The mission of Motivated Moms is to help immigrant women and their families integrate into our community through English and the Word.

Description:
Motivated Moms meets the spiritual and communicative needs of Reading's growing immigrant population, particularly that of the Spanish speaking families, including men, women, and children. We provide tools needed to integrate into the community, to understand American culture and good citizenship, and to become self sufficient members of the community. Relevant biblical values and truth are included as appropriate with the teaching of basic living skills. In order to enable adults to participate in the program, we provide care and instruction for their pre-school age children to help develop learning-readiness skills, social skills, language skills, and motor skills, preparing them for entrance to school.

Basic living skills are the topics used to teach functional communicative language: skills such as shopping, housing, paying bills and budgeting, getting a job, meeting medical needs and other basic survival skills; and good citizenship, respect for others and responsibility in the community.

History:
Motivated Moms began in 1994 with one woman’s desire to better her community.

In late February of 1989, Mary Alice Rissmiller moved to the 200 block of North Fourth Street in Reading, Pennsylvania. The neighborhood was run down and drug infested and many of the residents on the block could only speak Spanish. With her strong belief in the protection of God, Mary Alice took a stand against the drug dealers letting them know drugs were not welcome in her neighborhood. She became involved in community action programs to make her neighborhood a safer and healthier place in Reading.

At first, only the children accepted her. She invited them in to play games, read books, and color. Before long, she observed that many of the mothers were unable to teach their children to read because they lacked reading skills in the English language and quite possibly their own native tongue. If the children were not encouraged to learn and explore and if there was no one at home to help them with their schoolwork, chances were that the children would not do well in school, and would eventually ‘drop out.’ Parents, especially moms since they were the stable, constant adults for most of the children, needed to become conversant in English if the children were to become successful in school.

Mary Alice became inspired to help the immigrant mothers learn English, in hopes that it would enable them to teach their own children. The vision simmered on the back burner of her mind and heart until the fall of 1993.

On October 5 1993, Mary Alice met with Pastor Randy Grossman of Grace Bible Fellowship Church to discuss the value of teaching English as a Second Language from a biblical perspective. After much prayer and discussion, a board was formed on December 2nd, composed of Pastor Grossman, Kaye Lessig (business), Pam Mayer (nurse), Amy Ortiz (Berks Aids Network), Yvette Santiago (Human Relations Council) Dawn Schutt (City Council), and Lynda Vitalo (educator). By-laws were adopted and by January 4th, 1994 Motivated Moms was incorporated as a not-for profit corporation in Pennsylvania. Motivated Moms received its 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status August 5, 1994.

The first class began the second week of July 1994 with one man and two women and met only once a week. The children’s class, taught that summer by a Head Start teacher, was composed of two preschoolers. Motivated Moms has grown exponentially from these humble beginnings, adding classes at First Presbyterian Church, at 5th and Franklin, Iglesia Pentecostal Shalom at 8th and Washington, and Nativity Lutheran Church on N. 13th St.

While parents are in class, their pre-school age children attend a Sunday school type class, learning English, developing social skills and learning readiness skills in preparation for school. In the summer their elementary children also attend classes working on their English, and practicing their math and reading skills.

In 2006 over 214 adults came to the ESL classes, bringing 141 children during the year. This could not be accomplished without the help and support of many individuals who donate their time as tutors and childcare workers, or contribute through monetary gifts.

Enrollment is open-ended, meaning students can come and go as needed. New students are constantly enrolling or contacting the office for information about ESL classes. Students often find employment as soon as they feel comfortable with their English skills, but return to class when possible.

In the fall of 2001 Keystrokes to Literacy classes were added, teaching typing and basic computer skills to the more advanced students. During the computer classes, the students are surprised by how much English they learn and how this knowledge boosts their computer skills. Computerized programs are also available for Computer Assisted Learning, helping students with vocabulary, dialogs and speech recognition for pronunciation.

Citizenship classes are also offered. These classes help students who are preparing to take the Naturalization test. Most of the topics cover U.S. History and civics, as well as specific preparatory questions found on the exam. This past year 6 students passed the INS interview and have become citizens or are awaiting the swearing-in ceremony.

Many of the new immigrants who are coming to class are better educated than in the past several years. This makes it even more urgent that students become independent English speakers in order to utilize the skills they brought with them from their home country. They want to become a valuable part of the work force and proudly take their place in the community as active, contributing members.

Though life’s circumstances often change and there are frequent transitions or perhaps disruptions, God is always the same yesterday, today and forever. Believers can depend on Him to be constant and unchanging at all times. God uses people to do His work and Motivated Moms is anticipating God’s moving in the lives of His people to help in His work. We hope that God’s people will respond to His leading, and determine how the Lord would have them be involved in ministering to immigrant men, women, and children.

Contact person: Mary Alice Rissmiller, Executive Director, (610) 373-5777, (email)
Office fax number: (610) 685-1837

Address:

219 North 4th Street Reading, PA 19601 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.motivatedmoms.org

Overall Experience   
This has been a great blessing and a wonderful opportunity.

Motivated Moms is a faith-based ministry in the city that helps families to learn Engligh, acquire basic job skills (such as computer training), and life skills. I have been on the board since February of 2006, and it has been wonderful experience. Everyone on the board brings a unique viewpoint to the organization, and we are all better because of each other. This opportunity has taught me how much my faith means to me, and has helped to strengthen it. I have also gained some valuable insight about life. I highly recommend this organization to anyone wishing to volunteer. posted by BethConsugar on May 18, 2006