Neighbors Link Expands to Stamford

Since its grand opening earlier this summer, Neighbors Link Stamford has provided English as a Second Language (ESL) classes and computer courses for recent immigrants — but there’s much more in the works.  

“We’re building the center with everybody,” Catalina Samper Horak, Executive Director of Neighbors Link Stamford told Patch.

Horak lives in Stamford and has served on the Board of Directors for Neighbors Link in Mount Kisco for seven years. Planning for Neighbors Link Stamford began in March 2009 and has been a process of involving community leaders, existing resources, and the immigrant community to build a center that reflects Stamford’s needs. Part of the process included driving groups up to the center in Mount Kisco to see the Neighbors Link model in action.

“We could say, “This is what we mean” and it made sense,” Horak said. “I always knew there was a big need here.”

On Friday morning, volunteer English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher Celia Batan is just beginning a walk-in class. This time of year, the majority of the students are women, as many men are busy with work, but come colder weather, the staff anticipates a shift in the demographics.

Free childcare is provided on-site and children play in a separate space as their mothers learn English in the main area of the center. On Friday, Gerrianne Delaney, the volunteer coordinator and a volunteer herself, was busy helping in the childcare space.

"We couldn't be here without her," Horak said. "She's my hero."

It is Jeff Greenberg’s second week teaching ESL at Neighbors Link Stamford. He will often come in during a group class and work with individuals who need more of a challenge by providing one-on-one tutoring in a separate room.

“To do one-on-one [ESL] is easy — all you need is a willingness and a desire to listen and to really listen with care,” Greenberg said. “Part of it is the chance to improve their English, and part is to have that human connection, to make a connection with an American.”

At computer stations, visitors to Neighbors Link can learn everything from sending an email to using Quickbooks. Later on, they will offer Ferguson Library’s Mango online language learning software at each station so that ESL courses can be happening anytime Neighbors Link is open.

“We’re in the process of getting all of our clients library cards,” Horak said.

Beyond the library, Neighbors Link is dedicated to introducing their clients to resources in the community — speakers from the schools, the hospital, and other community organizations come in during classes and for special programs.

Perhaps most rewarding for Horak and her team of volunteers is to see the difference they are making everyday in the lives of recent immigrants in the community. Horak greets many by name with a cheerful "Good morning" as they find a spot around the tables.

"We know we're making a difference, not just for the clients, but for our volunteers. We had a 16-year-old girl who volunteered here in the childcare room. She was teary-eyed leaving, saying she would miss them all so much," Horak said. "It was special to see a girl from one of the more affluent areas of Stamford building a relationship with these kids and with their mothers."

In the future, clients will assist in the building of shelving and walls for a cafe and recreation room inside the space. For the time being, the back wall houses the “graffiti wall” — a paper banner with messages from clients, volunteers, and community members at the grand opening.

“The dream starts today!” Delaney wrote.

“It’s a tribute to a lot of hard work,” Greenberg said.

If you are interested in volunteering for Neighbors Link Stamford or learning more about their programs, contact them at info@neighborslinkstamford.org.

Download the movie