ESOL Speaks Literary Magazine

Community? Impact!

Spring 2018
 ESOL Speaks
Spring 2018

Community? Impact!
Published by: Community Impact at Columbia University

Designed by: Caroline Yang

Edited by: Kent Katner

ESOL SPEAKS is the creative writing journal of the Jobs and Education
Empowerment Program (J.E.E.P.) at Community Impact of Columbia
University. Manuscripts are original and unpublished poetry, essays, short
stories, photography, and drawings from students enrolled in the Spring
2018 semester.

Views and opinions expressed in this journal belong to their respective

authors and are not intended to represent the views of Community Im-
pact. Inquiries about the journal, our organization, or our various pro-
grams may be directed to:

Jobs and Education Empowerment Program (J.E.E.P.)

Community Impact at Columbia University
105 Earl Hall MC 2010
New York, NY 10027
(212) 854-1492

Check out this issue on our website! jeepstudent.org

 ESOL Speaks Spring 2018:
Community? Impact!

Table of Contents

***
10am-12pm & 12-2pm (CLOTH) ……………….7

12-2pm (Manhattanville) ……………………………9

4-6pm …………………….………………………17
6-8pm …………….………………………………38

***
 A Dedication

from Community Impact

***
Dear ESOL Students,

Thanks for all your hard work this semester! We are so

proud of your dedication to learning and are glad to have
been a part of your journey. In this semester’s issue of
ESOL Speaks, we asked you to reflect on the ideas of
“community” and “impact.” You all bring diverse exam-
ples of community as well as strong ideas about what it
means to make an impact! We really enjoyed reading
your submissions and are grateful for your perspectives.
We wish you the best in all your endeavors! Have a great
summer.

Warmly,
Community Impact
ESOL Program Staff
April 2018

***
 Level 1 10am-12pm
Fernando Gonzalez
Hello, I am very happy to be able to speak with you... I would
say that community impact helped me a lot to grow up speaking
English
Level 2 12-2pm
Denisia Lima Days
My community is of cultural resistance, of black and reli-
gious resistance. I am interested in defending feminism against
racism and prejudice.
I believe that change is coming. To have a vision beyond
what we think we are. To resist is to create and transform.
** If we are all together, we are strong. **

Julian Camilo Pena Delgado

When I came to this country, I was very happy to have come
to a famous place called the capital of the world, where lot of mov-
ies were filmed. I tried to visit famous landmarks that I watched on
television. I was surprised when I understood that I already started
to belong to a community that wakes up earlier and goes to sleep
later, a community that walks faster and where the days seem to
have more hours and the hours more minutes. It had a big impact
on me, to understand what was happening around myself specifi-
cally about communication; there was a lot of written information
about streets’ names, subway stations, etc. but everything was
written in a different language than Spanish. I realized, I was trying
to belong to a different community that transforms daily. Due to
that, I made the decision to start learning English. With my wife
and brother’s help I found the wonderful opportunity to apply for
free classes in Community Impact, and as the name itself describes,
those classes have had a strong impact on me, as a person, as a
member of a community and as an immigrant. Community Impact
might look like a school, but I feel I should call it a family. Because
they are a wonderful group of selfless people, always open to share
knowledge to people that we are looking for communicating, learn-
ing and sometimes advice for facing big challenges like learning a
new language. Really I feel much gratitude to Community Impact,
because I think that their supervisors took the time enough to eval-

7
uate each curriculum, and they put to our service the best teachers,
not only to teach me the topics planned or proposed in a book, but
also for guiding me and making me available to put my grain of
sand in this new community. It's unbelievable how they give me
tools daily about how I can belong to my community with advice
like how I can recycle, how I can send a letter or postal, what are
the rules of behavior in the community, and how they understand
each student. I'm very happy to be a student of Community Impact
and I take advantage to say thanks very much for your patience
with me and also congratulate you for your effort and dedication.

Rosa Marlene Peña

When we talk about community, we don't talk about a sim-
ple crowd or multitude of people living in the same neighborhood.
We talk about men and women, younger or older, who interconnect
each other with a main purpose of support, service, growing and
expansion. Giving 100% of what we are, meaning this our talents,
skills, knowledge and heart to those whose live around us or in
every place we coexist, it is the real Impact that can produce, real
transformation in the life and ways of thinking of others. We live in
New York, a global place where cultures of all around the world
meet. The response and daily difference we make, will go beyond
simple changes around, it will become a truly multicultural com-
munity impact that will extend frontiers.

Nathaly Esmeralda Tejada Acevedo

My family is my favorite community.
My community is very big.
My community is united at all times.
I like each moment in my family where smiles are shared
and family problems are discussed but many jokes are regular.
I don’t like when someone talks badly with another.
It makes a difference because we always defend ourselves
from others even though we are not good with each other some-
times.
The communication, harmony and unity are important for
me.

8
 Level 4 12-2pm
Brahima Ouattara
My name is Brahima Ouattara. I’m currently in New York.
My childhood there were two parts of it, the part where I
was a child and the one when I started working. It started when I
was born and raised in my mom’s hometown in the Ivory Coast.
The town she was from was called Dabakala, but she grew up by
the village Siele Sabolo. Eventually, by the time I was around 8 or 9,
I came to the city many people know as Abidjan.
I continued my education and ended up living with my older
brother. Around this time there was a civil war going on in my
country. It was when I started working. I was very young.

Level 5 12-2pm
Antoinette Trazo Camara
Usually humans need to live in community and in America
we have different communities, such as Community Impact, the
American Community, the French Community and the African com-
munity. These groups organize themselves to give better lives to
people living within them.
The ESOL program at Community Impact is one of the com-
munities at Columbia University in New York. Here the director
and some volunteer students at Columbia University work together
to find the best way to help communities living in New York with
their different programs for youth, adult education and other op-
portunities for students.
The Impact of this Community is to offer free English clas-
ses, free computer classes, free G.E.D classes, and other programs
for adult immigrants who want to learn to communicate in English,
go to college, or find a job.
It is very important to find and live in a community. Commu-
nity Impact is a great example, all the staff organize themselves to
help students improve their English and achieve their goals.

9
Socorro Jimenez
When love says goodbye

Yes, you are there

I almost do not feel you
But I know you’re there
I do not feel the wind, not the
breeze
And I still remember the tone of
your laughter
I do not see anymore, I do not cry
And I miss your silhouette in the
day, at night
Your shadow interrupts my dreams,
My taciturn senses
My heartbeat almost sweet, almost warm

The heart no longer beats, it does not beat,

It does not sing, it does not whistle
It already lacks understanding, does not love, does not hurt,
It does not moan, it does not wait,
It does not feel anymore, he does not walk.
It does not turn on or off.
Neither desire nor love

Discard the look, loss,

It does not burn, it does not shine
It does not fly, it does not rise
Neither travel nor tremble
It does not scare anymore, it does not frighten
It does not trespass, it does not climb anymore, nor does it trans-
cend.
The soul no longer understands,
It does not fall and does not spin or knit
Just cry,
Just scream,
Single spider
At the time of dawn, it does not appear, it does not come out, it
does not come

