Mali RPCV Mary Alice Liscomb Earns LFCC Award For Work With ESL Students



“The Malians taught me the importance of generosity and hospitality by welcoming me with open arms into their community,” she said. It’s that sense of helpful hospitality that Liscomb has sought to recreate through Page County’s ESL program over the past seven years.

Mali RPCV Mary Alice Liscomb Earns LFCC Award For Work With ESL Students

‘Walking King’s Talk’

Liscomb Earns LFCC Award For Work With ESL Students

By Joe Farruggla

Caption: Page County teacher Mary Alice Liscomb accepts Lord Fairfax Community College’s “Walking King’s Talk” award during a presentation ceremony this week. Photograph by Joe Farruggla

In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. proclaimed a vision of black and white Americans living together in brotherhood, where people were “no longer be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”

This Monday that dream expressed itself in the form of Page County educator Mary Alice Liscomb, who was honored with Lord Fairfax Community College’s third annual “Walking King\'s Talk” award.

LFCC President Dr. John J. \"Ski\" Sygielski presented the award, saying it recognized an individual who is “actively involved in improving human relations in his or her community, exemplifies the peaceful philosophy and faith of Martin Luther King Jr., is an advocate of equal justice and opportunity for all people, lives a life of service and is a positive role model for others.”

Liscomb, a native of Page County and a graduate of Luray High School, served for three years with the Peace Corps in the western African country of Mali from 1991-93 along with her husband, Chance Liscomb.

She said it was that experience that guided her in developing Page County’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program from its inception in 1999 to the present.

During her brief acceptance remarks, Liscomb said during her time in Mali that she was at first frustrated over what she thought was her inability to communicate.

\"I had been there for six weeks and was sitting outside, poring over my language textbooks, wondering why none of it was making any sense,\" she said.

Then a native woman came by with a basket on her head and stopped. She reached inside the basket and offered Liscomb a small portion of the food.

It was only then, Liscomb recalled, that she realized her presence was having a positive impact.

“The Malians taught me the importance of generosity and hospitality by welcoming me with open arms into their community,” she said.

It’s that sense of helpful hospitality that Liscomb has sought to recreate through Page County’s ESL program over the past seven years.

Liscomb began her tenure with Page County schools teaching third and fourth grades at Luray Elementary School. She now works exclusively with children of all grades in the ESL program, primarily Spanish speakers.

She also works with parents in an adult basic education program that focuses on language development, child-rearing challenges and daily life skills.

She also established an Hispanic hotline, which works like a telephone tree where important school and community information is relayed to families in their own language.

\"Her relationship with the families of the children she serves helps to connect them to the community and to each other,\" said Donna Whitley-Smith, Page County’s assistant superintendent of instruction, in a nomination application.

“It is remarkable that Mary Alice would never think of herself or her efforts on behalf of others in terms of the ‘Walking King\'s Talk’ award,” Whitley-Smith’s nomination continued. “But then her actions spring not from a desire to right social wrongs, but from a deep abiding concern for all people, leading her to live a life that exemplifies the tenets of the Golden Rule.”

Page County school Superintendent Dr. Randy Thomas, who attended Monday\'s award presentation at LFCC, also praised Liscomb. He called her “an outstanding young leader and a valuable employee who does an excellent job with our ESL program.”

When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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March 1, 1961: Keeping Kennedy's Promise On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency: "Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace. "

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Top Stories: February 2, 2006 Al Kamen writes: Rice to redeploy diplomats 20 Jan Peace Corps mourns the Loss of Volunteer Tessa Horan 1 Feb RPCV pursues dreams in America's Heartland 1 Feb Sargent Shriver documentary to be shown in LA 30 Jan W. Frank Fountain is new board chairman of Africare 27 Jan Abbey Brown writes about acid attacks in Bangladesh 26 Jan Christopher Hill Sees Ray of Hope in N.Korea Standoff 26 Jan Jeffrey Smit writes on one man diplomatic outposts 25 Jan Joe Blatchford's ACCION and microfinance 24 Jan James Rupert writes: A calculated risk in Pakistan 23 Jan Sam Farr rips conservative immigration bill 21 Jan Americans campaign for PC to return to Sierra Leone 20 Jan Kinky Friedman supports Gay Marriage 20 Jan Margaret Krome writes on Women leaders 18 Jan James Walsh leads bipartisan US delegation to Ireland 17 Jan Mark Schneider writes on Elections and Beyond in Haiti 16 Jan Robert Blackwill on a "serious setback" in US-India relations 13 Jan Kevin Quigley writes on PC and U.S. Image Abroad 13 Jan Emily Metzloff rides bicycle 3,100 miles from Honduras 9 Jan Charles Brennick starts operation InterConnection 9 Jan Lee Fisher tells story of Pablo Morillo 7 Jan Nancy Wallace writes: Was PC a CIA front after all? 4 Jan

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Paid Vacations in the Third World? Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think?

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

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