Celebrating 20 Years

Welcoming the Stranger is 20 years old! On February 1, 1999, our founder, Sturgis Poorman, began an ESL class to support immigrants in Lower Bucks County. He felt a calling to help welcome the stranger in a new land. The one class quickly grew into several classes that encompassed ESL (English as a Second Language), Computer Skills, and Citizenship Preparation. 

What began as a program of academic classes quickly developed into much more than that: they became a global community of people who supported and learned from one another. Sturgis passed away this past fall, but his words live on. In 2009, he wrote, “Classes have become places where helpers and students help each other and learn from each other but also where friendships develop. Not just native born Americans helping immigrants but immigrants helping each other, too. We are all givers and all receivers.” 

Today, twenty years later, over 4,000 different people from 104 different countries have been served by Welcoming the Stranger.  Fifteen to twenty classes are offered each term, in about ten different neighborhoods throughout Bucks, Montgomery, and Hunterdon Counties. People have learned the skills they need to survive in a new land, to become self sufficient, and to become productive members of their communities. Beyond teaching academic and survival English skills, Welcoming the Stranger has created a family that lives up to it’s namesake, the Biblical passage Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Our student Elda from Albania says, “I like to come at ESL class, because is a positive environment, with good people, wealthy with human dignity, who help others with kindness and generosity. The other reason is that it helps practice English.”

Immigrants often tell us that they feel stunted and frustrated when they first come to the country; after all, they are competent, intelligent people who just do not know the language or culture yet. Learn about the journey of one of our students, Patricia, who began with Welcoming the Stranger as a student, helped us a volunteer, and is now our part time Administrative Assistant, fielding phone calls and emails from dozens of students each week and helping us to build capacity as our student enrollment continues to dramatically increase. 

Morrisville Conversation Class

Charlie Moody is a student in the WTS Computer Class taught by Jean Campallone.

Spotlight on our Program Coordinator, Lynn Paff-Connor

By Sage Burdge

As part of Welcoming the Stranger’s 20th anniversary, we are celebrating our staff members and volunteers that have made our work possible over the years.  Long-standing staff member and volunteer, Lynn Paff-Connor, has been bringing her earnestness and receptive approach to WTS since 2013.  After working with ESL speakers in her training and development positions, Lynn found she really enjoyed this work and wished to connect with even more ESL learners.  When she discovered WTS online, they welcomed her with open arms and she began her position as a volunteer teacher.  Lynn was immediately hooked on the work Welcoming the Stranger was doing with immigrant and refugee communities in Bucks county.  Her enthusiasm quickly secured her a place on the WTS staff team as program coordinator.  Her love for her students has only grown as she reflects on her work over the years.     

Lynn’s ESL classes have never been a one-way street. She marvels at all the things she’s learned from her students over the years, “I should be paying these people for what they teach me.”  One of her favorite parts of her job is experiencing the different customs and cultures that her students bring into the classroom.  She also feels a sense of pride for her students as they overcome cultural barriers and make personal connections with their classmates.  Their support of one another through difficult times or instances of discrimination creates a sense of camaraderie that is so crucial within this community.

The profound impact becoming a volunteer with WTS has left on Lynn’s life makes her encourage others to take up a similar role. While Lynn found her place in the classroom, volunteer roles aren’t just limited to ESL teaching. “Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes for Welcoming the Stranger,” one only needs the desire to support our work and mission.  The same could be said for immigrants and refugees in the US.  It’s extremely important to Lynn that people unfamiliar with these communities recognize the diversity within them and the unique barriers they face establishing lives in a new country.  The determination they exhibit in furthering their education with Welcoming the Stranger leaves her hopeful for a more accepting and diverse place for future generations.  “People feel comfortable with what we have in common, but we learn from diversity.”

Spotlight on WTS Board Secretary, Ginny Lavanish

By Oscar Mailman

As we celebrate the 20 year anniversary of Welcoming the Stranger, it is the perfect time to learn more about one of the organization’s driving forces. Ginny Lavanish has been an integral part of Welcoming the Stranger as a Board Secretary since 1998. Since her affiliation with the organization, she has done much to propel it further to reach new heights. She worked closely with Sturgis Poorman himself, the founder of WTS, a man with a vision for immigrants to learn English, computer skills, and about citizenship. Ginny has been an enthusiastic supporter of Mr. Poorman’s goals since the establishment of Welcoming the Stranger, and remains one today. Today we look at what makes her such an important part of the WTS team, her favorite part of working towards the mission, and how she believes the community can help WTS achieve their goals.  

Ginny was kind enough to respond to some questions about her experience working at WTS:

How did you originally get involved with Welcoming the Stranger?

I got involved with WTS in 1998 when Sturgis Poorman proposed the idea of a ministry to the many immigrants in Bucks County.  He had the idea that they needed computer skills, ESL and eventually citizenship training to better assimilate into their communities. He approached Lower Bucks Center for Church and Community – the only ecumenical organization in the Philadelphia are – in search of a sponsor.  LBCCC, founded in 1988 by Rev. Al Krass and his wife, Susan, planned many programs each year to bring clergy and lay people together. i.e. choir concerts, symposiums on current issues like the death penalty, racism, and a tools for ministry program to welcome new pastors to the area.  I was involved since 1989 and was many times president, and secretary of the organization over the years.

Sturgis and Rev. Al were friends, and each espoused the idea for the ministry.  It was presented to the board of LBCCC in 1998 and we all agreed it was a mission we wanted to support.