10
Hamid Farraj
A Bit of Fraternity
Coming from France, I am a New Yorker since one year and
half! Like everyone, I have been impressed by this amazing town
that I consider as the precursor city in the world about urbaniza-
tion, a city where you can see office buildings amid habitation
buildings, especially in Manhattan. As the French philosopher Des-
cartes observed, “it is good to know something of the mores of vari-
ous peoples, so that we may judge our own people more healthily.”
Since I am here, I observed how American people live, their habits
and customs, their social system and their judicial system. I wanted
to forget stereotypes I had learnt when I was a student in France
and also provided American culture (music, movie, sport etc). I ob-
served that occidental democracies could be very different on ei-
ther side of the Atlantic Ocean. During my years at law school, it
was emphasized that the two reference countries of Human Rights
were France and the United States of America. However I felt the
same disappointment regarding the great social disparities in the
US, as I did in France, I want to retain two or three that have affect-
ed me, as schooling, health and solidarity. But I don't want to dwell
on this subject because I want to show the optimism I felt when I
discover Columbia University's Community Center.
Looking for courses on ESL, I mean that quite easily I was
able to find on the internet the site concerning the community cen-
ter. I find particularly moving and humane what this center offers
for immigrants whose dream is simply to be able to communicate
in the language of the host country and therefore to find a job that
allows them to live the American dream. I was very well welcomed
during my English test. I found the team very human, full of empa-
thy for people sometimes a lost in the buzzing city that never
sleeps. I'm not hiding from you that this contrasts with the tuition
fees required to take a bachelor's or master's degree at Columbia
University and I know something about it to be a doctoral student
myself. We had an information meeting at this prestigious universi-
ty. We were then able to discover that the community center not
only offered English language courses for foreigners, but also had
an a la carte service to help everyone from A to Z in the integration
process. In addition to languages, the center offers you the possibil-
ity of continuing your studies in a college, offers you training cours-

11
es, a skills assessment with a professional, and even offers you
work at the university to enable you to acquire the pedagogical
tools you need to succeed. It is really wonderful that such an estab-
lishment, with the help of the State of New York and the federal au-
thorities, should contribute to the social and professional integra-
tion of recent immigrants. This is in the spirit of Ellis Island at the
end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century.
Not being able to say any more about the other programs
that the community center offers, I can on the other hand dwell on
the teaching provided in ESL level 5. We have great teachers. They
are in our image, either as immigrant students themselves or of im-
migrant origin. Therefore, I think they have a better understanding
of our situation. So first of all, I would like to thank them for their
dedication to teaching us the basics of the English language or im-
proving it. The pedagogy is based on individual and group work,
phases of work on speaking, writing and grammar also. Each week
we deal with a theme, such as how to look for a job or how to pro-
tect yourself from natural disasters. In this way, we enrich our vo-
cabulary and reinforce our skills. Every day, we have one or two
different teachers, which allow us to have a distinct approach in
listening because none of them speak at the same speed and in the
same way. This is also the case on a daily basis, in the street and in
our meetings. So thank you on behalf of my entire class to Tommy,
Janice, Diana, Andrew, Jeff, Julia and Melania, our teachers, your
involvement and pleasure in sharing and passing on your
knowledge greatly facilitates our desire to progress and are highly
appreciated. I cannot forget the other people we also meet in Man-
hattanville Center who are managing the administrative side of
things. Finally, the two people who manage all this: Caroline and
Kent.
If my introduction was rather pessimistic about the true im-
age I have of solidarity and brotherhood in the United States, I can
conclude that the Columbia University Community Center is help-
ing to facilitate the chances of success for those who have left a sit-
uation that is sometimes much better than the one they have been
living since their arrival in the United States. I have observed that
many universities are doing the same, and it is true that this valua-
ble help should be generalized and perhaps even lead to the federal
level.

12
for work reasons, but I knew I had to continue taking the classes, so
I went back. But again I would have to leave them, this time to take
care of some expenses, and because I had the chance to have two
jobs.
After some time, a friend of mine who I usually play soccer
with, told me about a free ESOL program with a limited quota. I
was so happy to hear about it and hurried to sign up because I was
tired of private schools and ineffective language apps I had down-
loaded on my phone. ESOL is certainly a great help to many of us
who need to learn English to get a better job, to communicate with
people who do not speak our native language, and therefore help
us make new friends. I think there should be more programs like
this because it has had a positive impact on me. I would now be in-
terested in taking a computing class.
I have learned that learning a new language is not easy; it
requires constant effort and encouragement and what better way
to keep me motivated than to meet someone who believes in me
and who pushes me to master the English language.
Today, my father no longer lives with me, he has returned to
Ecuador to be with my mother. But he has left happily knowing I
have chosen to continue learning English. With my parents’ sup-
port, they are my motor and inspiration to complete the program.
Now I have become accustomed to my new life here in New York.
Although I still do not speak fluently or understand English perfect-
ly, I am already able to defend myself and understand what I did
not before. Perhaps all of us who are in this program are going
through the same thing.
I am grateful for opportunities like this one, I think we owe
it to ESOL programs for improving our chances of a better life. As
long as I am here in this country I will commit to continue learning
English so that when I return to my country I can be the boring
English teacher I once hated and who I did not know to appreciate.
Maybe my first student will be my little brother back home.
I hope that all of us in this program continue benefiting from
it and that we end up mastering the English language. Many thanks
to our teachers, to you fellow classmates and thanks again ESOL.
☺

13
Edwin Jimenez

I’ve been living in this city for almost 8 years now. I arrived
like most immigrants I imagine, in search of a dream of a better life.
In the beginning, it was difficult for me to adjust to my new life in a
big city since I was coming from a “parroquia,“ what is known here
as a town. Everything was very different from what I knew, but I
was lucky enough to have my dad’s support when I arrived-- hav-
ing someone I knew here in this big city was a relief.
I imagine that maybe most immigrants, like me, go through a simi-
lar cultural shock. We get here and start over, we hold on to the
memories of our family, our experiences with them and our
friends. I had no idea how different everything would be and I
found it very difficult to adapt to my new schedule, knowing that I
had to learn English, step by step improve my situation, find a bet-
ter job and thus create a better future for myself.
Ironically enough in Ecuador, my native country, I hated
English and the idea of having to learn it even though I saw no use
in learning a language I would not use to communicate in my coun-
try, which made it even more frustrating to have to learn it. It did-
n’t make it any better that the classes were boring and did not mo-
tivate me to keep learning. Of course it would be life’s way to teach
me how wrong I had been to not take advantage of learning English
in my country, although the English class was not the best because
they were very basic.
When I first arrived to New York, it was my dad who helped me
with what little he knew, and financed my English classes at a pri-
vate school. I had to leave that language school after a few months
14
 Level 6 12-2pm
Aisha Kuzhina
Feeling of the New
Moving is a serious step, especially to another country. It is
necessary to be prepared for such an important step, both morally
and physically. I was ready to move!
Long ago, I read about one traveler who wrote that all of a
person’s most important things can go in in two suitcases. Years
later I was convinced that it is so. When moving to the U.S., I had
two suitcases – one in each hand. One had been filled with clothes,
footwear, and medicines just in case; the second -- books, note-
books, loved pencils, what makes me myself. Surprisingly, only two
suitcases! I don't remember that ever I felt so free and easy.
Enthusiasm and delight have quickly passed in the new country
and I have appeared face to face with new reality: the unfamiliar
environment, new people speaking a foreign language, an unusual
rhythm of life and culture. Without a doubt, I had a cultural shock!
There was a wish to go back home. It was necessary to adapt my-
self for the new place as soon as possible. And I have found an in-
teresting way.
Since moving to the new country, I constantly compare eve-
rything-- prices, weather, people, values-- and I have found similar-
ities to my country. For example, when I close my eyes and draw a
smell of the Hudson River, it feels same as the smell of the Volga
River which flows in my hometown of Kazan, Russia. It gives me a
feeling of home. And in spite of the fact that people here are differ-
ent, they have the same problems and smiles on their faces as in my
country.
When you move, you will lose in general everything that you
had. Habitual routes for walks. Family gathering. Favorite shops
and products. And smells, colors, weather, and tastes. But in re-
placement, quickly enough, I have found new favorite places, prod-
ucts, friends, smells.
I think that in my life will be a lot of moving and each place
will leave the mark in my soul. We will always miss the last places. I
don't think it has to frighten and stop people before moving to find
a feeling of the new. It is fine that so many new places become fa-
miliar, that now, you love not only your native land but you learn to
love the whole world!

