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ILI

The International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) promotes intercultural understanding and diverse communities by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training.

You are here: Home / News / ILI Board President Markus Jones Values The Power of Language

November 15, 2021

ILI Board President Markus Jones Values The Power of Language

“Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best.” – Lord Robert Baden-Powell

A clear lightbulb with a flower inside.ILI’s mission is to promote intercultural understanding and diverse communities by providing high-quality language instruction and teacher training. When asked to join ILI’s board in 2016, it was that mission that made joining an easy decision for Markus Jones. With a background in non-profit fundraising, Markus is now the President of the International Language Institute’s Board of Directors, where he works to help provide strategic guidance and support to ILI’s staff and teachers. Aside from the mission, it was the teachers and staff that caught Markus’s eye early on, it was clear to him that ILI staff teaches much more than just languages. Recently, Markus took some time to have a conversation with us about his role with ILI, his passion for immigration issues, and the importance of language education.

What is your favorite memory since working with ILI?

My favorite memory since working with ILI is the first English class I attended. The class was learning about the American Civil Rights Movement and race relations in the South. Being from the South, I was asked to speak to the class about my experiences growing up in that part of the country. I felt this moment deeply for two reasons: It caused me to reflect on my own personal experiences and I was astonished to see that ILI English students were learning about way more than just the language.

How do you think the pandemic impacted ILI?

The pandemic impacted ILI by greatly disrupting the known universe of language instruction. Beyond the financial implications of the longterm effects from COVID, the pandemic also caused our community (staff, board, students, donors) to engage with us in ways we would have never thought possible. It has been an extreme shift in every aspect of our business.

Something I learned during this time is the great barriers some of our students face as they take classes from ILI. I also learned that there is absolutely no replacement for 1:1/face-to-face communication – whether we are in a classroom, boardroom, or dining room. We need to be in front of people in order to really connect in deep and meaningful ways. 

Last year ILI’s Board and staff published ILI’s Statement of Principles. Why was this so important?

ILI’s principles are important because they are the guidepost when the world suddenly turns upside down. They are also what grounds each of us in our work at ILI. We may have all chosen to be involved with ILI for different reasons, but the principles are the common thread that links us all to the organization and its mission.

ILI upholds their principles by leading with the heart and with kindness, seeking to understand first, and by giving voice to those who cannot yet be heard.

You’ve mentioned that you are passionate about immigration issues, why is that?

Immigration is the very thing that created our nation and it is what makes this country so vibrant and beautiful.

Five Facts: Markus Jones Trivia

  • Originally from: Jackson, Mississippi.
  • Favorite Place Visited: Germany (his mother’s birth place!)
  • Currently Reading: The Privileged Poor by Anthony Abraham Jack
  • Favorite Things to do in the Valley: Visit local breweries, Explore Downtown Northampton, and hike the 7 Sisters
  • Hobbies: camping, hiking, and fixing old things

ILI's 10 member board of directors posing for a group photo.Markus Jones is an integral piece of the puzzle that is ILI. The International Language Institute of Massachusetts is much more than a language school, and it is the board, students, teachers, staff, and donors that have created the foundation of values and principles that make the school special.

Learn more about the International Language Institute’s Board of Directors.  Learn more and support ILI’s mission by becoming a donor.

Article by ILI Staff / News

ILI News

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  • Interview with Edwin Cubillos, Colombian photographer and peace activist December 14, 2022
  • Massachusetts State Senator Jo Comerford visits ILI October 17, 2022
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“Music is the universal language of mankind.” “Music is the universal language of mankind.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

ILI English and French instructor, Josh Owsley is also a musician! He will be playing bass with @landownerband tonight at @thedrakeamherst . 🎶Hope to see you there!

