my current organization, focuses on the same kinds of things but at a more macro level. It’s connecting the people and organizations that are rowing together towards a world that is more just, where people can belong and thrive in the place we call home—no matter where we come from.


We don’t have to all be the same, but in a world on the move, we do need to figure out how to be neighbors.”

Learn more about MCAEL and our partner organizations here.

Still Buzzing About MCAEL’s 11th Annual Spelling Bee

By Emma Starr • May 12, 2026
With the correct spelling of funambulism (noun: the act of walking on a rope between two points elevated from the ground), the Montgomery College Spelling Bee team secured the Honeybee Trophy at MCAEL's 11th Annual Grown-Up Spelling Bee.  The competition was robust, with all five teams demonstrating impressive spelling skills. Along with Montgomery College, this year’s team line-up included Burness, Bethesda Magazine, GBCC NextExecs, and the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. Even the audience proved their prowess, spelling zenzizenzizenzic (noun: a number to the eighth power) during the Audience Spell, with a group of four audience members winning the prize (once they chased down the Bee, who had taken off with it). The event was buzzing with energy and good spirits. At the reception, guests posed in the photo booth and enjoyed refreshments while donning antennae headbands and bee sunglasses. This year’s People, Power, and Potential Award went to two women who were once English language learners themselves. Bibi Mohamed is the force behind the English language program at ISWA (the Islamic Society of the Washington Area). As Program Director, Bibi goes above and beyond to remove learning barriers for women, including childcare, housing and food insecurity, and transportation. Likewise, Milagro Flores, the CEO, Founder, and Executive Director of Mujer Fuerza y Coraje, is focused on women. She started her organization 16 years ago, when she realized that many women were facing the same challenges as she 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.” Milagro’s words remind us of why adult English language learning is so vital. “We aren’t just supporting English classes,” MCAEL Executive Director Gerard Etienne explained in his remarks at the Spelling Bee. “Learning English is essential to workforce development, economic stability, healthcare access, safety, community connections, equity, mental health, and so much more. So, when adults learn English, the impact extends far beyond the individual – it strengthens and benefits the entire community.

From Learner to Instructor: My Journey with ESOL at ISWA

By MCAEL • March 26, 2026
Story written by Tamana Mehran

MCAEL on TV

By Emma Starr • February 18, 2026
MCAEL Executive Director Gerard Etienne sat down with Cheryl Hawkins of MMCTV’s Solutions to discuss all things MCAEL. Learn out about what MCAEL does, why it’s important, and Gerard’s own experiences as an English language learner. Watch the full 30-minute program by clicking the link above!