15
Biba Sofiani
Community means to me a group of people living in the
same place or having something in common. For example, in my CI
English class, we come from different countries in the world. Each
morning we sit almost two hours learning English and share our
opinions. Across our English class, we are a community.
In my GED class at Teachers College, there are so many peo-
ple, older people. I am the only youngest student. The first time I
see all these older people, I ask myself if I can study with these peo-
ple who could be the same age as my parents. Because of my Eng-
lish class, I start to appreciate them. I say to myself, maybe these
older people can help me to learn my second language and deepen
my life knowledge. I remember at the end of the first semester, I
went to a GED class party with my little sister. When I introduced
her to my classmates, she asked me how I can study with all these
older people who could be the same age as our parents. I answered
her, in this program, we are a community. We are all impacted to
get our GED. Now I like my GED class because I feel free to learn
and to talk with my classmates without fear.

Urania Rocha
This program has had a big impact on me because it has giv-
en me the opportunity to learn a lot about other cultures, because
my classmates are from many different countries. We are all here
with the same purpose, and I learn from them that no matter which
country you come from or the religion or political belief, all of us
are the same: human beings. I learned that people from other coun-
tries are kind, respectful and considerate with each other. They
have been helpful to me not only because of their particular pro-
nunciation, but their behavior.
Being part of this community has given me the opportunity
of losing the insecurity I had before about speaking English. Having
classmates from around the world allowed me to understand them
when they speak with their own accent, and I understand very well.
Since I started in this program, my life has changed a lot. I
feel confident. I know that I don’t speak perfect English, but I know
that I can have a good conversation with any English-speaking per-
son. Before, I felt insecure with my speaking and didn’t feel pre-
pared to be in front of a group of students teaching them in English.

16
I dream about having the opportunity to be a teacher in this coun-
try, because I have many years of experience as a teacher and
would like to share my experience and give something back to this
country. This program has made me feel confident, secure, capable
and ready to look for a job.

Alexandre Bekoa
I started taking the English class in the Community Impact
Program in 2016 at Level 3 and my first impression was the fact
that I met people from other countries around the world. There is
also a good environment and good atmosphere between the teach-
er and students, because teachers are taking their time to explain
the best way to speak and learn English.
I am a soccer player and since I have been living here, learn-
ing English at Community Impact has helped me so much to meet
people and talk with them as far as soccer is concerned. Today, I
feel so confident speaking English and I am not anxious even if I
speak with some mistakes. The most important thing is to speak
more and more until everything will be going well.
On the last day of the semester, students bring food to share
with their teacher before the graduation ceremony. I will miss this
program and my classmates because I think that the best way of
making friends is in school.

Level 2 4-6pm
Matías Mejia
Construction of Dreams
It is impressive and at the same time heartbreaking to arrive
as an immigrant to a country and realize that the linguistic difficul-
ty, far from being only a barrier, is the symbol of the closing of a
door full of possibilities for personal development.
But more flattering and satisfying is to realize that there are
people, institutions and communities that accompany you, moti-
vate you, encourage and encourage you to fight and not faint in the
conquest of your noblest ideals of personal development.
Today with so much joy in my mind, mouth and heart I say
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Community Impact, and
all the staff, for giving us the possibility to believe, trust and join us
in the process of struggle to overcome our difficulty and linguistic
17
barrier and give us the opportunity to get started in the process of
learning English as a second language.
There is no doubt that Community Impact at Columbia Uni-
versity is a true community that builds possible dreams, develops
talents and human capabilities and integrates men and women into
American society in an affirmative way.
On this occasion on behalf of myself and my classmates,
ESOL Spring 2018, Level Two, thanks to each one of you, for mak-
ing this unforgettable help possible in our lives, to all the teachers
who gave us their time, friendship, affection and knowledge, thank
you very much, God bless you abundantly.
Community Impact at Columbia University, is a community
that helps you grow in knowledge, acquire language skills and abili-
ties quickly but above all, a differentiated community, warm, frater-
nal, human, academic and university.
It is truly worthwhile to continue betting on spaces and
communities of the COMMUNITY IMPACT style, which undoubtedly
contributes to the development of the necessary human skills re-
quired by our 21st century society, with good men and women,
who contribute significantly to the country.
Thank you for accompanying us in making our dreams and
linguistic possibilities come true (Learning English and inserting
ourselves in North American society.
Atte.
Matías Mejía
Student, Community Impact at Columbia University
Garífuna Community, Afro-Indigenous of Honduras C.A.

Yanadel Pichardo
Hand Friend Albert
Hand Friend Albert is a group of adults and also young peo-
ple from a community in my country who work for the joy of sick
children who are always in the hospital and cannot enjoy many
things as normal children because of their illness. By that, Hand
Friend Albert arrives in the halls of public hospitals, with joy dis-
guised as any character with balloons and sweets for these children
without anything.
The impact of this organization is to see that only with the
love and charisma of these people can make these children have

18
the most beautiful joy in their faces no matter how strong the pain
for these children are.

Manuel Moriche
I think this community is very important for an immigrant,
it offers a lot of chances to adapt us to this country.
It’s more nice if there is any community to help us, because
there are some class to improve and to be better, to compete with
the rest of people to help us feel more comfortable. For example:
 Help us look for jobs
 To improve the language
 How we can access a resource
 We don’t feel alone in this adventure to live outside our coun-
tries
When I came to USA, it was good to contact with Community
Impact, because I knew people and I know their experiences. This
was more easy for me, because to know the different lifestyles, I
didn’t feel I was alone in this country, because I saw there were
people in my situation too.
Thanks to this community, I am in USA 6 months ago and I
have overcome all the bad from the beginning.

Level 3 4-6pm
Wei Zhang
Make Friends Through Dogwalking
I am a dogwalker in New York City. I walk dogs not for mon-
ey; only for loving dogs. The dog owners are pleased with me. We
are becoming friends. Sometimes I teach them how to cook Chinese
foods. They teach me English. I feel very happy in New York.

19
Priscila Tenesaca Castillo
Community and Impact

Community: a community where we all have access to de-

cent work without discrimination. We are all brothers, we must
support each other, and above all, take care of and protect our chil-
dren so that the massacres in this country will no longer continue.
Impact: when you carry out your activities for the common
good of the community, the impact is reflected in the great works,
the one who struggles and strives to reach the goal, will find its im-
pact of life change. Personally, my impact is that every day I learn
more and more the English language and that makes me stronger
and happier, our impact in the future as ESOL students will be to
learn to speak fluent English when we complete all six levels.

Alassane Zerbo
I have enrolled in ESL programme since January at Colum-
bia’s Community Impact. I have improved my skills in English, es-
pecially reading, speaking, writing and listening.To be honest, I
have learned how to set up my goal. Also, they really teach me how
to succeed in interviews.
I play with my classmates by asking some question or find-
ing some words. I have never been better like this.
Thanks you so much for your help.

Marina Butorina
Three acts of kindness
1. Once in the winter, a lot of snow fell and my husband and
I made a big snowman for a neighbor’s boy. The boy was very hap-
py!
20
 2. When we walked with a friend in the winter she lost her
gloves. I gave her my gloves, and no one froze.
3. When my niece gave birth to a son, she had to be alone for
a month, as her husband went to work for a month in another city. I
helped her all this time with her child. I bathed him, walked with
him, and cooked food for my niece. We had a great time. She was
very grateful for my help.

