Casting light

Giving night school a whole new name
Alexander Valley grape grower and mother of four, Lynn Horowitz had a nagging awareness about the Spanish speaking vineyard workers working her land – they had small kids in school and she wondered, how do they help their kids with their homework, or participate in teacher conferences, if they don’t know English themselves? This observant curiosity led to an idea, and very quickly to action.
Lynn’s moxie and the luck of meeting a like-minded school principal came together to create what is one of the most successful adult English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the area. Bob Raines, Alexander Valley School Superintendent/Principal recalls, “Lynn came to see me at school with an incredible proposition; she would, with the help of donations from local wineries and the support of a family foundation, establish a free adult English-as-a-Second-Language Program. From that start, we have provided a cost-free program for eight years.”
On any given Monday, Wednesday or Thursday night, the Alexander Valley School Adult ESL program is buzzing with activity. The program currently has 34 adults who show up, often with their kids in tow, after a long and typically hard day’s work. Moises, a fourth year student in the advanced class, admits “I like to come here to learn, it’s better than sitting at home watching TV, and it really helps me a lot.” Childcare and homework help is provided for the younger children, so the parents can come to class without distraction, or worry.
Coming from towns in Michoacan or Oaxaca in Mexico where a formal school setting was not always available, parents of children who attend Alexander Valley School can now join with their kids in the learning experience, many for the first time in their lives. Lynn says with a big smile on her face, “It’s wonderful to see the parents get their certificates of achievement, and their kids are there beaming right along with them – it has gone beyond English language learning, it’s become a catalyst for an education culture in these families.”
The adult students describe the limitations they felt when they first started their jobs and couldn’t understand their supervisors. Now, they take great pride in being able to talk to their supervisors and coworkers in English. “I tell my supervisor when he speaks to me in Spanish – I want to practice my English, please only talk to me in English. And I can work with him that way. I feel really happy about that,” said Abraham, a student in the advanced class. Maria, who works at the Alexander Valley School during the day, did not speak English five years ago. Now, she is often called upon to help translate when there are needs at the school.
The adult students cite the satisfaction in the independence of being able to make their own appointments for the doctor or dentist, and where they used to need a translator to go with them, now they can have a direct one-on-one conversation with their physicians. Alex, a fourth year student also, said through a big grin “I used to be more reserved. I’m not shy, but without English I would hesitate and just avoid talking to people. Now, I can call stores and order things myself, I can follow up on the order, I can interact with customer service myself. It makes me really happy to be able to do these things.”
Raines sums it up this way “I cannot adequately convey the impact that this adult program has had on their children. To see their parents come to classes and do their own homework after long days at work inspires our students.” As the program’s tag line says, “English Learners Making our Community Stronger” – one family at at time.
For more information or to support the Alexander Valley Adult ESL program, contact Lynn Horowitz at [email protected].
Taya Levine lives in Healdsburg and can’t be here without being involved in community. She has a passion for promoting philanthropy and is currently the board chair of Healdsburg Forever.org, our community endowment fund. Taya can be reached by email at [email protected].