Canal Alliance

Lliliam, a 31-year old Cuban woman with an 11-year old son Alfonso, didn't know how hard it would be to start life anew in a new country. In 2003, she rejoiced when she heard she won a visa lottery that allowed her to come to the United States.

The mother and son landed in Miami and soon migrated to Kentucky, where Lliliam got a job in a pork-processing plant. Ultimately, they ended up in the San Francisco Bay Area.

By the time they walked in the doors of Canal Alliance, their lives were reaching the breaking point - they had nowhere to live and Alfonso was getting into trouble, as he tried adjusting to yet another school.

Canal Alliance intervened, working with the school and engaging Alfonso in our after school youth programs. Since, Alfonso has improved his grades, earning straight A's and hopes to be a policeman. Lliliam joined the Parenting Classes, where she has a support network of other parents facing similar issues. Lliliam is now taking a double load of ESL classes and is on the waiting list for a tutor. She is also taking her second series of computer classes and recently received a donated computer to study English at home.

Now, even though they still live on a tight budget, the future for Lliliam and Alfonso is brighter. Lliliam says she loves learning English. “I hope to work in a place like Canal Alliance so that I can help people too.”