Barbara Ulick, Program Director of Open Door, shared the inspiring work of this 10-year-old program, which equips English as a Second Language (ESL) students with the confidence and language skills needed to thrive in college, at work, and in everyday life. In addition to ESL instruction, the program offers High School Equivalency (HSE) classes covering math, science, social studies, and language arts.With a team of 16 dedicated teachers, Open Door supports a linguistically diverse community—serving students who collectively speak more than 50 languages. The program collaborates with a wide range of community partners, and to date, over 9,000 students have benefited from its services.
Beyond academics, Open Door creates a space for connection—fostering relationships among students, staff, volunteers, and the broader community. Barbara emphasized the importance of volunteers, noting, "Every student who has had a volunteer coach has passed all their testing."
When asked about their current needs, Barbara shared a short list of school supplies. The Longmont Rotary Club responded quickly—delivering donations to their doorstep. It’s clear that Open Door is not only opening minds but building bridges to opportunity.