Dear Members of the English At Large Community,

It is with mixed emotions that I am writing to announce my transition from my position as the Executive Director of English At Large to pursue a new and different kind of position in the nonprofit sector. It has been a tremendous honor to serve the organization for the past four years, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have crossed paths with you.

When I first came on board as a brand new Executive Director in 2013, I was excited and fearful at the same time. English At Large was experiencing some growing pains, and with a cut in state funding, the organization was shaken by the possibility of reduced programming and reduced staff. Yet, despite the setback, we came together as a community and thrived. Perhaps the new challenges were the force that drove us closer together, to do better, and to dream bigger.

Today, as I look around our new office at 800 West Cummings Park in Woburn, I am still amazed by the resiliency of this organization: the learners who excel despite difficult life circumstances, the volunteers who spend hours preparing for lessons, the staff members with passion for the mission as our drivers, and the Board of Directors, who are all-hands-on-deck to find new connections and opportunities for the organization.

I have no doubt that I am leaving the organization in capable hands - because I could not have lead the growth of the organization without the support of volunteers, staff, and the Board. Since 2013, English At Large has grown significantly. In addition to our traditional programs, we have added two new programs: the Basic English class and the Career Access Lab. Our operating budget has grown by 21% since 2013, allowing us to increase staff time and grow our program capacity. 

Thank you for the passion, enthusiasim, and wisdom that you have imparted onto me for the past four years.

Sincerely,

Qingjian Shi

Executive Director

Dear Friends and Supporters,

On behalf of the English At Large Board of Directors, I want to offer our sincere congratulations and best wishes to Q.J. on this next step in her career. As Board President for three years, I worked closely with Q.J. and saw first-hand her enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment to our mission. I know I'm not alone when I say we are very sorry to see her go and she will be missed!

Thanks to Q.J.'s leadership and the hard work of our amazing staff and dedicated volunteers, EAL is stronger than ever. We have built new partnerships with businesses and community organizations in the cities and towns we serve. Our programs are well respected and in high demand and the exciting new Career Access Lab is opening additional opportunities for collaboration. We are well positioned to move forward.

The Board of Directors has begun a search for the next Executive Director (you can see the job description here) and we are working closely with Q.J. and the staff to ensure a smooth transition. We appreciate and welcome your support as we take these next steps.

Please join me, and the entire Board of Directors, in thanking Q.J. for her service to EAL and her commitment to the English language learners we serve.

Sincerely,

Catherine Corliss

Board Member