It Takes a Village: Community-first Programming

Many newcomers to the United States struggle in silence—isolated by language barriers that limit their access to jobs, education, healthcare, and housing. Free, accessible English language support is scarce, and opportunities to practice in safe, welcoming environments are even rarer.

In a world where language can be both a bridge and a barrier, Dr. Mary Curran’s work ensures it becomes a pathway to connection and opportunity. At the Rutgers Graduate School of Education (GSE), Dr. Curran leads innovative, community-engaged initiatives that bring people together through language, culture, and shared experience.

One of her signature programs, The Conversation Tree: Community-Based Language Programs, brings Rutgers students and local newcomers together to practice English in supportive environments known as “Conversation Cafés.” In these gatherings, those who are new to English find more than just grammar help—they find community. Students from various disciplines are prepared to be conversation facilitators and engage with newcomers in structured yet informal sessions that center on human connection and shared learning.

“Community-engaged work takes a village,” says Dr. Curran, who has dedicated her career to building these kinds of partnerships. She joined Rutgers in 2001 after earning her Ph.D. in education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she received the Tasha Morgridge Distinguished Graduate Student Award and Fellowship. Her fellowship allowed her to focus on integrating linguistic diversity into teacher education programs—a commitment that continues to inform her work today.

The Conversation Tree Program has reached more than 10,000 community members and provided over 1,000 hours of community service. Hundreds of Rutgers students have participated, deepening their understanding of the language learning process and cross-cultural communication. Eight alumni have gone on to receive Fulbright fellowships, and four doctoral students have conducted research documenting the program’s effectiveness.

For Xiaowen Qiu, a GSE international doctoral student, participating in the program was transformative. “Learning the English to study at Rutgers and be successful at academics is one thing,” she said. “But becoming comfortable communicating in the community that you will be a part of for years takes more time and finesse—this program helped me break that boundary.” Xiaowen joined the program as a facilitator for a Mandarin Conversation Café, where her world opened up as she got to know local community members and engaged in deeper conversations with other students and program participants. In her work as an educator in New Jersey, Xiaowen applies what she learned to better connect with students and families.

New grants are expanding the program’s impact. A recent REACH grant, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, will introduce health-focused language sessions to prepare newcomers to navigate medical visits and discuss preventive care. Another grant from the International Rescue Committee supports work with refugee populations and will make The Conversation Tree’s model and resources available to organizations across New Jersey.

Long-term partners—including local schools, the New Brunswick Free Public Library, the Highland Park Library, and New Labor—are essential to its success. “We are most grateful to the community members who become mentors and teachers of our students,” says Dr. Curran. “As they share their immigration journeys, experiences living in the U.S., and the joys and struggles of learning English we all learn from each other.”

In an era marked by anti-immigrant rhetoric, this work is more important than ever. Programs like The Conversation Tree build relationships and mutual understanding that help diverse communities not just coexist—but truly thrive, together.