In May 2020, La Colectiva began a series of regular Zoom meetings with ESL Program providers across southern Delaware. This active engagement of La Colectiva members in the ESL Affinity Group involved weekly one-hour meetings in which members discussed numerous challenges in planning for Fall 2020 programs. This group of twelve dedicated leaders (volunteers and paid staff) worked to ensure their programs would open safely for teachers and learners.

Members discussed the difficulties of trying to plan with so many unknowns.

  • Would their classroom spaces in schools, churches and libraries be open for in-person instruction?
  • How might they transition curricula to online instruction?
  • Would volunteer teachers, many of whom are retired, take the risks of teaching in-person?
  • How many had experience with online instruction?

And what about students?

  • How would they get information about programs?
  • How would registration be conducted?
  • Would students have the tools needed to access instruction – including internet, Wi-Fi and a laptop – and the knowledge to ultimately participate?
  • How would costs for online instruction tools be covered?

Each week as challenges grew, members shared solutions to these common issues. By July, we were ready to reduce our meetings to every third week where we’d update each other and discuss progress on the most pressing collaborative approaches. For example, we addressed concerns about the number of students registering for fall programs and tools were developed to market the availability of all ESL programs. We created the ESL Program tool on the La Colectiva website and posters & flyers with key program information are in production. For those needing the navigational support of bilingual guides at the Family Support and Navigation Program (La Esperanza), they are available by phone and La Colectiva’s online bilingual Family Support Center will shortly help connect students with the programs that best meet their needs. This coordinated approach will hopefully ensure those who want to learn English will have the ability to find a program that best fits their needs. It is also meant to ensure programs are filled to maximum capacity and those who may be assigned to a waiting list can find another program with immediate openings.

In building the capacity to serve Latino families with language and literacy support, ESL providers are making huge investments in Delaware. Ask any parent studying English why they choose to do so and most will say “To help my children with their school work.” Families are strengthened with opportunities to advance their education, careers, income, health, and in so many other ways. It is truly an honor to engage our ESL Providers and to identify ways to continue to invest in their collective work.

This is just the beginning of our efforts to learn how affinity groups of our partners can get to know and help each other deliver on their organizations’ mission. Next up – starting 8/24 – we’ll have meetings with our partners to discuss ways to best support young immigrant families.

With a vision of an empowered, connected and trusting Latino community, La Colectiva is focused on building relationships, engagement, knowledge and collaborative approaches among our nonprofit, for-profit, governmental and community members in their efforts to serve families. Our work together is more important now than ever.