Elaine Moran is currently serving the St. James ESL ministry through a Literacy*AmeriCorps position. 
 
Originally from the Buffalo, New York area, Elaine’s first stop on her westward journey was in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she studied environmental science at Purdue University. Following graduation, her sojourns led her to the Seattle area, where she has lived since 1984.
 
Prior to joining St. James ESL, Elaine’s professional work included 15 years in the environmental cleanup field, where she held positions in both government agencies and the private sector.
 
In 2004, following travel to some of the most impoverished areas in Central and North America, Elaine and her husband Malachy founded an international nonprofit organization, New World Villages.  The nonprofit has been directly involved in poverty eradication programs, supporting education and sustainable farming, most recently in Belize.
 
Elaine’s previous volunteer experience included working in various soup kitchens, involvement in ecumenical outreach, and serving on parish and archdiocesan commissions.  Most recently, Elaine volunteered as a tutor at St. James ESL, and was so inspired by the experience that she chose to pursue TESOL certification, which she completed in May 2010. 
 
Elaine has three young adult sons, Charles, Malachy and Padraic, and is currently a St. James parishioner.  In her spare time, she enjoys writing, painting, hiking, cross-country skiing, reading and travel.

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