county lines MONTGOMERY HEROES The Story of Their Lives How one woman is helping young immigrants adjust to a new life Where words fail to tell a story, art speaks. For the past two years, Beatriz del Olmo-Fiddleman has been teaching a storytelling bookbinding class to students in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program at two county high schools. It serves as a way of helping young people new to America find their own identity and voice in an unfamiliar place. In her class, students create books of all different styles, shapes and sizes, but each one represents that student’s individuality. Students use images of their cultures, personal experiences, customs and traditions to create a personalized book that is a reflection of past experiences and a story of how they are adjusting to their new communities and their future goals. Del Olmo-Fiddleman, whose full-time career is selling real estate with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Rockville, started her bookbinding class as an artist resident at the Sandy Spring Museum. She was then invited to teach the class at Sherwood High School and later Einstein High School. She also teaches the class to adults and children at the Glen Echo Park Partnership for Arts and Culture. Although real estate and art don’t appear to be connected, del Olmo-Fiddleman (www.sorbettedesign.com) feels the two complement each other very well. With her own past of moving from Mexico to California then across the country to Maryland, she knows firsthand the physical and psychological effects such a change can take and how art can help cope. “As a storyteller, I have found real estate as much fun as making art,” del Olmo-Fiddleman says. “Moving to a new neighborhood can be a process of self-adaptation, and I try to teach my students to adapt to their new communities through art.” Del Olmo-Fiddleman has also developed strong, trusting relationships with her students, using skills that have helped her to quickly flourish with her clients in real estate. “It’s no surprise to me that Beatriz is able to relate to students on this level. It’s what makes her a great real estate agent as well,” says Kelly Vezzi, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage branch vice president in the Rockville office. “Beatriz’s tie to the community makes her a great asset to Coldwell Banker and our local arts.” Del Olmo-Fiddleman recently applied and received the Arts & Humanities Council of Montgomery County’s Single Artist Grant to support the art classes for her 80 ESOL high school students. This $3,500 grant will be used to continue del Olmo-Fiddleman’s work with immigrant youth in exploring and creating new avenues for this art-making expression. With this Arts & Humanities Council grant and Coldwell Banker’s flexibility, del Olmo-Fiddleman now has the time to enjoy both career fields and her family. “I take pride in my double career,” del Olmo-Fiddleman says. “I believe everyone has a story to tell about where home is to you personally, and I feel so accomplished when I help my students or my clients share that journey.” – Lauren Moyer 16 MontgomeryMag.com // December/January 2017