Sunday, April 23, 2023 | Special Advertising Section 1 R 22 SPONSORED CONTENT PROVIDED BY PARA LOS NIÑOS DE HIGHLINE Intergenerational learning offers benefits to students, families and communities. Students have the opportunity to take in the life experiences and cultural expertise of their elders, and the adults often enjoy the youthful energy and chance to share their knowledge. And in families where English is a second language it can also offer a chance to get in some valuable practice and network with other parents. This all comes into play on Monday and Wednesday evenings at SeaTac’s Glacier Middle School, where South King County nonprofit Para los Niños de Highline operates an academic support program, Aprendamos Juntos. In this program, kids can work on schoolwork in a caring atmosphere but they don’t attend alone. In Aprendamos Juntos’ setting of shared learning, kids take part in cultural, recreational and creative activities — and their parents are invited, too. While the kids do their homework, parents can attend English classes as part of the parallel learning approach at the heart of Para Los Niños de Highline’s mission. The program isn’t just about helping kids with their learning: It’s designed to address community needs more broadly through an inclusive model of lifelong education across generations, an approach that strengthens both children and their families. Para Los Niños de Highline’s emphasis on educational support for the entire family is rooted in a commitment to empowering families in their entirety, by “building culturally relevant programs upon a foundation of love and respect, supported by a community leadership model that recognizes the talents and skills of each person,” says executive director Virginia Intergenerational learning supports holistic success Para los Niños de Highline aims to increase awareness in the Latino community of tools available to children and parents to become active members of their community and lead successful lives by fostering academic growth for every Latino student. Learn more at plnwa.org. Herrera-Páramo. In the shared learning space, parents and kids can find resources to integrate code-switching in a way that is enriching to both. “Being able to fluidly move between cultures and integrate new experiences in a culture of belonging greatly impacts the lifelong learner aspect of our students,” says Herrera-Páramo. This holistic approach to learning makes space for both children and caregivers and reframes learning as a communal activity that can unfold across age groups within a shared space. “Having intergenerational classes reflects our Latin culture of shared inherited knowledge,” says HerreraPáramo, because the pedagogical approach can “remove the stigma or possible shame of ‘not knowing’ something by making learning accessible and offers learners a pride in their own efforts and growth.” Para Los Niños de Hihghline began in 2003, when a group of South King County parents came together in an effort to find ways to bolster education for Latino students, to support kids in early childhood, to make space for cultural traditions and language, to provide resources for learning English as a second language and to foster leadership. That required addressing major barriers that can get in the way of education, especially for immigrant families — from economic barriers to discrimination — and a response designed collaboratively with the community. Aprendamos Juntos and other Para Los Niños de Highline initiatives were the result of this collaboration, focused on the goal of working “for the success of every Latino student and their families in the Highline school district” through programming spanning early learning, literacy and higher education, plus resources to empower and educate caregivers. As Aprendamos Juntos progresses, says Herrera-Páramo, it’s clear that the collaborative, inclusive approach of side-byside learning for parents and children has been strengthening and enriching for both. Making space for families to show up in full has been instrumental to creating opportunities for all. “The Aprendamos Juntos program integrates parent-child learning which is a great benefit, propelling them to achieve academic success jointly,” she says. “Having intergenerational classes reflects our Latin culture of shared inherited knowledge,” says Virginia Herrera-Páramo. Donate today! A model of lifelong education across generations strengthens both children and their families. (Photos courtesy of Para los Niños de Highline)
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