"One cannot expect positive results from an educational or political action program which fails to respect the particular view of the world held by the people. Such a program constitutes cultural invasion, good intentions notwithstanding." - Paulo Freire

Centro Romero's clients primarily consist of Hispanic students who are from Central and South America. These students are living in the Rogers Park area, most with only their immediate families, and trying to find work and send their children to school. It is typical for the students to have over six or seven siblings who are still living in their home countries, but luckily still keep in touch. Many of the students are also trying to get US citizenship, which is one of the main reasons why they are taking the classes. Culture is extremely important to the students at the center, and being able to integrate culture with teaching strategies helps the students learn in a comfortable and familiar enviornment. 

Each of the students at Centro Romero has a story to tell about how they came to Chicago, why they are here, and most importantly, why they want to learn English. Here are a few of their stories:

JORGE:

Jorge is from El Salvador, and is the epitome of a family man - he has several children, a wife, and dedicates himself to his work in order to provide a good life to those he loves. His journey to Chicago has been a difficult one, but luckily, he was able to situate his family safely in our community. Upon arriving, he did not have a US drivers license, but managed to drive all the way from Texas to Chicago, in order to meet up with his family. He was able to find a job with a construction company, which makes him very happy. When asked why he comes to Centro Romero every day after work, he explained that if his boss wants him to speak english without trouble. If he doesn't learn english, he will be fired. He is motivated to broaden his vocabulary, learn to write, and understand native speakers with ease. Learning english will help him keep his job, teach his kids, and live a happy life in the United States.

ERNESTINA:

Ernestina is a very hard working and strong woman. She is a mother of two and recently became a grandmother. She moved from Michoacán, Mexico several years ago, and became a nanny for a fairly wealthy family in Chicago. Over the past few years, she has worked with the family, taking care of their son and cleaning the house. She explained that she wanted to learn english so that she can converse more easily with the family, become more independent, and be able to get around in our community.