Dorcas Place student speeches presented at recent Dorcas Place events:

NILSA MINELLYS PEREZ - Spring 2007

My name is Nilsa Minellys Perez.  I came from Puerto Rico two years ago.  I have a beautiful family and my personal inspiration is Victoria Isabel, my little daughter who is four years old.  When we came to Rhode Island, we didn't speak English.  But my daughter is at the right age to learn.  She is a fast learner and in a short time she started to speak English, just a few words or short sentences.  Today she speaks a lot more day by day.  That is the first reason to learn English because sometimes I don't understand what she says and that is terrible.  Another reason is for my personal growth;  I'm talkative and I want to learn English to speak with everybody because I need to express myself without an interpreter.  I feel inadequate and depressed and it isn't good for me.  Somebody said to me one day that English is the bridge to make a connection with the world.  I know that it is right that I came to Dorcas Place.

In my first meeting at Dorcas Place I saw everybody happy and smile.  I came with Socorro and she is so nice and communicative.  And they made me feel comfortable and I trust in Dorcas Place personally.  In my second meeting I met Myrna and she helped me with everything because I needed daycare and other things before starting at Dorcas Place, but she and everybody in this institution are hard workers and patient, and that made the diffference.

I started at Dorcas Place In January of this year four months ago.  I learned so well because I have the best teachers at Dorcas Place - Marie, Anta, and now Suzanne and other teachers in this school.  Now I have new firends and I know new people and that is so good and it is very important how you feel about the place when you spend a large amount of time of your week.

It's great everybody is nice and I feel comfortable.  I can find friends in my classmates from other cultures in this place, my language is better now and that gives me confidence.  Dorcas Place is my home now and I have a big family.  I can't feel alone ever again.

Ariam Nazario- Fall 2007

Good morning to everyone present;

In my absence, it is a pleasure to address you today and I’ll take this opportunity to say an expressive “thank you” for having elected me chairperson of this group. I’d like to let you know that this is a special moment for me because I’m going to be able to express the gratitude that I feel for Dorcas Place; whose personnel always helps the students willingly and their different programs.

In 2005, when I arrived in this city, I arrived without a goal in line; I only wanted to live for the day, until I arrived at Dorcas and it was no chance that I changed my mind. I began there at Level 1 of ESL and in that same week, my teacher let me know that I should be in a more advanced level. For a while I had to work, but I returned and when they evaluated me I was already at Level 3. Because of my work, I studied at night with a GED class in order to enrich my English, but I learned of the Even Start program and enrolled; to my fascination my education went along with my children’s. During this period it was suggested I follow the profession I held in my country and so I began the Customer Service Training Program in the Career Academy and also used the Clothing Collaborative that Dorcas Place provides. In the summer, I used my time in the Summer Program here at Alfred Lima along with my oldest child while I sought work.

A few weeks ago I began to take the computer classes that are being offered Tuesday afternoons until the Providence School Department called me to work as a secretary. Now I can say with immense gratitude: Thank God for putting Dorcas Place on my path!

This is why I cannot be with you today in your meeting, hoping that you will excuse me. As often as possible, I will participate in these meetings although I am always aware of the activities of this group since Dorcas and its programs are a part of my life’s routine.

MARGARET WILLIAMS

Good morning and thank you for having me here. My name is Margaret Williams and I have been a student at Dorcas Place since January. I always knew Dorcas Place was there because I lived only a few blocks away. One of my church members told me about going to Dorcas Place, but I didn't think that it was for me because I was too old.

Then I saw a man on Oprah who was 100 years old and going to school to learn how to read and write. I thought if he can do it at 100, I can do it at 55 - without a doubt.

When I called Dorcas Place, I found out that I couldn't come because I wasn't on welfare. I still had the desire and finally I found out that I could at least have a tutor. Betsy Ross has been my tutor for a few years, and she told me to keep trying to come during the day. After my mother died, I realized that I didn't have any more excuses. The only thing stopping me was me. Finally, there was a space and I am at Dorcas Place!

Now that I am there, I'm learning how much there is out there for me to have if I have an education. Now I have dreams and goals that I never thought I would live to have. My dream is to have my own restaurant business. I already have my food management license from URI in Providence. I got it so I could run the soup kitchen at my church every Saturday. But, now I have learned that in order to have a business, I have to know how to run it. I'm working to get my GED and get started on my business.

Since I came to Dorcas Place, I have a lot more confidence in myself. The students and the teachers keep me encouraged. I know it's all up to me. I know what I want, and I believe I can do it. For a long time I had been thinking about starting a restaurant - now I'm not just thinking about it. I can already see it done!

LEO PAUL

Good morning! My name is Leo Paul, and I have been a student at Dorcas Place since November of last year. I own my own window washing business called Leo's Window Rescue. I have owned this business for over nineteen years. I enjoy dealing with people, and I make a decent living. I believe in giving good service.

Last summer, when I was a patient in the Miriam Hospital Cardiac Maintenance Program, I was talking to my counselor about the hard time I always have had with filling out paperwork. I asked him if he knew of any tutors or schools where I could learn how to spell. At my next appointment, he gave me a list of about three places, and Dorcas Place was number one on the list. I met with Betsy Beach, the intake coordinator at Dorcas Place and attended LINK for orientation soon after.

I was placed in Tom Partridge's language arts and math class. I did ok with math but I was having a hard time with language arts because I had trouble spelling and taking notes.

I talked to Tom and said that the reason I came was to improve my spelling. I had heard about the new reading program, called the Scottish Rite. The teachers thought it would be too easy for me, but I knew I needed that foundation.

Now that I have been in Joan's class, I am understanding things better. It has only been six months and sometimes I wonder if I'm accomplishing what I came here for, but my teachers tell me it takes time.

I was just re-tested, and my scores went up so much that I have started taking practice GED tests. In math I can keep going at my own pace.

The staff at Dorcas Place is always there to answer any questions and always praising and encouraging us. I came here to learn how to spell. Now that I'm here, I'm going to work on getting my GED.

Coming here has opened my mind to higher things that I thought I could never do.

The following verse is the result of a collaborative writing exercise that students wanted to share:

I am a traveler without destiny

I am an adventurer without adventure

I am the ocean horizon

I am the hope in the nest

I am a book with a missing page

I am a piece of mail with good news

I am the beating of your heart

I am the water for the thirsty garden

I am the flame of the fire

I am the drop of water that moistens your body

I am the shadow hiding in your eyes

I am the bread that you eat

I am the greedy guest in your house

I am the sun and you are the star

I am the color of your skin

I am a flower in your hair

I am a word in your mouth

I am the roof of your house

I am the fire of your body

I am one eye and you are the other.

-May 2006