My Nonprofit Reviews

Over a thirty-five-year career in the Norristown Area School District as an ESL teacher and later ESL district coordinator, I witnessed ACLAMO evolve from an agency providing Latinos help with survival needs to a proactive organization offering an umbrella of services for children and adults. From the educational perspective, this initially meant offering tutoring. Today there are formal after-school, college prep, and STEM summer programs in partnership with universities. In addition, ACLAMO’s hallmark two-year pre-Kindergarten program also includes English classes for mothers along with basic education and parenting skills instruction. A longitudinal Ph.D. study of the NASD student data of pre-K “graduates” indicated the effectiveness of this ongoing early childhood initiative. Multiple consultations and collaborations between ACLAMO and the school district over the years have benefitted Latino children and families as well as provided cultural insights to school district personnel involved. Aside from education, ACLAMO’s range of services has also increased in tandem with the enormous growth of the Latino population in Montgomery County. ACLAMO is now a trusted agency for the government of Montgomery County in reaching out to the Latino community. I am happy to support ACLAMO as a donor in my retirement.

Joseph E. Leaf
English as a Second Language Coordinator (Retired)
Norristown Area School District