Canal Alliance Interview
Through the community partner interview and my experiences with them, I was able to learn about the multiple aspects of Canal Alliance. Previously I only really knew about the aspect I volunteered with. My service learning was in their English as second language classes. They provide a number of services including after school tutoring programs, English classes, legal support, teaching job skills, and immediate assistance and counseling. One thing that Canal Alliance wants to emphasize is its aspect of community togetherness. They have people that call their clients, students, and other members simply to check in with them. It is very obvious that the Canal Alliance cares about these people and wants to help them in any way possible. During the interview, I also learned that they do sometimes have people that have taken advantage of their programs and returned to give back to that same community. The people that come back know the struggles these people face and can offer support and empathy.
Canal Alliance has been everything they can during this time of crisis. They have applied and received a grant through a nonprofit in San Francisco called Tipping Point that financially assists their members. Unemployment is a huge problem that the community in the Canal is facing. Since many of them work nonessential jobs almost everyone who participates in the Canal Alliance programs has lost their job. Because of this, most of them need financial assistance to make ends meet and put food on the table. The food banks remain open and serve two thousand people every week. Unfortunately, distance learning is not possible for a lot of the students in the ESL program, and teachers have begun to just check in on students and make sure they are doing ok. Canal Alliance works with the highest risk population. The reality is that some people are living in a tiny apartment with 8 other people and it is not possible to practice social distancing. Many undocumented immigrants are uneducated and don’t have access to the items they need to survive. Canal Alliance is doing its part to educate people on COVID-19 and social distancing. The lines are around the corner at the food banks and Canal Alliance has been handing out pamphlets.
Canal Alliance is doing its part to help their members develop critical consciousness. Because they serve subordinate groups and undocumented immigrants, many of their clients believe they are at the bottom of the social hierarchy and that they may not deserve that same treatment but that is not true. Canal Alliance believes that no matter what your background, you should be able to dream big and receive the opportunity and equal treatment that can get you to that dream. Almost all of the members have English as a second language and because people see not speaking English as uneducated or weak, they provide ESL classes to help them get on the path to higher education and more opportunities. Discrimination is a huge barrier for all minorities, citizens, or not. It teaches people not to accept who they are and to fit in with the dominant group but they will never be accepted as one. By developing a critical consciousness, they begin to realize that they shouldn’t have to change who they are or be ashamed of their culture or where they came from. Canal Alliance educates people on how to effectively work up society’s totem pole starting with English classes and immigration resources.
Canal Alliance believes that everyone has the right to fight for what they want and that education is a practice of freedom. Canal Alliance, as mentioned above, discusses tough structural issues with their students to help they develop critical consciousness. Society tries to force preconceived notions that “illegal aliens” are only here to make our jobs and our money and that they are dangerous criminals who work for the drugs rings; however, we need to be able to see past those stereotypes and falsities to understand that they are here for a better life. My role as an aid in the ESL class was to engage with the students and help them learn and practice English. I want to make an impact on the students’ lives by not only helping them in class but by also providing a friendly face and support in any aspect of their lives. Even though I was only able to be there for a few weeks to get to know the program, I know Canal Alliance is doing everything in their power to assist their members. They realize that education is not a priority for their students at the moment so they made changes to best support their community at this specific time. This is why teachers are working caseloads, the food bank is fully staffed, and they are fighting to get grants and donations to support their members financially. As things begin to fall back into normal, Canal Alliance is planning on taking steps to relieve as much stress as possible for their students and make a smooth transition back into education.