A large question was money.  LBCCC’s budget was small, about $4000, all that was needed for our programs.  WTS would require more funds. So we set out to spread the word making speeches at civic groups, churches and publicizing the beginning of the classes in 1999.  For many years our financial situation was precarious, and Sturgis waited for his salary a few times until funds came in. We had help from a professional fund raiser to broaden our contacts and pursue grants.  In 2009 WTS broke away from LBCCC and became its own entity with its own 501 C3 status. I chose to join with WTS and have been its secretary ever since.

What are your responsibilities as a Board Secretary?

My responsibilities as board secretary besides recording the minutes of the meetings have been to help with fund raising and support the program.  I have also been involved in interviewing applicants for our few paid positions. 

How has the organization changed since you became a part of it?

The organization has mainly changed since its beginning because of its growth – both in numbers of students and volunteers.  The mission, however, has not changed. Our director, Meg Eubank, has expanded its scope, brought in new and creative ideas, made communication much more efficient, and learned how to successfully pursue grants.  In the beginning, we were very anxious in the lean years.

I, personally, think the country’s current immigration crisis has brought more publicity to our organization, as well.

We have also discovered that each class of immigrants becomes its own small United Nations andthey function as their own little community of caring people – definitely a positive extra.

What was your background experience going into WTS?

My background before going into WTS was my involvement in LBCCC, my Christian faith and my experience as a high school English teacher.

What is your favorite thing about working at WTS?

Hearing the heartwarming stories from the students about the friendships they’ve made, the obstacles they’ve conquered and their gratitude to WTS.

What is your best memory of working for WTS?

I have many, but the best thing I can think of is Meg Eubank and her creative passion for the organization.

Any success stories that stand out to you?

None particularly -  Perhaps successful International Dinners, the campaign for funds when webroke out on our own, and, of course, the recent award we won, and its wonderful publicity.

What do you think Sturgis Poorman’s intention was in creating WTS and has that dream been accomplished?

To help the many thousands of immigrants in Bucks county assimilate into their communities.

What are some specific ways the community can help WTS in achieving their mission?

Regular donations and volunteering would help.  Publicity in the media to promote the organization.   

 SOUTHAMPTON CITIZENSHIP CLASS

In the past year the Southampton Citizenship class has welcomed students from seven different countries: Ukraine, Russia, China, Korea, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Georgia.  We are very proud of the six members of our group who have passed the citizenship test and are now ready to vote in the next election! From left to right: Tatanya, Tamara, Vasyl, Ella & Nataliya  (Yulia is not pictured here.)

Welcoming the Stranger is honored to be a winner of the national Renewal Awards from Allstate and The Atlantic!

Lambertville English Class

English language instruction at our Lambertville class varies from session to session, depending on the number of students in attendance and their English language competencies, as well as the number of assistant teachers on site. At times, the entire group of students will spend all or part of a two hour session working on the same activity. The aim of these large-group activities is to challenge the students who have less English experience, reinforce the skills of those students with greater English fluency and increase the vocabulary of .everyone involved. At other times, the class will be divided into two or three distinct groups,working on materials geared to their distinct English language abilities.

The photos show a class comprised of two student groups. One group was working on a unit from Foundations, a program for beginning literacy and low-beginning English language learners. The lesson stressed names, addresses, numbers and the names of family members. In addition to requiring written responses, the lesson provided multiple opportunities for the students to practice certain patterned conversations.

The second group of students was playing a "board" game that reinforced vocabulary and concepts, taught in earlier lessons, related tp quanitifiers and partitives. As is always the case when they are offered an opportunity to participate in what can be connstrued as a "competitive" actvity, the students alternated between serious consideration of the subject matter and delighted silliness.

Spotlight on a Student

By Yuliya Liberman

Many new immigrants seek to learn and master the language spoken in their new country. They wish to familiarize themselves with the culture and customs of their neighbors and new friends. Simple errands such as trips to the grocery store or going out to dinner become so much more complicated and stress-inducing. Nevertheless, many overcome these obstacles and learn to read, write, and understand the new language. 

Yet, oftentimes, even after years of practice, speaking freely remains a challenge. A language barrier can still be present in conversation and prevent immigrants from feeling fully welcome. 

This was the reason that Masha first came to a conversation class three years ago held by Welcoming the Stranger. Masha moved to the US from Central Russia in search of a better life and new opportunities, 11 years ago. She had studied English in school and attended various classes in the first few years after moving. 

However, though she has had significant experience and many years of practice, Masha felt she lacked the confidence to communicate with complete freedom. Certain questions occasionally caught her off guard and many phrases and sentences required extra concentration. Masha wanted to learn to speak freely. 

The first class that Masha attended at Welcoming the Stranger was led by Sturgis. She was immediately struck by the family atmosphere and love present in the room. She says all of the people seemed to care and look out for one another. 

Though Sturgis has sadly passed away in the past year and a half, his students remember him as loving and wise. He knew how to ask questions that interested his students and inspired conversation among them. 

Sturgis was the reason that Masha came back for a second class, but the other involved teachers and the people she has met so far are the reason she continues attending today. Masha says that the teachers always prepare interesting activities that are both challenging and enjoyable for the students. 

The attendees practice conversing and speaking with the others in the room. The teachers aim to build their communication and language skills so that in the end, they would be confident in real-life conversations. 

Besides practicing the language, the attendees are able to meet other immigrants who are in a similar position and situation as them. The people present are usually a very diverse group, with people from all over the world who have experiences unique to that country. The conversation class offered by Welcoming the Stranger allows those who attend to also learn about different cultures and countries as well as the traditions and customs in America. 

However, Masha’s greatest motivation is the way the class makes her feel. She admits she is always in a better mood after the class, than she was before, which keeps her coming back week after week.