I'm Ruth Simpson, and I run a nonprofit called El Puente, which helps local Spanish speakers integrate into the community.
I started studying Spanish in 2012. Before that, I did not know any Spanish at all.
Shortly after moving to Searcy, a new Mexican restaurant opened which immediately became our favorite place to eat. A waiter named Oscar worked there. Oscar spoke limited English, but we developed a friendship. We began visiting each other's homes, and even though communication was challenging, our friendship continued to grow.
I searched online for free resources and began spending literally every free second I had studying.
I began to meet other Spanish speakers, and suddenly my eyes were opened to just how many people were living right here in my own community who struggle with things that should be very simple, just because of a language and cultural barrier. I began to feel an intense desire to help.
We made a list of all the people we could think of who might be interested in forming an organization to help the Hispanic community and called a meeting. The response was tremendously positive! We opened El Puente in the fall of 2019!
Since then, we have been very busy with all the programs and services you see mentioned on our website. We have already come a long way, and there is still so much more we want to do as we continue to grow!
If you had come to me before 2012 and said, "Someday you will be the executive director of a nonprofit organization, and by the way, you will first have to learn a whole new language and culture," I would have thought you were crazy! But I am very grateful for this unexpected journey that God has blessed me with, and I look forward to seeing what He has in store for us, and for El Puente, in the future!
I started studying Spanish in 2012. Before that, I did not know any Spanish at all.
Shortly after moving to Searcy, a new Mexican restaurant opened which immediately became our favorite place to eat. A waiter named Oscar worked there. Oscar spoke limited English, but we developed a friendship. We began visiting each other's homes, and even though communication was challenging, our friendship continued to grow.
I searched online for free resources and began spending literally every free second I had studying.
I began to meet other Spanish speakers, and suddenly my eyes were opened to just how many people were living right here in my own community who struggle with things that should be very simple, just because of a language and cultural barrier. I began to feel an intense desire to help.
We made a list of all the people we could think of who might be interested in forming an organization to help the Hispanic community and called a meeting. The response was tremendously positive! We opened El Puente in the fall of 2019!
Since then, we have been very busy with all the programs and services you see mentioned on our website. We have already come a long way, and there is still so much more we want to do as we continue to grow!
If you had come to me before 2012 and said, "Someday you will be the executive director of a nonprofit organization, and by the way, you will first have to learn a whole new language and culture," I would have thought you were crazy! But I am very grateful for this unexpected journey that God has blessed me with, and I look forward to seeing what He has in store for us, and for El Puente, in the future!