2024 Annual Report | Washington English Center

2024

Annual Report

OUR STORY.

Something special is happening at Washington English Center (WEC). Whether you’ve been a member of our community from Day One, or whether looking at this report is your Day One, we hope you’ll read on to learn more about how WEC welcomes immigrants and refugees as they learn to read, write, listen to, and speak English with greater fluency and confidence.

Since 1993, WEC has supported newcomers in achieving their language acquisition goals and finding success in the workplace. This fiscal year—from July 1st, 2023, through June 30th, 2024—WEC taught 1,879 unique individuals from 107 countries. Instruction took place mornings and evenings, online and in-person. While the vast majority of learning occurred in Washington, DC, we proudly supported online students from 34 other states and 52 countries.

WEC’s 2024 Annual Report demonstrates the work we do and why we do it. Read on to see firsthand the difference your support makes in the lives of immigrants learning English.

Our Students.

Emmanuel Maneng.Originally from Cameroon. Intermediate-Level.

For Emmanuel—an asylee who immigrated to the U.S. in 2022 and started classes at WEC as a beginning-level student—the name of the game is “progress.” He’s one of 1,879 newcomers who studied English at WEC this year, but he stands out among his peers. Since beginning, Emmanuel has completed (or skipped!) 11 class sections of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) instruction. He’s reached where he is because, in his words, “I know that I’m good in my class.” This is followed by a deep, resonant laugh.

In Cameroon, Emmanuel trained HVAC technicians at a university, and you can tell he was a skilled instructor by just how engaging he is in conversation. However, in the U.S., it took him until this May to receive work authorization. Now, he’s actively looking for work. "I don't have anything," he says, adding, "I cannot pay for school." Thankfully, he shares, WEC’s scholarship program offered him a “solution.” This year, WEC awarded $162,808 in scholarships to those in need of support—just like Emmanuel—blowing past its previous record by 3.5 times. He’s one of 801 unique individuals to receive financial aid this year.

Although Emmanuel has made tremendous strides in his English proficiency, there’s still work to be done: “I have difficulties to speak,” he admits, “But when we are going to write, I write really well. It’s all grammar.” He grins. A week after sharing his story, he returns to WEC’s offices and says that he wants to further immerse himself in English. When he thinks about how far he’s come, and how far he hopes to go, he simply says that he’s “inspired” to keep learning.

Our Volunteers.

Hina Gir and Michael Tietjen.Co-Teachers.

When it comes to volunteering at WEC, Michael says, “It fills my cup in a way my day job can’t. I can be tired and stressed, scatterbrained, and it all melts away.” For two years, he and Hina have co-taught various beginning-level group classes. Hina sees bright futures ahead for their students: “They’re all getting the chance to live a better life, because they can communicate with one another.” She adds, “I think that that is a beautiful way to make a positive impact in the world.”

Club leaders, tutors, substitutes, and group class teachers are all a part of the 908 individuals who made up WEC’s all-volunteer ranks this year. Hina and Michael embody the camaraderie frequently found among co-teachers and represent a rising generation of early-career adults looking to give back. They describe their experience volunteering with words like “uplifting,” “fun,” “amazing,” and “wonderful.”

Across the board, WEC’s students agree: 99.6% say their teachers make them feel welcome, and after only a few weeks of instruction, 97.9% say they would recommend WEC’s classes to other immigrants For some individuals, the decision to volunteer is deeply personal. Hina shares, “My dad passed away and was an immigrant to the United States, and when he arrived he had taken similar courses at a local high school... So, I started volunteering in his memory.” For Michael, it comes back to WEC’s students: “Our students build their English skills, and they take it to work,” he says. “They learn how to navigate the world, and they become part of our broader community.” For both, seeing the change in their students’ lives, year after year, is reason enough to keep coming back.

Our Year in Review.

Our Community Partners.

Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.Naznin Saifi (third from right) and APALRC staff.

This year, WEC grew and strengthened partnerships with over a dozen DC government agencies and nonprofits in the region. One such partner, the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center (APALRC) demonstrates the importance of collaborative relationships. “The APALRC offers various legal services to the immigrant community residing in metropolitan DC,” shares its Executive Director, Naznin. These services support newcomers to the region, no matter their background or countries of origin.

