Lucrismar emigrated from Venezuela to the United States approximately two and a half years ago. In her home country, she was a secretary for thirty-two years but had difficulties making ends meet despite working five days a week. She came to the U.S. in search of security, job opportunities, and the chance to provide a better life for her daughter saying, “I want her to have the opportunity to pursue a successful career and establish herself in a country that can give her a brighter future.”

Lucrismar moved to Rockville and found a job housekeeping and providing basic home aide care to an elderly couple. However, she found the language to be a barrier. Her brother who works at CASA recommended that she enroll in virtual English classes and Lucrismar has been participating in one session after the next since 2022, advancing for an introductory to advanced level course. The flexibility of taking classes online means that she’s been able to participate from home, at work, and on the bus. This past winter she received a Chromebook during the Montgomery Connects distribution event at CASA’s headquarters, so now it’s even easier for her to actively participate in each class lesson as demonstrated by her perfect attendance record this spring. Of CASA’s Life Skills Program, Lucrismar says, “The teachers are dynamic, and I appreciate engaging in conversations with them and my classmates.” Lucrismar is now able to navigate conversations in both her professional and personal life more confidently. Through her current employment, Lucrismar is earning enough to cover her own expenses and those of her daughter with enough left over to send back home. However, she hopes that with time her new language skills will help her find an even better paying job that utilizes her previous professional experience so that eventually she can comfortably retire. In the meantime, Lucrismar only has one more session to go before she’s completed CASA’s most advanced language course.