Level 4 4-6pm
Belgica Abreu
Natural Disaster: Personal Experience
A long time ago I lived in the Dominican Republic, the news
report said that Hurricane David was coming. My family was pre-
paring for the hurricane. First, we went to to the supermarket. We
bought canned, dried foods, fruits, tea, chocolate, and all important
food to use while the hurricane occurs. We also bought gas tanks,
batteries, tape, candles, and other necessary things to use in the
natural disaster. Next, we taped the glass windows and collected
water in the tub and in pots and pans. We made sure the radio had
enough batteries so we could hear the news. We made sure all the
doors and windows were closed. If you are outside, move carefully
and find a safe place inside if you are far from your house.
The hurricane lasted one week and caused a lot of damage
in the Dominican Republic. A lot of trees broke, houses fell, people
were hurt, drowned, or killed. People helped each other. They peo-
ple living near the rivers and the mountains needed a lot of help.
Finally, the community sent first aid, food, clothing, blankets, medi-
cines and other important things to use in this case. The communi-
ty was working together to help people in case they needed it.

Nelly Altamirano
The Most What I Love of My Neighborhood in Park Slope
What brought me to Park Slope?
No surprises here, but what makes me swoon for this city
are the same kind of small stuff, stuff that doesn’t mean anything
but, at the same time, means everything. Let me count the ways:
1). Those Deli Cats
Just Delis, they’re the kind of things that you don’t miss if
you moved to another city. The Deli where I can get my cheese-
21
bacon sandwich and coffee all for under $5 while also buying batter-
ies and body lotion, also the cats that live in that Deli feeds my love
for animals and helps to create the same loving-animals in my little
daughter.
2). My Community Surprise!
In a neighborhood rich with so many restaurants of differents
cultures you can keep a close eye on new openings, restaurants, and
events.
3). Walk and eat pizza
Sometimes, when I’m outside and I want eat different, there
is no pizza like just right downstairs of the building where I live. The
name is Artichoke Pizza is a very famous pizza place and by the way,
if you just wish for regular or healthier pizza when you basically set
up to create your own great pizza also you can have that option.
4). Community Spirit!
It’s a beautiful neighborhood, and there’s so many different
people. It’s really nice to see the same people over and over especial-
ly in a lot of events that happens on 5th avenue that all the people
are invited to participate in. It’s nice when the neighbors are gather-
ing and they tell you their stories: “Oh! We were here when you even
thought of arriving to this neighborhood and now everything looks
different, before it was a little rocky and dangerous but now every-
thing is great.”

22
 Level 5 4-6pm
Paulina Valencia
Daughter
I look at you and I do not see the passage of time.
I see my girl growing up playing dress up,
running through the yard,
playing dolls in her room.
I know that you are now grown,
and the decisions you make are your own, but you must
understand that to me,
you will always be my little girl.
It may be true that I can no longer carry you in my arms,
but I carry you in my heart
forever.

Iulia Cristina Stoian

Inspire A Child
Volunteering is a wonderful way to get plugged into your
church, feel like part of a Community, and serve the Romanian Or-
thodox Church at the same time.
There are 15 years since I got involved in Church activities,
educating children, at Sunday Church School in Romania.
Since March 2017, I started volunteering at The Saint John
of Wallachia, Romanian Church in Ridgewood NJ, that organizes
Sunday School classes, where students have an opportunity to en-
rich their vocabulary and knowledge of Romanian language. The
objects of study include: religion, Romanian language and litera-
ture, Romanian history and geography.

23
 From the Sunday School program are not missing the be-
loved Romanian stories and fairy tales that always capture the at-
tention of children. Icons and religious-themed paintings are also
an attraction for students.
My positive impact in the Church Community is my choice to
be a Role Model.
At certain events, students are getting involved in celebra-
tions and artistic performances. The most expected event is the An-
nual Christmas Show, when all the children are waiting eagerly to
meet Santa Claus who brings them sweets and gifts.
All these activities are organized by a group of enthusiastic
teachers, coordinated by the priest's wife, the teacher and school
director. Maximum age for children to participate in this event is 10
years old.
By getting someone in the door of volunteering, they will
often desire to dive in even deeper. A small investment of your time
can change one child’s life.
You don’t have to be privileged, have special advantages, or
have a lot of money to make an impact. It’s really in your mindset.
At the end I would like to add that I would like to get in-
volved in Elementary School as a teacher volunteer for more in-
volvement in my community.

Wilkenson Joseph
Haiti Carnival
Haiti carnival: Every country has their culture and habits.
That’s what makes them unique and beautiful. In the Caribbean,
especially in my home country Haiti, we have a period when the
whole country comes together to dance, sing, and have a lot of fun.
We call that period “Carnaval.” Every year during the month of Feb-
ruary, especially during the last three days of this big celebration,
people disguise themselves and wear colorful costumes to cele-
brate. Artists perform on floats and the crowd goes crazy with ex-
citement.
The last day is called Mardi Gras—Fat Tuesday in English, is
the day when most people get in the street. A sea of people gather
in all the major cities of Haiti, especially the main city designated
for those celebrations. Most of the time it’s Port-au-Prince. I love
the Carnaval because it allows me to have fun with my friends and

24
family. The only negative aspect of it is when some people create
violence by fighting, stabbing, or even shoot other people. Haitian
police always do their best to protect.
Overall the Haitian carnaval is a pleasant event full of colors,
music and good food.

Maksim Blokhin
Stargirl: A Tale of Nonconformity
I am a simple immigrant living in New York and regularly
strive to improve my English skills. My acquaintances have told me
that children’s and teen’s books have the level of English I would
most likely understand. The book which I have chosen is named
“Stargirl.” So I want to talk about this one, for it turns out it is in-
credibly fantastic as a young adult novel.
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli is an enticing story of first love. It
presents its readers with a graphic illustration of the fight we all
might once have experienced-- the fight for individuality. As Leo
Borlock and Stargirl Caraway experience a set of events they have
no control of, they realize the struggle of being different, and how
valuable originality can really be. This novel is set in Arizona in a
made-up little city called Mica. Further into the reading, it is clear
that such setting is perfect - the dry and bleak surroundings stand
as a symbol for the students of the school; they are just as bleak
and lifeless.
The story is told from the perspective of Leo Borlock, start-
ing his eleventh year at Mica High, an ordinary high school that is
ruled by order and obedience. That all changes, however, when
Stargirl Caraway arrives as a new student to the school. Starting at
the moment she steps her foot in, Mica High is down for a breath-

25
taking change. She is different and odd. This inspires many, lifting
up the spirits of students and breaking the monotone routine. On
page 10, paragraph 4, Leo provides his later description of
Stargirl’s distinctive features: “Several times in those early weeks
of September, she showed up in something outrageous. A 1920s
flapper dress…. A kimono. One day she wore a denim mini-skirt
with green stockings, and crawling up one leg was a parade of
enamel ladybug and butterfly pins. … Every few days in the lunch-
room she serenaded someone new with ‘Happy birthday.’... [A girl]
had seen a tiny brown face pop up from Stargirl’s sunflower canvas
bag. It was her pet rat. It rode to school in the bag every day.” This
quote illustrates that Stargirl is weird and goofy compared to eve-
ryone else. Her differences make her stand out. That’s exactly why
the students don’t trust her at first. Despite this, Stargirl suddenly
finds herself on top of the popularity stats after a very entertaining
event at a basketball game. While this is happening, Leo slowly
comes to the realization that he’s falling in love.
However, the happy tale comes to an end when Stargirl is
crashed down by the very thing that lifted her on top-- cheerlead-
ing. Abruptly, she’s laughed at for the things that made her unique,
and is avoided by everyone around. The only two people willing to
acknowledge her existence are her loyal friend, Dori Dilson, and
Leo, who gradually begins to take in the cold shoulders, becoming
aware that he is a victim as well. This is significant because it
shows that Leo is deeply distressed by the shunning, which then
throws him in the middle of an internal conflict that continues for
most of the novel. He needs to choose between his first love,
Stargirl, or the attention and acceptance of others. Although Leo
continues to support her, one day he gives way and tells Stargirl
that she needs to change her ways in order to get accepted. Stargirl
shifts herself for him, but soon it becomes clear that the students
don’t embrace her any better, and so Stargirl becomes herself
again. Leo is frustrated, but she accepts the fact that he cannot love
her for who she is, and attends the graduation ball all on her own.
There, she charms the hearts of students once again. And then, just
like that, she’s popular again. After the ball, however, Stargirl van-
ishes, never to be seen again. Although her time there was very
short, she has changed the lives of many with her outlook and prin-
ciples, which, on its own, is a great accomplishment. She forever

