A Springfield non-profit wants to increase opportunities for immigrants. Downtown Languages has received two major grants to expand a couple of their programs.
Pasos Al Futuro will benefit from the grant money. It trains Latino youth in leadership and job and scholarship acquisition. Organization director, Paulina Romo says Pasos’ aim is to increase the students’ confidence.
Pilas Family Literacy is the other program. Pilas teaches English to approximately 100 Lane County families through partnerships with the Bethel and Springfield school districts.
While seventy percent of downtown languages’ students are of Latino origins, they serve people hailing from countries all over the world, including China, Russia and Saudi Arabia.