Lul Omar uses her empathy to connect with new families By Rachael Hanel | Photo by Pat Christman
L
ul Omar hadn’t been in her role at the YWCA for too long when she started working with a particular preschooler. His family did not speak much English, but he was so young he was like a little sponge. By the time he was in kindergarten, he could spell his nine-letter first name with ease, which greatly impressed his teacher. The teacher asked, “Where did you go to preschool?” The child replied simply, “Lul.” 16 • MARCH 2021 • Women
Omar laughs at the memory, a deep, rich laugh that frequently punctuates her speech. While the child’s older siblings attended English language classes, he never had to because of that early education. He’s now in seventh grade and flourishing. “Two days a week can change a life,” Omar says. Omar was recently recognized for her 10 years working as a parent educator at the YWCA. She works with families and children of immigrants, supporting them in a variety of ways—
