By: Ashley Hillman
Community Collaborations Director
Photos and vibrant colors of Crayola cover the walls. Remnants of yesterday’s English as a Second Language (ESL) class are sprinkled across the white boards in the classroom area. The exhaustive calendar of events can be found on the bulletin board just as you walk into the small apartment that serves as a hub of activity most hours of the waking day.
Hser Ner Moo is a Welcome Center located in the South Parc Townhomes apartment complex. Over 100 individuals frequent the Center each day, dispite the challenge of having limited space to meet the increasing demand of individuals interested in after-school programs, computer lab usage, college prep and ESL courses. The staff work magic in finding ways to serve every individual who comes to the Center for assistance. With a high concentration of refugees at the complex an din the surrounding area, Hser Ner Moo fills a much-needed gap by providing programs and support to assist with integration into the Salt Lake community.
Hser Ner Moo is one example of the positive effect a focus on Community Impact has on individuals, communities, and the larger society. Welcome Centers help build bridges among people, services and resources. Taking a single step into the small space that serves as a miniature cafeteria, instructional room, and activity center brimming full of individuals of all ages is evidence of its success and of the growing need for more Centers like Hser Ner Moo in our community.