26
changed Mica High. As for me, this story reminded me about my
first love and it was doubly interesting for me, because it was in
English!
Stargirl is about the conflict between conformity and indi-
viduality, about a character who undergoes change as they are
thrown into a closed-minded environment. That’s where the first
message of the book comes in: don’t change yourself because
you’re different, and don’t try to be like everyone else. Our differ-
ences are the things that bring us together; there’s nothing wrong
in being unique. After Leo convinced Stargirl to shift, on page 142,
paragraph 3-6, it says: “In every way she seemed to be a typical,
ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill teenager. And it wasn’t work-
ing. At first I neither noticed nor much cared that the shunning con-
tinued. I was too busy being happy that she was, as I saw it, now
one of us. … It was she who said it first: ‘They still don’t like me.’...
Tears made her eyes even larger.” This quote demonstrates that
being like everyone else doesn’t change anything, and in Stargirl’s
case makes it even worse. While Leo doesn’t seem to care about the
shunning after she changed, Stargirl feels uncomfortable in her
new form; she is not herself. Stargirl has always been different
from the high school students. More than that, she is their opposite.
They are idolized precisely for fitting in, not for standing out. In
“Stargirl”, Mica High is a symbol for society, always in a fight
against nonconformity, that is represented in form of Stargirl. The
lesson here is, people constantly change their opinions, and chang-
ing oneself for something as unreliable as popularity grants the risk
of a rocky pitfall.
To sum up, “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli is a thought-
provoking story of a constant fight between conformity and indi-
viduality. It teaches a very crucial life lesson: don’t let others
change you just because you are different, your differences make
you unique. The novel is intriguing and mesmerizing, yet it stands
to maintain its realism, as if this story actually happened and is
now narrated by Leo fifteen years later. In the conclusion of the
novel entitled "More Than Stars" the reader is revealed what hap-
pened to Mica High and its residents years since. Both sad and
heartwarming, the news inflict on how much Stargirl's presence
changed the lives of people around her, and how it later becomes a
part of Mica. Mesmerizing and lovely, breathtaking and fascinating,

27
Stargirl will forever stay in the hearts of its readers, long after the
book is closed.

Level 6 4-6pm
Juan Carlos Landa
NY challenge you always!

I would like to share with you my story of some of my chal-

lenges because in NYC, all of us, one way or another, have to face
our limitations, fears and weakness and we have to decide if we
stay in our comfort zone or we go for the challenges in front of us,
achieve them, and impact the life of others with our actions. When I
came to NYC, I started to live a lot of obstacles, like all of us. One of
these is the English language. I had to find different ways to say
what I wanted to say with the vocabulary that I had, or do some-
thing like mimic or sign, and also act like an actor. This sounds fun-
ny now, but when you are in trouble to try to communicate you can
feel frustration, anger, and a lot of negativity. At the age of 6, I expe-
rienced one situation with the pronunciation with “r” and “rr”
sounds, maybe more sounds, but this was the more difficult and for
that reason people laughed at me. I was a child, and that encour-
ages me to be always one of the best in my group or school. I was
one of the best before 14 years old and achieved my student goals
with the best notes. I studied just basic English classes between 12
and 22 years. A few years later my father traveled for first time to
Delaware. At the age of 26 I left my job in Human Resources in a
shatterproof factory in Mexico and few months later my father

28
came back to Mexico to get a work permit visa. For my good luck
my father received the temporary visa. This was the lottery process
and some of the coworkers couldn’t take the visa for many reasons
and my father’s boss asked my father to recommended one person.
This was an unexpected opportunity for me but I took it immedi-
ately with the purpose to travel to the US, learn the language, and
work. It was difficult to find places to learn in Delaware, for the rea-
son: when the visa finished after the second application in 2007,
my father and I decided to move to NYC to find new opportunities.
Once in NYC, finally I decided to learn English at least with a few
days of classes or on my day off. I started to feel the same sensation
when I was child learning Spanish because I had to do a lot of exer-
cises to pronounce well the “r” and “rr,” practice pronunciation,
and find a way to say what I want to say, or repeat what I was say-
ing and ask for pronunciation tips, because I had the pronunciation
problem with new words in English. From my previous experience
I was thinking this could be easy, but this is my challenge: not just
to learn the language, but also I have to train my mouth muscles
and improve all my pronunciation, but more with this sounds.
Some people asked if I was Puerto Rican or told me that my accent
sounds like French, Russian and a lot of things, but I decided to im-
prove and learn. I had been learning in different places for the last
10 years and finally, the past year, I felt more comfortable with the
language, but my pronunciation needs to improve and more with
my weakness in the particular sounds. The thing is, it can be more
longer for me than other people, but the point is never stop to
learning and practice.
Everybody knows the phrase, “It is never too late to learn or
do what you want.” I don’t want sound like a motivational speaker,
but for my experience I really believe in that phrase. One year ago I
was still afraid of water, deep water, and for that reason I never
swam. When I was child I was in a pool with my family and my un-
cle was teaching me how to swim, but I was drowning because
something cut his foot on the pool floor. That drowning experience
never allowed me to get in the deep water. When I went to the
beach or any pool I always stay watching my friends or family and
far away from the deep side. In 2016 I found a very nice pool close
to my building. I never knew about this pool or fitness center. Also I
was looking for doing some exercises or physical activities after my

29
rehabilitation for an accident in 2008. My best and almost my only
option was swimming, but I still felt panic, and when this com-
bines with anxiety and nervousness, was worst. I started to feel
anxiety in the process of my rehab for the side effects of my pain
medication, and when they changed my medications, sometimes
my anxiety was worse and I had to replace them for other medica-
tion but it was always worse. I was feeling short of breath. I
thought this shortness of breath was due to my physical inactivity
for around 8 years during the rehab process. I felt necessary to
start to do something about my health and physical condition to
make any improvements, lose weight and feel better, because if I
lost weight maybe I would feel less pressure on my feet and knees.
With this determination, I signed up for the swimming classes to
learn and start to have a new habit and hobby. This was one of my
achievements that year. Also I felt better because I improved my
physical condition doing exercises to improve my condition in the
pool at the same time. I had to improve my health by cooking
healthy food and finding better options to maintain the achieve-
ments, and combine everything to achieve other goals. That
achievements was a reminder to find a new ways to do anything, if
I can walk too much or run, I can learn to swim and I learned. I had
to practice a lot since summer 2016, and keep doing exercises in
the fitness center gym and yoga. Other benefits of that new habit
and that changed in my life was to leave the pain medications and
feel less stress and anxiety and improve my self esteem, just from
learning to swim and keep doing it and learning things that I never
expected just from swimming. Just go to the pool and sauna, go for
a little walk around Lehman College, the reservoir or the NYBG
makes me feel better; with less stress and find some motivation to
start new things or keep doing what I like. Also in 2016, I learn to
draw and paint silk mandalas, this was another new experience for
me. One thing more, I was afraid and worried to take the swim-
ming classes in English, I can’t found in Spanish classes, my native
language, but that didn’t stop me. I was thinking to find someone
one who speaks Spanish in the class or just watching, I could learn
with my poor English. The good decision helps me to improve my
English at the same time, learning new vocabulary from the swim-
ming lessons and the interactions with other classmates. Back to
the English, I think everybody had different situations and chal-

