Reporter Peggy Lowe introduces us to her mother, Bonnie.  Bonnie is an Irish immigrant who settled with her family in Nebraska to farm.  Now, at the ripe age of 80, Bonnie is helping the newest wave of immigrants learn English.  She is teaching ESL to Colombian and Mexican meatpackers at night school.

Peggy’s mother, Bonnie and one of her students, Andrea.

Peggy Lowe is a multimedia reporter for Harvest Public Media and for KCUR, the NPR station in Kansas City, Mo. She was previously a reporter for the Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News, and the Orange County Register. 

Photo by Paul J. Richards AFP/Getty Images