ESL Student's Leadership Makes A Difference

On Monday, April 14th at 6:00 pm a contingent of CFNC children, parents, ESL students and staff, converged on City Hall to ask the City Council to allocate surplus money to the Children’s Fund so that CFNC could continue to provide much needed services to Alexandria's low-income residents.

Approximately 25 children and parents met at our main office to show their support of CFNC's commitment to children and families. CFNC staff planned to use taxicabs to transport everyone; however, Andrea Sierra Aguilar rallied everyone to carpool so that CFNC would not have to incur any expenses. Her leadership was a success, and parents who had cars transported others to and from the event.

Andrea Sierra Aguilar is one of my oldest continuing clients. I first met her in 2001 when I started working here. She had started ESL classes at the old Presidential Greens site. Through the years, she attended English classes, as she was able per her work schedule. At present, she has gained enough command of the English language to get a better position in her job, and to be able to volunteer at our Birchmere center in our preschool classes. Andrea is so proud of being able to give back that she even designed and wears a CFNC volunteer badge. Andrea is a perfect example of an immigrant woman’s desire to better herself and attain the American Dream.

by Blanca Leyva, Director of Family Support Services