Stories

Featured Story

Now He Can Say, “I am Shimoy!”

Saying Goodbye to Shimoy the Rancher In another life, Shimoy was a rancher of goats, camels, and cows. He insists that he loved all the animals equally, keeping no favorites. The land was beautiful and green, situated between the two largest rivers in Somalia....

In Memory of Husain

Husain was a long-time learner and community leader at the English Learning Center. He started learning with us in 2007 and passed away recently from complications due to COVID-19 at the age of 88. Husain was a gentle person and dedicated learner. He was a leader at...

A Look Back at 2020

Elder Students Seek to Live Well at Home

In this article, English Learning Center co-director, Jenne Nelson, highlights an exciting new initiative to help us better serve elder students at our school. Elder literacy classes officially launched in late November! ~ Education for Lifelong Learners In late...

Eligah Was His Name

In this article, our Housing Director, Krista Gibson, reflects on the recent loss of Eligah, one of our Permanent Supportive Housing residents, and the larger systems that contributed to an early death for him and so many others. ~ The Value of a Life In late October,...

9 Things ELC Staff Have Learned During COVID-19

It's old news by now that COVID-19 has thrown most of our worlds upside down, as we scramble to meet needs during a global pandemic and create a new sense of normalcy. In the midst of what can feel like chaos, however, there's also an opportunity to learn. And...

Halima Takes Learning Online

Halima started as a student at the ELC in February 2020, taking English, math, and citizenship classes. Since then, she’s advanced an entire English level. We asked her how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her life and learning. Here’s what she had to say: How has...