Where are you from?
I’m a little bit from all over. My family is from Dominican Republic. I was born in New York City, and I have lived for over 10+ years in both New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin, Texas. All of these places have had an impact on who I am, and I see myself as being from these places.
How long have you been in Austin?
I have lived in Austin since 2006. I went to both high school and college here.
What do you do at iACT?
I have two roles at iACT. I am an ELI Language Instructor for the Refugee Program for Literacy and Beginner Level English Learners. I am also a Health and Wellness Program Specialist and Instructor for our Refugee Program.
As an ELI instructor, I teach English to our clients for all skillsets (reading, writing, listening, speaking, functional English, survival English, etc). For some of our clients, I am their first English Teacher and/or this is their first time learning English, which can be intimidating. I always try to provide a safe space for our clients to learn, grow, and build friendships and community. Every day, there is always laughter in my classes and our clients are able to get a break from their worries while learning or improving an important skill. One of my classes is 4 days a week, while the other is twice a week. This is frequency really allows me to get to know our clients and help them in real time.
As a Health and Wellness Program Specialist and Instructor, I assist with coordinating monthly Wellness Gatherings, registering clients, outreach, and leading a weekly class on Health and Wellness. We cover an array of topics related to mental health, spiritual health, financial health, physical health, emotional health, etc. Just like in my English classes, this a time and place for our clients to learn, gain a new skill, and receive support from me, the teacher, and from each other. It is when I am in class that I feel the impact we have on our clients and I am proud of what we do.
What’s the most challenging thing about the work you do at iACT?
Just like with any connection, I wish I can help everyone. There are days I can see our clients hurting or struggling due to things here or back home. I try to help within my capacity and bring some joy back into their day. However, I know there are some things that are beyond my control or ability. From a classroom standpoint, it can be difficult to get them to engage or be motivated, and you can’t help but wish them peace and hope it gets better for them. Every day, you don’t know who is dealing with something personal or heavy, and you have to be mindful of that in the classroom, while providing them with the skills they need to be successful. It is definitely a balancing act, but the rewards outweigh the challenges.
What’s the most rewarding thing about the work you do at iACT?
The most rewarding thing for me is knowing that I am helping our clients and making a difference for them. I have seen clients find work, make friendships, feel more confident about living in this country, and more thanks to the services we offer. I have also had clients personally thank me and tell me what my classes mean to them. To know I have and continue to make a positive impact for them brings me so much joy and pride. Our clients’ stories and successes will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Why would you encourage others to support the work of iACT?
We are all human beings, and we have far more in common than we do differences. During my time at iACT, I have seen time and time again people from all walks of life come together and support one another. No matter the barriers or differences, we unite to learn and grow together. By supporting iACT, anyone is able to help and make a difference for the refugee community in a multitude of ways. Whether it is through donating time, money, or resources or spreading the word. When you support iACT, you are able to grow yourself, learn and meet people from all over the world, and truly realize, feel, and understand what is to be human.