History & Results
In 1991, Marcos Cajina, Melanie Stephens and a committed group of other volunteers formed Centro Latino to address the pressing need for basic literacy instruction among immigrant Latinos. Then as now, most non-literate Spanish speakers would enroll in English as a Second Language programs, find them too difficult, and after struggling to keep up without success, drop out. Centro Latino set out to bridge the chasm separating these non-literate immigrants from learning English and other vital skills by teaching them first to read and write in Spanish. This approach builds the foundational reading and writing skills, as well as the confidence, students need.
Over the past 17 years, Centro Latino has taught basic literacy skills to 2,000 non-literate Latino youth and adults, and functional skills (basic math, grammar, financial literacy, health literacy and computer skills) to an additional 5,000 low-income Latinos. Each of our programs has undergone rigorous formative and summative evaluations conducted by Dr. Concepción Valadez of the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies.
For the first 7 years, Centro Latino provided all of its basic literacy classes for adults and youth at partner sites, including elementary schools, community centers, libraries, and churches throughout central Los Angeles. In 1998, we established our permanent home in Pico-Union in street-front space generously provided by the Los Angeles Community Design Center. Thanks to a partnership with the Community Housing Assistance Program, our programs expanded into the neighboring building as well. Since 2001, Centro Latino’s Adult, Technology and Children’s Education Centers and offices have occupied the first floor of an entire city block.
© 2007 Centro Latino for Literacy
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