About Us
ABOUT US
English Together served hundreds of Latino workers in nearby communities.
English Together brings together and creates rich connections between ordinary speakers of English and low-wage workers by preparing volunteers to serve as one-on-one “practice partners” in workplace English.
From its beginning as a service-learning Cardinal Course at Stanford University, English Together has served hundreds of Stanford students who engaged in coaching campus custodians through the Habla el Dia and Habla la Noche programs as well as immigrant workers in nearby communities.
Our Values
English Together focuses on building community and creating opportunities for people to come together to share goals and build trust.
Americans of all backgrounds have much to gain especially from getting to know and interacting with workers whose lives are often led next to, but very distant from, the worlds of the people that they serve.
Expanding opportunity for all is a key step in the organization's vision of a better world.
Impact & Consequences
Volunteers comment positively on the value of getting to know people very different from themselves.
Workers report success, for example, in passing credentialing examinations, in understanding their young children’s assignments, in participating in parent-teacher conferences without an interpreter, in eavesdropping on workplace conversations, and in navigating Craigslist ads to find new housing.
Make A difference NOW
Volunteers support Latino workers in developing practical, every-day, workplace English.
Our History
English Together was founded in 2021 by Guadalupe Valdés, the Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor of Education, Emerita at Stanford University.
The initiative builds on Valdés’ experience of over 25 years and working with college-age volunteers in various projects and surrounding communities including Ravenswood English and Ingles Personal in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, and Mountain View, California.
What past coaches have to say
Many adult English learners are linguistically isolated in minority communities. They have few opportunities to interact with supportive English speakers. Working one-on-one with a “practice-partner” helps learners develop the English that they need to use every day.
Meet
Our Board
Our board is made up of individuals committed to education and public service.
Guadalupe Valdés
Bonnie Katz Tenenbaum Professor of Education, Emerita at Stanford University
Lily Wong Fillmore
Jerome Hutto Professor of Education, Emerita, University of California at Berkeley
Bernard R. Gifford
Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
Ed Alvarez
Chairman & president of the Latino Education Advancement Foundation
Patti Constantakis, PhD
Director on the Economic Opportunity team for Walmart.org
Ben Linder
Board Member
Jim Lianides
Board Member
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Our Advisors
Our advisors are individuals committed to education and public service.
Secundino & Ninfa Zuno
United through Education
Lilly Quiñonez
Advisor
