If you walk into our Atlantic Avenue Center at 11 a.m., you might see a woman preparing 20 cups of coffee for her classmates with a smile on her face. At noon, after class, she will be putting the chairs back in place without being asked, teasing her ESOL tutor Paul as she works. That warmth, that generosity, that determination—that is Amparo.
Nineteen years ago, she arrived in the United States with a toddler in her arms. She left behind her home in the Dominican Republic with the hope of building a safer and more stable life for her son. She faced the cold, the unfamiliar sights of a new city and the heavy silence that comes from not yet speaking English. “It was hard without English,” she said. “No break, no conversation, no way to find in community.”
Amparo worked in home healthcare for years, pushing through long days and aching feet to keep food on the table. When health issues forced her to stop working, she feared everything she had built might unravel. But Amparo walked through our doors and found more than English classes. She found a community that understood what it means to start over in a new country. “The conversations and practice helped me,” she said positively. “Everything I have learned here has helped me in life.”
With the help of our community, she joined a classroom filled with neighbors from around the world. Germany, Sudan, Bangladesh and many more. And with that help, teachers like Paul and Nidal, are able to guide her with patience and compassion and step in with practical support when she needs it most. “They helped me with clothes for work, with food, with gift cards for my son. So much help,” she said. “I did not expect it.”
Today, Amparo is still learning and still growing. She gives back in meaningful ways, greeting classmates, helping new students settle in and finding joy in the simple act of being here. “It helps me relax,” she said. “People help, I help. I do not care about color or country or immigration status. We are all here trying to live.”