Northwestern University

Founder, Upward Scholars

My blog, One Wild and Precious Life, focuses on people in our community who have inspired me and who, I hope, will inspire you as well.

Embarcadero Media Foundation

Blogger

After nine years leading this impactful organization, I'm going to take a step back to focus on helping to develop new programs that enable us to have an even greater impact on our students' ability to support themselves, their families, and their communities.

Upward Scholars

Founder and Advisory Board member, Upward Scholars 

Tenaya Press is dedicated to providing high quality ESL materials for Spanish-speakers who are eager to learn English but don't have a lot of formal education.

Our belief is that Spanish-speakers who know very little about grammar in Spanish or English will learn far more quickly if they are able to read explanations of English grammar in their native language. This is not a radical concept. (Think back on your first Spanish class. Was your first text book entirely in Spanish? Probably not!) And yet, for the past several decades, the assumption has been that teachers  of adult ESL students will adopt an English-only approach to second language acquisition. 

Books from Tenaya Press defy this philosophy. Our thinking is based on the common sense truth that adult ESL students will learn more if they can understand what they are reading. Not surprisingly, Spanish-speaking ESL students embrace this approach and are motivated to move forward because of it.

Tenaya Press

President

Upward Scholars  empowers low income adults, mostly immigrants, by providing them financial, academic, and community support so they can continue their education, get better jobs, and serve as role models and advocates for their children. http:/www.upwardscholars.org

My responsibilities include
-- developing and managing programs
-- fund development, both individual, corporate, and foundations
-- marketing communications
-- program evaluation

Executive Director

Sequoia Adult School

ESL teacher, curriculum developer, volunteer coordinator

As a free lance marketing communications writer, I wrote white papers, magazine articles, customer success stories, and brochures for high tech companies including Apple Computer, Cisco, and Oracle.

Elizabeth Weal