Senaes offers free Spanish literacy classes across the Washington metro area; enrollment open

Mario Gamboa, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Senaes, described a 23-year program offering Spanish literacy to adult Latino residents in the Washington metropolitan area. Gamboa said the program is free, runs on a two-semester model (September–December and January–June), and divides students into three levels based on an initial placement check.

Gamboa said Senaes runs classes at eight sites and currently had four vacancies across listed locations. He gave examples of class times and locations — evening classes at Hyazville library (Riverdale area), Friday classes at Arlington Mill Community Center (Virginia), Saturday and Sunday sessions in Washington, D.C. — and stressed that students from Maryland, Virginia and D.C. are welcome to enroll.

On scale, Gamboa said more than 50,000 Latino adults in the region cannot read or write in Spanish or English and reported that last year the organization registered more than 350 students and graduated about 25. He described a volunteer model of about 20 teachers and asked for donations to cover materials; the program provides printed materials (he cited a materials cost of $80 but said donations and waivers are available).

For enrollment Gamboa provided a cell-phone contact, 202-607-3901, and a website, senaes.org, saying he answers calls directly to coordinate placement and vacancies. He invited listeners and local businesses to share information about the classes and to consider donations to sustain the nonprofit’s work.

The host and guest closed by encouraging residents who need literacy help to reach out and by noting the program’s long history and volunteer-led model.