MORE is a multicultural community-based organization that works to empower people of many races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds to live and work in peace, to combat racism, and to change societal structures that contribute to keeping people in poverty. This is accomplished through the concern for the basic needs of people in poverty, organizing, leadership development, and the formal education of disadvantaged adults (from MORE’s Mission Statement). Known formally as McDonough Organization with Respect and Equality for People (MORE), we are more commonly known today as MORE Multicultural School for Empowerment. Our diverse programs reflect our understanding of education as assisting and empowering individuals/families to reach the fullness of their potential.
MORE was established in 1985 as a grassroots community organization that brought together the various cultural groups of McDonough Homes and the surrounding neighborhood. The people of MORE worked to build relationships and mutual understanding, reduce violence and creatively address needs - in essence, to empower the diverse, low-income families of McDonough to seek a more hope-fulled future for themselves and their families.
Today MORE focus on empowerment is primarily expressed through adult English Language classes (ELL) and social services.
A. ELL classes are offered 4 days/week and in addition to English, include math and computer instruction and cultural adjustment and work readiness skills.
B. Social Services include distribution of food, clothing, household goods and some emergency funds; advocacy and case management, which primarily serves immigrant and refugees needing assistance in navigating all the complex American systems; mental health counseling; and systemic change efforts, especially around issues of poverty, Adult Basic Education, and immigration.
MORE also continues its primary focus on building relationships between the various ethnic groups that particpate in our programs and members of the larger community who volunteer here. Each is transformed in the process.
Located in a home in a neighborhood, above all, MORE seeks to be a place of love and respect, a 2nd home and an extended family for those whose lives and hearts have been wounded by war, violence and poverty.
Our Mission
MORE is a multicultural community-based organization that works to empower people of many races, cultures and ethnic backgrounds to live and work in peace, to combat racism, and to change societal structures that contribute to keeping people in poverty. This is accomplished through the concern for the basic needs of people in poverty, organizing, leadership development, and the formal education of disadvantaged adults. MORE is a spiritual organization made up of people with different spiritual beliefs. MORE is committed to the nurturing of each person's spirituality which gives each member the strength to work for justice and the compassion to always know…"We've been there!" (MORE’s Mission Statement).
Our overarching goals are to respond to the needs of the people as expressed and named by them, to empower them to set and meet goals for improving their lives and happiness and that of their communities, to increase their capacity to participate in and contribute to the larger community, and to join with them in engaging the larger society in moving towards the reduction of poverty, racism and other forms of injustice. Above all, we are committed to building relationships in the community that heal divisions and promote love, respect and justice.
Why We Need a New Website
MORE is playing catch-up in using technology to further our mission and increase our outreach to the larger community. Within the last year we acquired a domain name (more-empowerment.org) and contracted for regular IT service to increase our capacity to use our computers and to provide computer instruction to our ELL students. The next step for us is a web-site. In today's world, a web-site is essential in reaching out to the larger community, especially in helping to share our mission with a new generation of volunteers, donors and program participants. A significant aspect of our mission is building relationships and mutual understanding among diverse people. It is important for us to be able more regularly to the share stories of the various people and activities of MORE. A web-site would also give us the capacity to direct people to online giving, to provide educational materials for our ELL students to access by computer during the evenings or on weekends, and to recruit from a broader pool of volunteers.
How Our New Site Will Help Make the World Greener
A web-site would allow MORE to reduce its paper and postage consumption by allowing us to communicate more extensively and frequently with supporters without having to produce more newsletters and flyers. This became especially apparent this year as we increased the number of fundraising events and each time had to send out over 3,000 flyers. Already we are trying to establish an email database to allow us to reduce our mailings. A website would allow us to reach even more people while actually decreasing the number of mailings sent out.
When the judges choose which non-profits will be selected to participate in this year's Challenge they will take into account testimonials from beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, board members and other
MORE School is a terrific example of a program that really works to rebuild lost community for immigrants while it teaches useful skills. It is located within the community, it is warm and welcoming, and it incorporates models of learning that respect, and appeal to, the various cultures of the students. This organization truly deserves assistance!
Ev Lennon, human rights colleague
I have been involved with MORE for the past 8 years as a faculty partner where we have collaborated with the students to identify their experiences as new immigrants and provide classes to help with cross-cultural adaptation. The center provides much needed services and has built a community of learners.
Anonymous
I've worked at MORE School almost 6 years. The work we are doing with recent immigrants in the community is a vital service, and as one of the younger staff members, I view having a website as essential to expanding the reach of our work, as well as expanding access to potential community partners who could help us serve the people we work with every day. In some ways, the real positive impact of the work we are doing with our learners and clients isn't being seen by the community at large due to the organization not having a website. Having a website is a legitimacy marker in the 21st century, and as such, it's essential to bringing our mission out to the broader community in a more effective manner.