The APALRC’s programming takes the form of immigration legal assistance, support for low-income tenants, resources to aid victims of crime, and a dedicated Stop Anti-Asian Hate Campaign that’s developed in response to a rise in xenophobic hate in recent years. Through its partnership with WEC, the APALRC offers monthly in-person services for “individuals seeking advice, counsel, and other legal assistance” in WEC’s offices and for its student body, Naznin shares. The need for this sort of programming is significant: Among students, requests for legal- and housing-related services rank only below WEC’s existing workforce development programming and, of course, English classes.

Across this year, WEC has widened its circle within the larger immigrant services community—addressing students’ diverse needs and advancing WEC’s vision that all immigrants have access to the education and support they need to achieve their goals. In the end, no matter the partner organization or the services offered, Naznin puts it best: “The ESOL classes that WEC provides are vital for the immigrant community.”

Our Board.

Mary Douglas.Member of the Board of Directors.

“I started doing jumping jacks,” Mary says, sharing a story on the necessity of going above and beyond in support of WEC’s work—in this case, demonstrating for beginning-level students the meaning of the word “exercise.” For WEC’s leadership (members of the Board of Directors, Associate Board, and others), volunteering takes many forms. They all involve supporting our students. During her demonstration, Mary recalls her co-teacher, Nina, doing push-ups right alongside her. She laughs and says, “That’s one of my favorite memories.”

Earlier this year, Mary and her friend Joan (an emeritus member of the Board) hosted a joint friendraiser in Joan’s home. “I feel strongly that the Board should be putting energy into helping to develop relationships,” Mary says, noting the importance of partners “that believe in WEC and will regularly sustain our organization.” The event brought together neighbors, friends, and family to learn more about WEC and get involved—by making a donation, signing up to volunteer, or both. It was a great success.

Across nearly a decade of involvement with WEC, Mary has seen it all—a shift to online instruction because of COVID-19, a move to a new location in Penn Quarter, and WEC’s 30th anniversary. But, for Mary, her best memories center on students receiving promotions, becoming more involved in their kids’ and grandkids’ lives, and growing increasingly confident with using English. In these instances as others, Mary says she can’t help but think of her individual students: “What a wonderful reward we both had—learning from each other.”

Our Financials.

Our Leadership.

Included below are WEC’s leaders as of the end of this fiscal year.

Our Spring Event.

Celebrating Our Community.Tuesday, May 7th.

WEC held our annual Spring Event at Friends Meeting of Washington. Nearly 200 students, volunteers, and members of WEC’s community came together for food, drinks, a string trio, and terrific conversation about all that we have to celebrate—taking advantage of a spacious outdoor garden and perfect weather in the process.

The Pilar Laugel Award for Exemplary Service was presented to two volunteers who have gone above and beyond in their service to WEC and their affection for its community—Liz Lourie and Joan Kerrigan. While there was much to celebrate, WEC also announced the creation of a scholarship fund named in honor of long-time volunteer and former Board Chair, Stephanie Lawson, who passed away suddenly earlier in the year.

During the program, guests heard from two student speakers: Carlos Ibarra (one of 27 students-turned-volunteers) and Elham Sirat (who recently immigrated to DC from Afghanistan). While there were many differences in the journeys of these two speakers, their stories were connected by their joint desire to be part of a community in the United States.

Our Students (again!).

Paola Mosquera.ORIGINALLY FROM Venezuela. Beginning-Level.

WEC’s student population is increasingly diverse—in terms of demographics and the goals that motivate them. An astonishing 60% of our students report that they are pursuing further educational opportunities as a result of our English classes. Paola is one such student: “I study psychology in the first year,” she says. “I want to specialize in cognitive behavioral therapy here in the United States. [But], psychology is difficult.”

Nearly half of the students seeking advanced degrees are doing so alongside their classes at WEC or by using their increased fluency as a springboard. Paola shares, “Being able to help people with their mental health is my passion.” That's why, once she’s received her bachelor’s degree, she plans to pursue a master’s: “You have to read a lot, and dedicate yourself, [and] really love it.”

Although she's rapidly increasing her fluency, Paola still has moments of hesitation with English. That’s why, for many students, continuing education is essential. In the end, the varied reasons for coming to learn are a part of what makes WEC special: “It’s more than just a place to learn English,” she says. “It’s a community where you make friends from other cultures. You learn from them. I love it.” That's why, no matter the challenges to come, Paola's ready for what's next.

Our Supporters.

Provided below are the foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individuals who have supported our work this last fiscal year at the $500 level or above. We are grateful for every gift we receive, no matter the amount. This list does not include anonymous donations.

Background photographs taken by volunteer teacher Linda Rubenstein.