📸Photo by @vagabundodeltiempo 

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #landowner #livemusic #teacherfeature #thedrakeamherst  #community
Congratulations 🎉 to our graduates  Jeffrey ( Congratulations 🎉 to our graduates  Jeffrey (Peru), Azhar (Kazakhstan), Ruveyda (Turkey), Andrei (Russia) and Yasemin (Turkey). Every month we have an international potluck to celebrate our graduates. You might have seen Azhar’s cakes before, but the cake that she made, as you will say, is truly over the top! We are sad to say goodbye to the students, but excited about the next steps that they will be taking in their lives.

Cake by @_azhar_bakery 

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #northampton #studentlife #azharbakery #potluck #education #internationalstudents #ialc #ialclanguages
“We must risk everything for the raw recipe of o “We must risk everything for the raw recipe of our passion” 

We had such an engaging afternoon at @parlorroommusic with ILI Board Member + former president of @gccgreenfield Bob Pura. Bob led a reading and discussion of his new book The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success, which he co-wrote with Dr. Tara L. Parker. Audience members also got the chance to learn more about the process behind the creation of the book. 

Thank you for joining us! 📚

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #bobpura #authorevent #reading #discussion #communitycollege #thecommunityscollege #northampton
Today Bob Pura and Tara Parker read from and lead Today Bob Pura and Tara Parker read from and lead a discussion of their book The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success! 📚 Join us at @parlorroommusic at 2pm. 

In their book, The Community’s College: The Pursuit of Democracy, Economic Development, and Success, co-authors Dr. Robert L. Pura and Dr. Tara L. Parker explore the extraordinary impact of this country’s community colleges on people, communities, and our democratic traditions.

As the book’s foreword by Lynn Pasquerella, President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, states: "[T]he analysis offered by Dr. Pura and Dr. Parker unveils how community colleges—distinctively American institutions—are more essential than ever to fulfilling our nation's historic mission of educating for democracy."

Pura, a member of the ILI board of directors, retired in 2018 as president of Greenfield Community College after 17+ years in that position. Parker is the recently appointed Dean of the College of Education and Human Development at UMass Boston.
 
#thecommunityscollege #authorevent #ili #bobpura #taraparker #theparlorroom #northampton #community
TOMORROW - Saturday, January 28th don't miss an Au TOMORROW - Saturday, January 28th don't miss an Author Reading & Discussion with Bob Pura + Tara Parker at @parlorroommusic at 2pm!

Bob Pura, former Greenfield Community College president (18 years) and now an ILI board member, was on the Bill Newman radio show yesterday discussing his new book. 

So many of our students have found success at @gccgreenfield . Here's a photo of all of ILI's students who were at GCC during Bob's last year...including former board member, Aimee Salmon. Aimee is at Mt. Holyoke and graduating this semester, Florice is at Tulane, Bene is at Smith, Orphee is at Western New England University, Flora just graduated from Western New England and is an electrical engineer in Connecticut and Lastone graduated from UMASS and works in Boston.

➡️Listen to the radio show here: https://whmp.com/podcasts/the-communitys-college/

#whmp #ili #thecommunityscollege #bobpura #taraparker #communitycollege #authorevent #northampton #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts
This past fall, ILI applied to #MassachusettsDepar This past fall, ILI applied to #MassachusettsDepartmentofElementaryandSecondaryEducation’s (DESE) competitive grant program to help fund our free English classes for immigrants and refugees. The hard work paid off. When DESE announced the recipients, ILI was on the list! ✨

“We were thrilled to get the good news,” said Macey Faiella, director of ILI’s English programs. “The pandemic shed new light on the disparities that face immigrants and refugees, and we reassessed our program to include greatly expanded offerings. DESE responded positively—all to the benefit of the students.” Starting this fall ILI will teach four levels of online and in-person evening classes and a new intensive in-person morning course. 

For 34 years, ILI has partnered with the state to provide free English classes in western Massachusetts. This award extends the partnership for an additional five years. It funds about two-thirds of the overall program. ILI is responsible for the remaining costs.

#ili #internationallanguageinstitute #massachusetts #dese #education #grant #nonprofit #freeenglishprogram #mass #community
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