Nathan Thompson, MORE ESL Teacher
Anonymous
As a volunteer ESL tutor at MORE School for more than six years, I've observed and participated in the opportunities that this organization provides to immigrant and neighborhood families. The inclusive nature of the programs and the space created by MORE staff, volunteers, and supporters, makes this a sanctuary for all who come in the door. A website would help us open this door to even more people who can provide or who need services.
Sieglinde Gassman, Volunteer ESL Tutor at MORE School
I strongly encourage you to select MORE as one of the non-profits you work with on this projectt! They are making a huge difference in the lives of those on the edge of our society. The work they do, the education they offer, the social services they provide are all outstanding.
Anonymous
I strongly encourage selection of MORE School as a recipient for a website. A website creates so many possibilities! As a teacher at MORE, I have often taken students out into the community to experience, for themselves, environments they are learning about but haven't had direct contact with, such as libraries, restaurants, museums, etc. It would be very helpful in contacting organizations who might allow us to visit, especially at a reduced price, or perhaps even waiving the fee, if we could direct the organizations to a website where they could see for themselves how much our school offers its students and clients at no charge.
Jan Olsen Stone, teacher, beginning level English
I have taken donated clothing and household items to MORE for several years. MORE opens the garage every Saturday for anyone to come and take the donated items.When I drop off items on Monday the garage is bare; every item donated is taken and reused every week! Talk about "reduce/reuse/recycle". And recently MORE asked for paper that is printed on one side to use with the students and in the printers. My sister takes them all the "fax cover sheets" that come to her place of work -- another way of going green. When I enter MORE the students are quiet and very busy learning, in every possible corner of the space! They do such wonderful work.
Barbara Thomalla, OSM, occasional donor
Dear friends. If anyone desires this offer from you, it is MORE! MORE literally stands for more than you would expect a small operation to offer! When I drop in with some contribution or other, I witnesses, in every available space, intense dedication of volunteer teachers, students, sometimes children waiting, in happy engagement of their own, next to a parent who is trying their best to learn the language, learn computer skills, gain confidence, accept a little love and counseling, all ages, grandparents and adult children. On occasion, upon dropping in with my contribution, I've been invited to join the group for the round table lunch, provided by the different ethnic groups represented. All are welcome, all are at home at More. They survive because they are alive in the local community. MORE deserves more.
Anonymous
THE PREVIOUS "DEAR FRIENDS," IS NOT ANONYMOUS. I JUST FAILED TO ADD MY NAME: ANITA SWANSEN, OSM
Anonymous
I full-heartedly support the selection of MORE for your website services. I have worked with several non-profits in the past and am very impressed by how MORE choses to use their financial resources. The reason MORE is not more up to date with technology is because all they prioritize their resources to go directly to those they serve. As noted in previous testimonials, MORE offers many needed services in the community. A website would provide them increased visability allowing them to broaden their base of support and continue to meet the unmet needs of the community. MORE is well deserving of this selection!
Kate Barrett, volunteer and partner
Anonymous
By having a website, MORE will be more visible in the non-profit community and more accessible to its community members. Potential donors can learn about us more easily and quickly, which could increase the financial support we receive from foundations and individuals. Having a website will "legitimize" us and make us more real in the eyes of those who don't know us yet.
From the website design perspective, I think designing MORE's website will be a fun and intellectually challenging project that will give the designer much personal satisfaction because, both directly and indirectly, the deserving participants in MORE's many programs will benefit from the designer's hard work.
Sheryl A. Fried, Co-director/Education
I have been a board member and volunteer of MORE for 26 years. As you have read in the introduction and testimonials above, MORE is many things to many people. We support people who have fled their homeland to escape war, persecution, ongoing hardships and so much more. We serve people in the community who have been discriminated against, those who have been forgotten, people in need of all types of support; spiritual, mental, emotional, physical, financial and more. We are a school, an advocacy program, a place to get some tutoring, a place to learn, to meet others, to make friends, to receive a hug, to laugh when you thought you never would again; a place to get a little extra food, a place to get some clothing, a place to make friends. For those who have lost their home, their country and even family members, MORE is their new home. MORE is many things to many people, but mostly, MORE is a place where people come and feel love. No matter who they are, student, client, person in need, staff, volunteer, or a person coming to drop off some clothing or food. MORE is a beacon of light and if we were to get a website, it would extend the pathways of communitcation for others to find MORE and to learn about us and for members of MORE to share their expereinces. It is a powerful tool that would greatly benefit many people. Thank you for your consideration.
Trescia Dunn, Volunteer and Board Member
I have been a volunteer at M.O.R.E. School for ten years and a board member for three years. I believe very strongly in the mission of M.O.R.E. The more that this school is known, the more people can receive the kind of help that they need.
