If you live in New England, you know that summer equals construction season! This week, there was a major traffic detour in town as Northampton approaches the final stage of a multi-year Damon Road rebuilding project. Some react with frustration. Others celebrate the new improvements. Stuck in an unavoidable traffic jam, I had time to reflect on another major construction project, one that is impacting my professional world. A year ago, we embarked on a huge renovation project at ILI. This means we moved out of a large part of our school, setting up classrooms upstairs and down the hall from our space. It means living with dust and noise in the rooms we can still use. And it means dealing with the uncertainty of not knowing when the work will finish as deadlines are delayed.
We decided to take deep breaths and focus on what we can control. Instead of waiting for the perfect space, we focused on growing ILI programs and using our temporary rooms efficiently. With new marketing strategies and innovative teaching ideas, we reached out to new areas in our region. Here’s one result: Enrollment nearly doubled this summer, compared to last year, in our World Language Program, where language learners study Spanish, Italian, German and French! (Note that revenue from this program helps fund our free English classes for immigrants and refugees.)
Throughout the renovation, students have been incredibly understanding and supportive—despite the challenges. Anticipation of a wonderful new space, with an area for cultural events, keeps everyone motivated and excited. Even in tough times, the students, teachers, staff and community supporters who make up the ILI family are achieving positive change by working together.
ILI’s renovation project is made possible by the City of Northampton ARPA (the American Rescue Plan Act) funds, a grant from the Beveridge Family Foundation and in partnership with Emerald City Partners, Inc.
