The Power of Education
(As seen in Westport Lifestyle Magazine)
Maria Huisha moved to Connecticut from Ecuador in 2008. She knew two words in English: yes and no. This past February, she received her high school equivalency diploma, and now, college is on the horizon. Maria’s journey was not an easy one, but thanks to Mercy Learning Center, a Bridgeport-based organization that provides literacy and life skills training to low-income women, she had all of the support she needed to not only learn English but also experience the empowerment and confidence that comes with continuing her education.
“When I first moved here it was very difficult for me,” she says. “I worked at a salon six days a week and I couldn’t communicate clearly with my co-workers, supervisor, or customers. And then one day I had a customer suggest that I try taking a class at the Mercy Learning Center—she was a teacher there,” says Maria. “They opened their doors for me, no matter how long it would take, or what I needed, they were there to support me.”
Maria began her studies with English tutoring sessions a few times a week and eventually became a full-time student to focus on obtaining her GED. “Many times I thought about quitting. It was really hard and frustrating. But it was all worth it,” she says. Her dream, now, is to become a radiologist.
Maria is just one of many women who’ve transformed their lives thanks to Mercy. “The world is a much stronger place when we have women who feel empowered,” says Lindsay Wyman, the president and CEO of Mercy Learning Center. “We are committed to doing whatever it takes to support our students.”
By learning how to read and speak English, Mercy Learning Center students can improve their academic skills, obtain their high school equivalency diplomas (also known as GEDs), become United States citizens, advocate for themselves and their families, obtain jobs with higher wages, pursue secondary education degrees, and independently navigate their community’s resources. The power of a good education is truly limitless.
Last school year, Mercy Learning Center served 684 women and children from 45 different countries, spanning 17 languages. Seventy-three percent of the students live in poverty, and nearly all of the remaining 27 percent are what's known as ALICE (asset-limited, income constrained, employed). They sometimes work up to three jobs just to meet basic living needs. But they are all 100 percent committed to their education. “The tenacity and perseverance of our women is incredible,” says Lindsay. “They have full lives outside of school. Sixty percent of them are mothers. And they still prioritize their education. I adore these women and our incredibly dedicated staff.”
Mercy Learning Center is about so much more than what happens in the classroom. They make learning possible for students by offering free childcare and preschool, case worker support, emergency financial assistance, a food and diaper pantry, and more. By going above and beyond to keep their students going to class, Mercy Learning Center helps them stay focused on their learning. Stories like Maria's prove what an incredible impact this organization has on the community. The outcome is clear—lives are changed, every day.
For more information, visit mercylearningcenter.org