Readers Care: New Futures knocks down language barriers

When Martha Valdez came to the United States from Mexico as a child, she was stuck in classes taught only in Spanish, didn't learn English and missed a lot of school. Now a mother herself, she glows when she hears her 7-year-old son, Joseph Cabaņas, say his favorite subjects in school are writing and reading -- in English.

The New Futures after-school program he attends has given him a strong start. Here he finds help with his homework, improves his English, widens his vocabulary and builds his critical-thinking skills.

Valdez cradles baby Daniella in her arms. Her own English has improved dramatically with classes she's taken at New Futures. She speaks well enough now that she can help some of the other Spanish-speaking women in the classes as they practice their new language skills.

And Valdez said her strong English came through during a parent-teacher conference at Joseph's school this week. She was able to discuss the progress the young student is making and the areas he needs to keep working on. She understood perfectly when the teacher confirmed that Joseph is a good student.

"I don't want Joseph to miss a lot of school like I did," Valdez said. "I want him to learn a lot and be someone in the future."

The 2007 Readers Care Fund is now under way, and New Futures is one of the charities that will benefit this holiday season. This annual campaign provides year-round assistance for some of our less-fortunate neighbors. The dollars raised will give support to six charitable agencies that provide people with food, clothing, toys, education and other assistance. Mainly, it gives people with few opportunities a hope for the future.

The New Futures group in Burien meets in a couple of apartment units in the massive Vintage Park complex. The organization has two other locations at apartment complexes in SeaTac and White Center.

South King County has the highest number of families living in poverty in the county, and the largest number of single-parent households, according to recent studies.

Families are usually immigrants or refugees, and more than half of the adults speak little or no English. They can't help their children with homework and struggle to communicate with teachers and schools.

Ruth Dickey, executive director of New Futures, said some of the money donated by P-I readers will be used to open another center in a new location. Other donations will go to mentoring and tutoring programs for elementary school students.

Dickey said studies show that students in their program make dramatic improvements in their reading levels, and their parents become more involved with the schools.

"When parents are involved, their kids do better," Dickey said.

Juan Teran, 16, spoke only Spanish when he came to New Futures. Now he works at the center in Burien as a tutor for the younger children. He plans to go to college, and is one of the first participants to be offered a $1,000 college scholarship by New Futures.

Teran said he wants to become an architect.

"Making houses gets me so excited," he said. "So many people don't have houses, I want to make a shelter for them."

The six charities that will benefit from this year's drive are: The Forgotten Children's Fund, New Futures, Northwest Child, Renton Area Youth & Family Services, Rise n' Shine, and Seattle Education Access.