30
lenges but the challenge is bigger when you have to make presenta-
tions in the class, in public, work or present a speech. This is one
challenge for me, remembering my childhood with the pronuncia-
tion, I was scared to stand in front of public because of the pressure
and the scenic panic I always have in mind if somebody don’t un-
derstand me. I can feel more nervous and lose the ideas for the
presentation. One of my ways to improve this was at the age of 13. I
joined to the school Mexican folkloric ballet, the real reason was to
learn to dance and stay close to the beautiful girls in the ballet. One
year later I finished the school and I went to high school in Mexico
City, close to the place where I live before 14. In this high school I
joined to the Mexican folkloric ballet and jazz dance group, for the
same reasons. Learning and dance in the ballet and jazz group
pushed me to stay in the theaters for the shows. In front of the the-
atre, you can feel the adrenaline before any show, to give a nice and
perfect show, to not have problems or any situation in the scenario
with the music, lights, the dresses and clothes or anything else. This
emotion is like when you are going to present your speech. When
the curtains open you can feel excited, nervous and the only thing
what you think is do your best. The people there are happy and ex-
pecting to see the show. When they clap before starting the show,
you feel a relief and a pre-reward for you effort. The support of the
other dancers, actors, teachers and family gives you an impulse and
motivation to give the best on the stage. You can forget everything
when you are on the stage. And finally when the show ends your
reward is coming full of noise with claps, emotion and commotion
from the audience and a lot of happy and excited faces with shining
or tearful eyes and grateful for the show. When you felt that, you
know, you gave a nice show and you are more grateful for having
had that opportunity, that fills anybody with happiness and joy.
Now when I am in from of public I’m not feeling a lot of panic, but
when I have to say something in English, that changes everything.
Is a big challenge for everybody to stand up in front of the public,
but if you don’t speak the language you can freeze.
Now my challenge is not just communicate in English also
public speaking, another thing to learn. And now just talk a little
about challenges. When you decide to take a challenge think on all
the benefits over the facts and difficulties to achieve it. In the case
of English and public speaking, it represents a opportunity to do

31
something that not everybody loves, but if you like you can present
anything in your life. You can make a nice presentation in your
class, in your children’s school or in your job and have better op-
portunities and salary just because you are a good speaker. You can
talk in any event, party and give a good opinion of anything but the
tools and background from public speaking can impact more in the
audience. Also if it is just a dinner or party, I found the public
speaking and oral skills like a tool in life. This can give you a better
image, self-esteem, success in anything that you do, also if you
don’t want be a speaker. For example; if you are going to run a mar-
athon and someone ask for your opinion, just from giving a good
speech you can impact and inspire others to run, to have a healthy
lifestyle or create a new habit and hobby. Also you can be on TV,
radio or in these times on social networks, going viral and famous
and having unexpected opportunities.
You can have challenges in all your life. Life is challenging
you all the time. In NYC, you can have more challenges than in your
country. If you are American here in NYC, you have more challeng-
es, you have to manage, understand and work with people from all
the world, with different backgrounds, accents, social and cultural
differences, but this is why NYC has a lot of successful people, be-
cause a lot of them take big challenges in their life. They decide to
work hard and leave their comfort zones and achieve their goals. If
you are not feeling lucky to be here, just find a real challenge in
your life and work hard to achieve it. After that you are going to be
a better person. It can be a small challenge, and another, and one
day you can find another, and one of these can be bigger or not, but
this can impact others to fight for their challenges and their
dreams. Now, you can think more about how communication can
impact your life and others around you. This is my challenge: I’m
challenging you to take one of your challenges. If you don’t take it,
life is going to challenge you and you have to decide. My challenge
is be my best version. Yes, and just one question, are you going to
stay in the comfort zone or are you going to take your challenges
and be your best version and impact others with your actions?

32
Djenaba Diallo
I have a big family. I thank God for making me a part of this
family and blessing me with a great and successful family. Commu-
nity Impact is the best. I like the way they welcome people. All
there team are doing great job for the students to improve their
English and some teachers care about us. Their organization is
great. I appreciate Antoinette from Job Road so much for her kind-
ness. She’s very nice person. I don’t forget my teacher Christine
Webber. She’s very nice and cares for her students and my teacher
Tata Sato-- you are nice person I appreciate you all for your help
thank you so much. Mr. Kent for the great job you and the team are
doing. Thank God. I will never stop thanking God for giving me a
good life and my love for my family will never end.

Wildson Tiburcio
The community is our environment, where we share every-
thing that we learned from our family like: religion, culture, cus-
toms....etc. The objective of community is to build the people that
can work for the same goals to ensure the generation’s future.
The impact that community has on me is: everything that
happened in the community causes a profound effect in the life of
everybody who lives in the community. When we live in a real com-
munity, we work for the positive thing. That’s the only way that can
cause positive effects and we can inspire other communities
around us.

Willian Roberto Scocato Teixeira

Since I moved to New York City, my life has changed in a
huge way. The first impact I felt was the language. I noticed that I
needed to learn English as fast as possible. So I looked for places
that teach English for people who speak another language, and I
found the ESOL.
The ESOL is making a profound difference in my life. With
the classes I am learning not just the language, but also how the
community has an impact on my life and vice versa. Now, I feel
been more integrated in my community, because I can understand
what is going on and express my feelings.

33
Kamoliddin Makhsumov
Community impact ESOL program at Columbia University is
the best program for learning English for many reasons. I just start-
ed studying in level 6, but in short time I have been learned a lot
things in this class.
I improve my speaking, writing, grammar, listening and
more. I am more confident when I speak with someone in English.
First of all, I have met many smart students from all over the world.
I have wonderful teachers with high quality skills. Second of all,
Community Impact is located at Columbia University, which is one
of the famous universities in the world (I am more than happy). My
English is becoming better, however, I don’t doubt myself because I
am studying English here and I believe that I will progress my Eng-
lish skills very well.
Sincerely,
Student Kamol

Alicia Yang
Community? Impact!
How can I say? I think this community program is very help-
ful got people who just came to the US and want to learn English
and how to communicate with people. We both learned English be-
fore, just didn’t use a lot in our life. So this program give us oppor-
tunity to practice. Best part is you can learn many different cul-
tures from the class.

34
Junfang Dong
I can remember clearly how I was confused and over-
whelmed when I moved to New York City from my country one
year ago. Language is the most difficult thing I had to face, especial-
ly oral English. Because in my country we were taught lots of gram-
mar and reading skills, but we lacked at practicing speaking Eng-
lish. And because of lacking confidence, I didn’t even dare to speak
English with native speakers. However, one day when I searched
online about how to learn English I found the ESOL class. I feel so
lucky that I chose this program. I met lots of people from so many
different countries and we have many similarities such as we are
not so confident about our English, and our pronunciations are not
so perfect, and we don’t need to worry about being laughed at
about our English.
Since I took this class last semester, I have made progress
step by step. I don’t fear to communicate with people any more.
This program gives me courage and confidence.

