Astrid Silva, executive director of Dream Big Nevada, listens to a question during a CSN in the Community panel discussion in the Rafael Rivera Community Center Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. The Facebook Live event helped kick off a community partnership with Immigrant Home Foundation and Dream Big Nevada that will offer free ESL classes to the community.
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020 | 2 a.m.
Lixmar Herrera left Venezuela three years to escape the ongoing economic crisis and political turmoil.
She eventually found her way to Las Vegas when her husband got a job at a Google data center.
Herrera, 45, can read English but wants to improve her conversational skills to improve her career prospects.
She is one of more than 500 residents who signed up for a free English language program at the College of Southern Nevada, where the enrollees also receive career preparation.
Students can be trained and receive certificates of completion in occupations such as HVAC technician, nursing assistant and dialysis technician. The program also provides GED and high school equivalency preparation and information on how to obtain U.S. citizenship.
Herrera worked as an engineer in the oil industry in Venezuela for nearly two decades, but has been unable to find work in her three years living the U.S. The only thing holding her back is the language barrier, which is why the CSN program is important, she said.
Students complete an assessment to determine whether they belong in an advanced or beginner class. They can take six weeks to a year to complete the course work, depending on whether they are working toward high school equivalency or career readiness.
CSN partnered with the Immigrant Home Foundation and Dream Big, organizations providing legal services to immigrants, to sponsor at least 600 residents to complete the program at no cost. They cover tuition and supplies, and recruit the students to join the program.
“It has been many years that our community has needed programs like this. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude that this partnership has been created,” said Astrid Silva, the Dream Big Nevada executive director.
CSN and the nonprofits came together after directors realized the Latino community was having challenges accessing information during the pandemic, said Ruben Kihuen, director of external affairs for the Immigrant Home Foundation. Kihuen said the foundation became a “one stop shop,” where people called daily asking for information and services.
“People didn’t know where to go. We felt there was a sense of responsibility for us to step up and help however we could,” said Kihuen, who was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when he was 8 years old.
“If it weren’t for ESL classes that were offered in the school that I attended, I would have never learned English and gone on to succeed in my career,” he continued.
Santana Foster, 54, went through the English language program four years ago and now works as an administrative assistant at CSN. She moved to Las Vegas from Thailand 16 years ago.
“Back then, I was 50 so it was really challenging because when you go to school when you get older, you can’t remember everything. We have to make extra effort,” she said.
Classes are held at CSN campuses throughout the valley, or community centers in areas with a heavy Latino population, officials said.
