NEWBURYPORT — Nancy Sullivan has spent her life teaching others.
First her teaching career began at Nock Middle School, where she taught life skills for 25 years. Then she retired and began volunteering for the International Rescue Committee's North Star Program. During the last four years, she has worked with Somali Bantu women teaching them English and helping them acclimate to the United States, as some had never had electricity or running water before.
Now she is receiving recognition for her work. Sullivan will be honored as an Unsung Heroine for 2008 by the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women today.
"It was completely unexpected," Sullivan said. "I was delighted to be included in the group of women in Massachusetts."
Unsung Heroines are women who don't make the news but make the difference in their communities, businesses or volunteer endeavors, according to MCSW Executive Director Lindsay Brantley.
"They are the women who quietly, without fanfare or recognition and usually behind the scenes, use their time, talent, spirit and enthusiasm to enrich the lives of others," Brantley said. "We are awed by the fabulous work women across the commonwealth are doing and thankful to the many nominators who brought these incredible women to our attention."
The Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants nominated Sullivan, because she worked for International Rescue Committee, one of their providers.
"It's kind of a combination of her many years of community service in Newburyport and the work she does in general to create awareness about refugees and immigrants to make them welcome," said Katie Nye, a program coordinator at the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants.
For the last 20 years, Sullivan has taught English as a second language while spending the last four years working with Somali Bantu women.
"I think this award was great for her because she is very humble. She doesn't go out and look for recognition," Nye said. "She takes it upon herself to make people feel like they are a part of our communities and are welcome."
Sullivan has done everything from be a homestay for the Greater Newburyport-Bura alliance, where she let a family stay with her, to acting as a teacher and mentor working in the homes of Somali women, giving them the life skills they need to survive.
"I would say in terms of welcoming people in general, providing meals, homestays, taking them to appointments — she's helped a large number of refugees," Nye said.
Sullivan has never looked for recognition for all of the work she has done for one reason: She simply loves it.
"(Teaching Somali Bantu women) is just a really good fit for me," Sullivan said. "This program is teaching English through life skills, and I've been doing it since I retired. I absolutely love it."
