Overview

Since 1997, PODER has empowered Spanish-speaking adult immigrants to create successful and fulfilling new lives in Chicago. PODER offers comprehensive, tuition-free English education and job training programs for all education levels. Through its professional teachers and disciplined approach, PODER ensures that students learn to speak and read English with confidence, navigate daily life with ease, and gain the necessary skills to enter the Chicago job market. Oprima-1, the capstone of the PODER Program, is a paid training curriculum that guarantees students full-time employment as bilingual customer service representatives upon graduation. Through a deep commitment to the needs of Chicago's growing Spanish-speaking population, PODER provides critical services with both immediate and long-term impact for families, communities, and employers throughout the City of Chicago. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018-2019 OFFICERS Jennifer Guzman, Board Chair Lyndon Valicenti, Board Secretary Manny Jimenez, Board Treasurer MEMBERS Joshua Ellis Victoria Gaspar David J. Leeney Luis Montgomery Juan Pablo Moreno