All Saints Literacy Center enables adult learners to meet the challenges of today by improving their reading, writing, math and English speaking skills. Qualified tutors provide an individualized learning plan tailored to the goals and objectives of the learner in a welcoming environment.
Recognizing the need for adult literacy services in Southwest Detroit, Sister Mary Hemmen, OP established All Saints Literacy Center as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and opened its doors, with Roger Frank, in July of 2015. Since then, ASLC has welcomed over 500 learners and over 200 volunteer tutors.
Sr. Mary remained a champion for adult literacy until her death in 2018. She is remembered as remarkable, a gem, pragmatic, and a faithful servant. We are honored to continue her vision and grateful to be one of seven literacy centers that is a Sponsored Institution of the Adrian Dominican Sisters.
Génesis Mancheren Ab’äj has been working as a filmmaker in the independent film and art world for the past ten years, primarily as a producer, actor and film editor. Their work, both inside and outside of film, is informed by Queer and Indigenous media practices, both taught and created with(in) their Maya Kaqchikel and Central American communities. They also bring a background in journalism and creative writing from Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism and New York University, respectively.
Their written, produced and edited work has shown at Toronto Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, VR Arles Festival, Icaro Film Festival, Rooftop Films, as well as Open Society Foundation, Leslie Lohman Museum, Centro Corona and more.
In the fall of 2024, Génesis was an independent researcher and short-term fellow at the Newberry Library, working on their interdisciplinary project called Re Re’ Mayab. As of October 2024, they are the Digital Media Literacy instructor of Detroit’s All Saints Literacy Center.
Elizabeth Nanas is an educator, designer, and organizational strategist specializing in collaborative learning, cross-cultural communication, multi-method evaluation, and social impact storytelling. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree and has more than 20 years of professional experience in K-12, post-secondary, nonprofit, automotive, biomedical learning, and economically informal communities. As of 2023, she is the Executive Director of Detroit’s All Saints Literacy Center.
Elizabeth has taught and conducted research for the Wayne State University Department of Anthropology and College of Engineering Management Master’s Program. She has held a King-Chavez-Parks Future Faculty Fellowship at Wayne State University and a Dow Chemical Hong Kong Research Fellowship at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and has advanced study in medical and organizational anthropology with a focus on identity, collaboration, innovation, and scientific breakthrough acceleration. Her work has been published in Anthropology News, Anthropology of Work, SAGE Reference Series on Green Society, Society for Applied Anthropology, and United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, and she has served as a grant reader for the Michigan Department of Education.
Elizabeth earned a social impact storytelling certificate from Georgetown University in 2020 and is using what she learned to help people harness the power of effective storytelling for the strategic benefit of organizations and society as a whole. Most recently, Elizabeth was honored to be a Fellow of the 2023 Detroit Workforce Leadership Academy. The Academy — launched in partnership by the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — brought leaders from across the Detroit workforce ecosystem together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects.
Isabel brings 14 years of experience in community services, previously serving as an ERSEA Associate (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) for Matrix Human Services. In that role, she provided essential support to a diverse population of students, including those with disabilities and English language learners.
Additionally, she assisted families in her previous role as a Building Associate, supporting various locations to ensure accessible resources and guidance.
Her dedication to education, inclusion, and community engagement continues to drive her work in providing wraparound support and opportunities for learners.
Passionate about mental health advocacy and awareness, Isabel understands firsthand the importance of breaking language barriers and pursuing higher education as a first-generation immigrant. Her commitment to family and community services drives her work in ensuring wrap-around support and accessible resources for families as they navigate their educational journeys.
Since April 2022, Isabel has served as Program Manager at Detroit’s All Saints Literacy Center, where she continues to empower learners and foster inclusive opportunities for growth.