Lucy E. Rojas Obando

Community? Impact!
To talk about the Community, I focus on the association or
meeting of people of a specific conglomerate and place, who are to-
gether, who have common goals or at least the same needs for
which they feel committed to work or fight, resulting consequently
in a sense or feeling of identification in their objectives or goals,
which firstly originates a duty or obligation to respect and help
their peers. For these reasons we find people and associations that
are dedicated to help people to address their problems and at the
same time, they offer all kinds of social services to support the com-
munity. I have had the opportunity to meet three different types of
communities. The first one, in the country where I was born and to
which I returned when I was already a professional, specialized and
experienced lawyer; the second occasion was in the country where
I studied and worked for a few years, where I got married and my
son was born, and finally, the last one is in New York City where I
have learned with greater depth and sensitivity what it means to be
identified with our responsibilities in front of people who have not
known, nor have had as much as life has given us, to those who
have acquired valuable treasures or riches in the intellectual, emo-

35
tional, spiritual and that does not say it in the labor sphere. So,
what we have received, we have to give to others, this is a life
teaching, we have to share to generate or reproduce more bonds
between the people with whom we relate or that are part of our
community.
On the other hand, this is what essentially justifies the rea-
son for our existence, what gives it a value and a meaning that
transcends beyond ourselves, what makes us different from other
beings of creation, then we must return to think that if we are en-
dowed with more values and principles we have more to give,
more to offer, more to serve, that is, we all have a lot inside of our-
selves, in our hearts, more to Impact! What transcends in our lives,
is impact. Then we can understand that if what makes me happy
produces happiness to others, also what affects a person, can af-
fect others. Impact means producing a strong feeling that makes us
happy and makes others happy because a purpose has been ful-
filled.
Finally, I always remember that what we do with our
hands, that impacts. That's why, we should wash our hands, al-
ways be transparent-- does that really impact?

Anli Cao
I am really happy to attend the Community Impact ESOL
class. I learned a lot from the class. In the class, I learned not only
English but also American culture and other parts such as the
knowledge about finding jobs and so on. All that I learned is useful
and lets me be more confident to adapt.
In the class, I am also happy to meet so many lovely people.
All my classmates come from around the world. They learned Eng-
lish so hard and are such kind people. And we also have so many
teachers and other staff. Because they do, my classmates and I can
have the chance to study in Community Impact, thanks to them.

Xavier Román
Helping people is a magnificent way of growing as a com-
munity but making them improve themselves is a form of changing
the world. The Community Impact program gives you the oppor-
tunity of discovering the best you. One of the biggest impacts any-

36
one can receive is to discover they can be better and help people
to look for the best, always.
It does not matter how much English you know so far if you
have the motivation to learn it. As you need a place to accomplish
your goal. Community impact Introduces you to New York City.

José Sánchez
The Community Impact program of ESOL is working very
well with me, because I have learned a lot of new words and I am
improving in speaking and writing in English.
The big impact that this program has had is that because it
is free and very good, because it has very good professors, they are
very well prepared. All I have to say is thank you for the oppor-
tunity to be in this program.

Yanhua Zhang

37
 Level 1 6-8pm
Za Aime Botti Bi

Level 3 6-8pm
Sanghun Lee
Good fences make good neighbors
When you look around with attention even in your busy
daily life, you are surprised to find so many things surround you.
There are schools, hospitals, bakeries, orchards, farms, and super-
markets. All this brings about a mutual benefit from our daily lives,
depending on each other through each other's talents. In this
sense, it is a living community that has the talent to benefit one
another beyond the fact that we just share a common space.
I think 'community' means the same thing as 'neighbor'.
Therefore, the community is essentially a place in which people
share their talents with their neighbors. We share our ideas, life-
styles, and roles as members of the community in our daily lives.
There are many different jobs in New York City where we live, and
we can see that they are capable of promoting one another's tal-
ents, and that brings benefits to the other members.
Sometimes, however, it can be inconvenient for the neigh-
borhood or put their lives in trouble because of small greed. Usual-
ly, too much rivalry or too little etiquette is responsible for this. If
this is repeated, the community may become increasingly heart-
38
less, with everyone ending up with a high wall and a halt to sharing
it with their neighbors. The desire to have small things alone leads
to the threat to the lives and well-being of all community members.
There is an American proverb that goes, 'Good fences make
good neighbors.' I have understood that community members must
do what they can to keep each other's manners before good rela-
tions can continue. On the other hand, Korean proverbs describe
good neighbors as ‘even knowing the number of spoons in the
neighbor’s home.’ That means they wholly know each other like a
family. Therefore, it means sharing happiness and sadness with
each other. In the United States it is often taken as a violation of pri-
vacy when over a certain level of care and attention is given. In this
sense, it is very important to protect the boundaries that protect
the private space in the United States.
A city means to live together for each other, and to consider
and make concessions on a certain point is a fundamental factor in
the fundamental process. Or you just could have fished alone on the
Mississippi River in Illinois. Why don't you say 'Hello' to someone
next door or show interest in them? But! Be careful not to peek
around or jump over the fence. Because you are in America, not in
Korea!

Level 4 6-8pm
Taras Kushnir
Easter in Ukrainian traditions
Easter is the most important Christian holiday. The exact
date of the holiday varies from year to year, but it usually falls in
April. Preparation for Easter begins seven weeks before the holiday
itself. This is the time called Lent. Many Christians do not eat meat
and products of animal origin, stop drinking alcohol, stop smoking
cigarettes, but mostly focus their attention on the prayer.
The traditions of Easter celebrations are different in all
countries. On the Sunday before Easter (Palm Sunday/Willow Sun-
day in Ukraine) people go to church to bless the willow. The people
tap one another with these branches, repeating the wish: ‘Be as tall
as the willow, as healthy as the water, and as rich as the earth.’
During Holy Week an effort is made to finish all field work
before Thursday, since from Thursday on work is forbidden. On
Holly Thursday (Pure Thursday) we go to church for different ser-

39
vices, after which the people return
home with lighted candles.
On Saturday, adults and chil-
dren paint eggs that are called
"pysanka" and bake Easter bread
“paska" that is prepared according to
families’ recipes.
Sunday is Easter day. People
go to church and meet each other
with the words “Christ is Resurrect-
ed!” Also, they exchange colorful
"pysanky” and the girls perform spe-
cial choral dances on the church
grounds. These are the haivky or ha-
hilky, which have retained a number
of motifs that are older than those of
the ordinary spring songs
(vesnianky). They have a greater
amount of ritual in them and contain
elements of the round dance, of
mimicry, and of choral composition.
I would like to invite New Yorkers and tourists to the
Ukrainian museum (E 7th St., between 2nd and 3rd Ave.) that
hosts a master class for making pysanky.
I love this significant holiday.

40
Rafael Perez

A community is a group of people who live in the same

place, speak the same language and maintain similar socio-
economic conditions. To the extent that communities begin to cre-
ate an idol, they tend to emerge from marginality and demand that
the authorities resolve a series of needs that are specific to these
marginalized communities in aspects such as: health, education,
and nutrition.Then this action begins the change of ideas of this
community. I lived in a community located in the south of the Do-
minican Republic called Peralta about 23 km from the province of
Azua. The main crop is the coffee (coffee area) and it also culti-
vates: bananas, yucca, sweet potato, snap beans, and corn. In recent
years natural phenomena like hurricanes have affected agriculture
and the development of the community. Impacting a community
means responding to the most important needs that affect the com-
munity. When we integrate and organize the community members
and make them participate to solve their own problems, it will cre-
ate a positive impact in the community. An example of a community
that has an impact on the southern peoples of the Dominican Re-
public is the SUR FUTURO Foundation, which began operations on
November 16, 2001, promoting the development and social well-
being of the communities themselves. It seeks to reduce the high
levels of poverty and marginalization of the inhabitants of that re-
gion through the promotion of the development of the social, natu-
ral, and productive capital of the communities which contributing
to a better quality of life of the vulnerable populations. It also sup-
ports the sustainable management of the environment and natural
resources.

41
Maria Tavarez
I am very happy for the impact I have receiving classes in
this center. It has helped me attend myself in the field of education.
Thank you for your service.

