“How to help Immigrants and Refugees in Nashville”
In recent years, Nashville has become the home of many immigrants and refugees from around the world. The Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) is one of several organizations that works with this growing population. The staff of NICE helps immigrants and refugees learn English, obtain employment, and work toward self-sufficiency. On Sunday, October 23, Ashley Coleman and Erin Bean will visit Brookmeade and share about our immigrant and refugee neighbors, the work of NICE, and the ways that we can welcome and help these folks make Nashville their home. Please stay after the coffee fellowship (from 12:00 to 1:00) to learn more about Nashville’s newest arrivals. Childcare will be provided.
Ashley Coleman, the Adult Education Coordinator, was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Latin American Studies and Political Science from Tulane University in 2010. Following graduation, she traveled to Porto Alegre, Brazil where she taught adults English for two years. This experience, coupled with ELL teaching stints in Nicaragua and domestically in Atlanta and New Orleans, collectively solidified a strong, professional interest in working with adult English language learners. Prior to joining the NICE staff full time in January 2014, Ashley served as the ESL Site Coordinator for Glencliff High School and taught the Pre-GED and Computer Literacy course. Ashley recently completed her Masters of TESOL program at the University of Southern California with the objective of further strengthening her instructional practices for NICE clients and their teachers.
Erin Bean was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and secondary teacher certification from Hanover College in 2011. In 2015, she received her Master’s Degree in Literacy, Culture, and Language Education from Indiana University, and certification to teach ESL/EFL. During her graduate studies, Erin served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in The Kyrgyz Republic where she taught English language classes to adults and university students. She also trained volunteers and local educators in current EFL teaching practices. Upon returning to the United States, Erin became an instructor at an intensive academic English language school for adult English language learners in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. As the Adult Education Specialist, Erin serves to support the mission and goals of NICE and the Adult Education Program.
brookmeadeucc.org 