Westminster Presbyterian Church in Trenton is helping teach Spanish to those who interact with the Latino community.
We are the daughters and sons of immigrants, most of us - heirs to generations who came to this country over the centuries to find a better future for us, their children.
Whether their language of origin was Chinese, Yiddish, Vietnamese or German, they struggled to learn the new ways and the strange words, wrapping their tongues around unfamiliar vowels and wayward cadences.
They were met with varying degrees of welcome over the years: open arms or hostile glances, too often downright hostility.
But sometimes, the warmest reception came from members of faith communities - a tradition that is playing out to this day in the basement of a stately brick church in the heart of Trenton.
On a recent Tuesday, two dozen English-speaking students sat around a table at Westminster Presbyterian Church practicing basic Spanish words: gracias, por favor, hola.
Couple's investment in city goes beyond McDonald's
Their goal was reach out to the city's fast-growing Latino population - close to 30,000 strong as of the latest U.S. Census figures.
By the time these eager learners finished the six two-hour sessions, they would not only have a continuing education credit from Mercer County Community College, but they would also have the tools to build bridges rather than erect barriers.
What a great notion. Kudos to the church's pastor, the Rev. Karen Hernandez-Granzen, for having the sensitivity to bring the idea to fruition.
"In order for us to reach out and reach into the Hispanic community, we really have to be intentional about learning the language," Hernandez-Granzen says.
Church hopes to build bridges with Spanish course
She's not talking about becoming fluent in Spanish - that's impossible to do in three years, let alone three weeks - but rather about having enough proficiency to make members of the Latino community feel welcome, and to let them know about resources and programs their new city has to offer them.
Council members Marge Caldwell-Wilson and Verlina Reynolds-Jackson have been sitting in on the classes, as has Kelly Ingram, president of the I Am Trenton Community Foundation.
All will come away better equipped to serve their constituents, and all will have a firmer handle on a culture that is bringing much energy to American shores.
No one is saying new Hispanic residents don't ultimately have the obligation to learn English - of course they do. Recognizing that reality, Westminster has been sponsoring English classes for four years.
But extending a hand in friendship and understanding is an important gesture of support when you're grappling with as many challenges as immigrants do. And wouldn't our grandparents, whatever their origins, have been grateful for that?