Level 5 6-8pm
I-Yi Tsai
Community Impact
Just like most people, I play different roles among different
groups like family, school, and workplace. In Taiwan, we used to
help the people we know but rarely think about outlanders. I was-
n’t aware the importance of community till I moved to the US last
year.
I used to practice Falun Dafa which is a self-cultivation prac-
tice of the Buddha School in my country with my parents. The culti-
vation is body-mind-spirit practice and it includes forbearance, dis-
cernment, and abandonment (ex: let go the desire for things). I al-
most can't insist on cultivation since I moved to the US, because
there are so many temptations in New York. Fortunately, I found
there are people practicing Falun Dafa in Central Park a few
months ago. It's quite an encouragement to me since I never
thought about there's a group of westerners doing the cultivation
as well. I started to join the community of cultivators and urge each
other to meet the standard of Buddha Fa.
That's just one of the community I join. I also joined the Tai-
wanese group, ESOL class and realized how people help the one
they don't know. For me, the most helpful thing is to learn the pre-
decessors’ experience which they had been through and avoid de-
tours. I believe one day I could make an impact that becomes the
one who shares the experience with the community.

Perla Hernandez
A community will always look good with peace and love. But
these are the other ways a good impact will look like:
First of all there is safety, and that is what will make a good
impact. Here are some facts how:
 You could help your neighbors
 Donate

42
 Community service
 No racism
One of these ideas about what
makes an impact in my community
could be to recreate libraries, play-
ground, surveillance, care center. This
and other factors could help commu-
nities and more nations in the world
and make a better social for the future
kids.

Ching-Yun (Sindy) Hsu

Chinese Community with the Government
In traditional Chinese society, the community is important
to people's lives. At that time with limited information, the Chinese
people relied on word of mouth to spread messages to help each
other in the community, through a democratic and harmonious re-
lationship. It was the intervention of the government that influ-
enced whether a group body is to be destroyed. The most unbe-
lievable one is of the Falun Gong incident that occurred from 1999.
Falun Gong is one of a Buddhist belief, cultivated by tradi-
tional exercise (Qi-Gong) and asserted on living by the principles
of Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance as its standard. At first
it was welcomed by every local community, because of its positive
influence on society. It was even more widely publicized by the
Chinese media. The moral concept, although popular with the peo-
ple, has unfortunately attracted government jealousy.
Under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, people
were required to believe in the government rather than God. How-
ever the belief of Falun Gong was excessively large. As a result,
from 1999 the government started capturing the practitioners and
the truth of Falun Gong has been imprisoned. Any who dare speak
up was persecuted. Under terror and threats, people were forced
to report their relatives and friends. Just like how the Nazis treated
the Jews and it is still transpiring today.
The excessive involvement of the government has expedit-
ed the deteriorated relationship between traditional Chinese com-
munities and their people. The people were forced to obey and be
repressed, and worried that they will be reported for strange

43
crimes, reducing their trust and reputation in their community. I
believed that the development of the community should be given a
moderate amount of space and time to create a pluralistic society.
The government should encourage and positively guide and up-
right the society. Allowing the country to expand by the develop-
ment of different communities, which will add culture and values to
people.

Lucidania Mejia
COMMUNITY IMPACT?
Community is a group of neighbors that get together to dis-
cuss common interests, by supporting their idea and giving a reso-
lution. A good community should provide resources such as educa-
tional programs, social interactions, entertainment, sport, recy-
cling, cleaning the park and the streets, planting, keeping a busy
community by doing positive things, activities, recreation, celebrat-
ing with respect different ethics and cultures.
My idea of community has changed a lot since 2008 to now.
When my children were little, we were very active in the communi-
ty. We used to plant in the local garden located at 107th street and
Columbus Ave. Tt is still there. I was involved with an organization
called The Center For Immigrant Families at 104th street and Man-
hattan Avenue. It was founded by: Donna Nevel, Ujju Aggarual, Per-
la Placencia, and a group of Immigrant families from Bloomingdales
Family Program.
The Center For Immigrant Family was a place where we re-
ceived educational workshops, emotional support and bonded with
activities such as Family Movie Night.
I had experience two different types of communities. My
first community where I grew up and the actual that I’m living now.
My first community it was like more family’s style, more socializa-
tion with neighbor, a lot of outside activities, with less economical
resources but more enjoyable. The actual situation that I’m living
now has more resources: for example Community Impact that is
offering us free ESOL and Conversation classes. There are more di-
versities.
For all these reasons mentioned above, I believe that com-
munity starts in your house with family values, respecting each
other ideas and working together make a big difference. These are

44
big and positive results for an Impactful community. I’m really en-
joying living in my community, I will like to be active again in the
community as before.

Maria Nunez
How can we make a positive impact?
It’s very important when people need, they get help and
have some place to go.
First when a person arrives in a new country they don’t
know about, it’s important they have somebody to make a positive
impact.
Columbia community impact help legal different ways sen-
ior citizen assistance and immigration.
As a result its impact on the community is something that
many different people benefit from.

Maria Alicia Garcia Fuentes

Women

Women are big-hearted beings, fighters

and workers. We do not give up at the first obsta-
cle that we find ourselves. On the contrary, we
face adversity with our best weapon, the inner
strength, the dignity of
being a woman. Many
times we seem to be
drowning in pain, but we
are great swimmers. Sometimes they hit us,
but we have learned to defend our rights as
Women. We are intel-
ligent-- we intuit the
problems, opening our senses, to prevent and
solve problems and not repeat mistakes of the
past. We no longer believe in princesses and
princes-- we face life with reality. The lives of
women in this society are hard and they face
great challenges to achieve their dreams. Step
by step they overcome their fears, fight for
what they believe is fair, although culturally

45
they can still sometimes seen as property of men. Women can sur-
prise the whole world, showing their capacity by falling and rising
again, with greater force after the fall. Nothing is too big, everything
can be done, there are no barriers, for everything they wish to
achieve. Never face a Woman, if you are
not sure of being superior to her, lest
that Woman surprise you, because
within her there is so much strength
that there is surprise when it is mani-
fested. You will seldom hear her speak
of her worth, but that does
not diminish her impact. A
woman makes the semaphores of life turn green/ Be-
fore her you must show respect, love and trust, because
a woman is a mother, daughter or granddaughter. She
is the one who will allow society’s noble sons to create
a new world. In most cultures and societies, it is not
easy to be a woman and the degree of discrimination
depends on the culture and age in which she was born,
however, thanks to the struggle for women's rights,
many societies have accepted equity of gender for any
activity and social relation.
P.S. "Long Live Women"

Level 6 6-8pm
Issoumaila Zou
COMMUNITY! IMPACT!
My name is Issoumaila Zou. I am from West Africa. My coun-
try is Burkina Faso, which means (the land of the upright). I arrived
in the United States of America (USA) on May 22, 2016. Since arrival,
I have been living in my community. To me, community describes
people from the same country of origin and culture, who speak the
same language. Living in my community was not without impact.
46
 People from Burkina Faso living in the United States are
used to community life from back home. The Burkinabe communi-
ty means a great deal to me. Living in my community, I noticed two
kinds of impact: the good and the bad impact.
Living in my community helps me to stay in contact with my
country and my family. People who go back home for vacation, re-
turn to the United States with updates on family and family packag-
es for most members of the community. We understand and help
one another. We share rooms to minimize the burden of the rent.
We also share food. When someone needs a job, we help him/her
to find one. That’s the good impact of the community.
As for the bad impact of the community, I really see only
one. In my community, we speak the same language: French. That
pulls up my English learning and speaking. Even if I go to school to
learn English, when I don’t practice my English beyond the class-
room, I can’t improve my speaking.
In conclusion, community has always an impact on its mem-
bers. It allows them to live as if they were in their homeland. As the
primary goal of a community is to achieve a better life for all mem-
bers, community life brings harmony and helpfulness for every-
body to get to experience what it truly means to live united!!!

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