By Mamie N. Oatis
Community Grant and Operations Director of Food Brings Hope
About two years ago Jamell Bueno Mejia joined her mother, Anabel Mejia, in the Pierson Family Literacy Program with the dream of improving her English enough to complete her education. She diligently attended this program sponsored by Food Brings Hope (FBH) and Daytona State College (DSC) for three hours every Monday (online), and Tuesday/Thursday (in class). FBH/ DSC provided Internet access and FBH purchased her an IPad. What set Jamell apart from other students in the program was her determination and strong sense of duty and obligation. She quickly moved from Pierson's English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) class to the GED/Adult Education Classes. Once confident enough to take the GED test, Jamell passed the first time. Since earning her GED, she has continued to attend Pierson's ESOL classes and plans to enroll in DSC's Dental Assisting Program.
It was in 2015-2016 that FBH began serving over 800 Volusia County School students and was selected to partner with the Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation. This allowed FBH, in partnership with DSC, to also offer literacy classes to the migrant community in the Pierson area.
The non-profit FBH was founded in 2007, by Forough Hosseini with the vision that children should be free from hunger. Through the extraordinary support of a generous community, it now touches the lives of over 1600 school-aged children.
Two days a week (Tuesday/Thursday) adults from the surrounding Pierson community and their families gather at the San Jose Mission’s classrooms to participate in this two-generational program that helps migrant parents improve their spoken English plus reading and writing skills. Meanwhile their children receive additional support for their own literacy development in another area of the school. The program’s goal is to ensure that all migrant students reach challenging academic standards, have an opportunity to earn a GED or high school diploma and are prepared for responsible citizenship, further learning, and productive employment.
One of the biggest challenges of providing exemplary educational services to migrants in the Pierson community is gaining their trust— especially now as anti-immigrant rhetoric escalates at the national level. Other challenges abound: competing with the lure of paid work, and language barriers. These difficulties can add up and are reflected in poor academic outcomes for this vulnerable group. However, more than half of the parents enrolled have made great improvements in writing and speaking in the English language along with perfecting their parenting skills. We know that when we empower our students with an exemplary education, it benefits everyone.