Ongoing registration.
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit building bridges among residents in the Des Moines metro through adult English Language Learner classes, the New Roots Garden, and the Clothing Exchange.
2025–2026 Classes: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6–8 PM.
05/18/2026
Another great year of ELL classes has come to an end! Thank you to everyone who joined us this year and helped make it such a memorable one.
Have a great summer, and we look forward to seeing everyone again in September! 🍎📚✨
As we wrap up another wonderful year of ELL classes, we want to thank everyone who was part of it. It’s been a great year filled with learning, growth, and connection!
A few upcoming updates for ELL classes:
• Final 2025–2026 ELL classes will be held on May 12
• Tentative registration dates for 2026–2027 classes are September 1 & 3
• The first day of 2026–2027 ELL classes will be September 8
• Please note: there will be no new registrations during June, July, or August.
03/31/2026
Celebrate Dia del Nino
Saturday, April 25
10 AM-12 PM
Union Park (2009 Saylor Road, Des Moines
Join us at Union Park to celebrate Día del Niño with FREE activities for the whole family: books, piñatas, carousel rides, balloon art, folkloric dance groups, and so much MORE!
Día del Niño is an international celebration of the joy found in early childhood and reading. For the fifth year, the Des Moines Public Library and its community partners are celebrating together!
03/29/2026
❤️
We’re continuing to welcome new faces each week, and it’s been so good to see our classes growing.
Last night we had 39 students in attendance, including a new registrant joining us from Somalia. Even during Spring Break, our community showed up with 24–25 students across classes and new registrations coming in.
As a quick update, our final ELL class for the spring session will be Tuesday, May 12.
We’re currently discussing a June–July summer session and will share more details soon. Be sure to check back for updates.
03/23/2026
The biggest thank you!
A huge thank you to Valley Disaster Relief for the wood chips to refresh our New Roots Garden's pathways! 🫶
03/23/2026
Save the date!
03/19/2026
Spring has sprung!
03/02/2026
"Last night, my family and I went to 8CC to help with their ELL classes. We served as greeters, welcoming individuals and families as they arrived for classes, along with free childcare. In all, there were 47 people, students and children, who came through the doors. The smiles when we opened the door and said hello melted my heart. People were genuinely happy to be there, eager to learn, grateful for the welcome. Many hadn’t missed a class all year, showing a quiet dedication and commitment to keep learning.
What made the evening especially meaningful for me was bringing along a new friend. I met her recently after she moved here from Cuba. She came to our church seeking God, and because she speaks very little English, we communicate mostly through Google Translate. When I told her my family and I were going to help greet and asked if she’d like to “come with me,” she said yes.
On the way home, again through Google Translate, she shared how kind everyone was, how loved she felt, and how much she wants to go back."
Pastor Lana
Ankeny First United Methodist Church
01/30/2026