Learning In Style School

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, and we have a lot to celebrate!

Volunteers don't just give their time, they show up as neighbors, mentors, and friends. They tutor students, support women rebuilding their lives, and help build the kind of community where every person belongs.

To every volunteer who has walked through our doors: thank you. You are the heartbeat of this work.

Special thanks to the Cretin-Derham Hall students pictured – you made a difference!

If you've ever thought about getting involved, we’d love to welcome you. Learn more about volunteering at: https://www.accolamn.org/volunteer-opportunities

Yesterday morning, over 360 neighbors gathered in person and virtually, to celebrate what's possible when a community comes together with purpose.

Thank you for being part of it. Every seat filled, every screen lit up, every act of generosity is a step toward a more just and welcoming community for all.

The morning may be over, but the impact doesn't stop here. Give, volunteer, or join the Impact Circle, and keep the momentum going at accolamn.org

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors. Your generosity makes this morning, and so much more, possible. 🙏

📸 by Tamika Garscia ( , tamikagarsciaphotography.com)

In-person registration for Accola's Annual Impact Breakfast is now FULL, and we couldn't be more excited! 🌟

Not registered yet? You can still be part of this special morning: Virtual Registration is now open!

Come hear firsthand how education opens doors, how neighbors are building new lives, and celebrate that in community.

This event is free and open to everyone. ✨ Invite a neighbor, a colleague, or anyone who believes in the power of education and community.

Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/YKREgR4eQUGpTl3MDLrVcQ #/registration

A heartfelt thank you to Accola's incredible sponsors. Your generosity makes this morning, and every classroom, possible. 🙏

Meeting the moment, together ✨

Learning In Style School is collecting gently used, pre‑lit learning toys and manipulatives to support hands‑on learning for our adult learners and their children. Your unused items can make a meaningful difference right now.

Ready to donate?

Visit: https://www.accolamn.org/meet-the-moment

Get drop‑off details, and help meet the needs of this moment.

Next week, Feb. 19th, you’ll have the opportunity to see how you can make a difference in your community .

We’re opening our doors to share with you how we’re advocating for the dignity and well-being of every person we serve, and more importantly, how you can get involved.

We’ll be joined by guest speaker, Amy Smith, who serves as Social Work Director and clinical faculty member at the ‘s Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services. Amy supervises UST student social workers as they provide on-site case management to Learning in Style students, bringing deep expertise in removing barriers to care and connecting people to resources.

Join us for our upcoming Open House to learn how we are addressing the pressing needs of our time. Together, we can build a future rooted in belonging and equity.

RSVP @ https://www.wixforms.com/f/7366844399520580673

Our students deserve safety. They deserve stability. They deserve a community that stands with them. When ICE activity threatens the daily lives of adult learners and their families, Accola’s Learning in Style School responds to meet the needs of our time.

The Response Fund makes it possible to step in the moment a crisis hits. We're delivering rapid, flexible assistance (including emergency resources like groceries, and critical financial support) without delays or restrictions. We make sure no student faces a frightening moment alone.

Make an Impact: https://www.accolamn.org/meet-the-moment

Concerned for your neighbors ? Immigrant communities right here need us now more than ever, and you can be a part of that support.

Learning in Style School is a program of Accola , where we create spaces of safety and compassionate connection — advocating for the dignity and well-being of every person we serve.

Join us for our upcoming Open House to see how we are meeting the needs of our time, and come together to build a future rooted in belonging and equity.

Your voice matters. Your presence matters. Your impact matters.

RSVP @ https://bit.ly/45ZGt9W

Accola is making a positive impact for immigrants in our every day, and now is your chance to be a part of it.

At our monthly open houses, you can see how we’re meeting the needs of our time, and creating spaces of safety, support, and compassionate connection — advocating for the dignity and well-being of every person we serve.

This month, we’re honored to welcome a graduate from Sarah's an Oasis for Women as our special guest speaker. She’ll share her inspiring story of resilience, and how Sarah’s helped her begin a new chapter in life.

You'll also have the chance to meet our President, connect with program directors, and take a guided tour of our school. Discover how we’re making a difference together.

Let’s make this year one of belonging, impact, and hope! RSVP @ https://bit.ly/45ZGt9W

Many, many thanks to teacher Eva Moline for leading 3 sessions of Know Your Rights trainings for our students at Learning in Style (LIS). 

Her deep expertise, informed approach, and the earned trust her students and colleagues have in her ensured that these sessions were extremely relevant and immediately useful.

These session also showed students how much their teachers care about them and their families, and the deep support they have at school and in our community. 

Ready to make a change in your community? Learn how you can support our work: https://bit.ly/48KzjZT

photography class partnered with Learning in Style students to bring cherished photos back to life. Students submitted photos for restoration, and Blake students worked their magic: digitally repairing and printing them.

During the presentation, LIS students shared the stories behind their photos, while Blake students explained the restoration process. About 15 photos were beautifully restored, and a few moments even brought tears. It was such a touching experience!

We hope everyone has a peaceful winter break.

With the increasing ICE presence in our communities, many Learning in Style students are afraid to leave their homes, even for work or for school.

We have first-hand stories of our families torn apart despite valid work permits, immigration cases frozen, and programs they rely on disappearing. In this climate of uncertainty, we choose unity, respect, and compassion.

Our staff created this board to celebrate the cultures, languages, and stories that make up our student body. It is a bold and visual reminder that when we honor each other’s differences, we build a stronger, more vibrant community together.

Accola's value of inclusion without exception — it is not just noble; it is necessary.