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Los Angeles, CA

English Learners Leading Change

Grant Amount

$4,975

Year Awarded

2025-2026

Project Coordinator

Alejandra Reynoso

Grant Type

Individual

Local Association

United Teachers Los Angeles

Focus Area

Civic Engagement and Community Leadership

About the Project

The “English Learners Leading Change” project supports the creation of a student-led club for Emerging Bilingual and immigrant high school students to provide academic language support, social connection, and leadership development. The club will be coordinated across four campuses where a core team of students will plan monthly meetings, organize cultural events, and build welcoming environments for newcomers. Activities such as language games, peer mentorship, and community-building exercises are designed to strengthen language acquisition, increase reclassification rates, and promote a sense of belonging. The program also involves families and community partners and includes field trips to universities and cultural institutions. By empowering students to lead with empathy and advocate for equity, this project builds school unity and prepares participants to thrive as multilingual, community-engaged leaders.

Meet the Project Coordinator

Alejandra Reynoso

Alejandra Reynoso is a high school English language development and long-term English learner teacher at Public Service Community School in Los Angeles. In her ninth year of teaching, she has taught English language arts and English language development in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Outside of the classroom, Alejandra is the Vice Chair of her local UTLA chapter and also facilitates the Newcomer Club and Sewing Club at her school. With her project, "English Learners Leading Change", Alejandra hopes to develop leadership, advocacy, and solidarity amongst the multilingual learners and immigrant students on her campus.

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