Sobrato Philanthropies Gift

The Sobrato Philanthropies fuels English Learners through LMU’s Center for Equity for English Learners

Pictured L to R: Silvia Dorta Duque de Reyes, Magaly Lavadenz, Ed.D., and Elvira G. Armas, Ed.D. Duque de Reyes is national biliteracy consultant; Lavadenz is a distinguished professor of English Learner Research, Policy and Practice, and the executive director of CEEL; and Armas is the director of programs and partnerships at CEEL, and affiliated faculty, department of educational leadership at LMU School of Education.

LMU’s Center for Equity for English Learners (CEEL) and the Sobrato Philanthropies are a match made for California’s education system. California has the largest population of English Learners in the country, who often incur irreparable academic gaps as they attempt to keep pace without the research-based supports for obtaining the English proficiency they need in order to succeed.

CEEL and the Sobrato Philanthropies have a shared goal to advance statewide systemic change for English learners. Sobrato Philanthropies has generously supported the work of CEEL through grants over three years, specifically to support bilingual education and related systemic change.

“We’re proud of our longstanding partnership with Sobrato Philanthropies to improve English Learner policy and education statewide,” said CEEL Executive Director Magaly Lavadenz. “This grant allows CEEL to advance its work that serves the unique academic, social and language needs of linguistically and culturally diverse students in California, and throughout the nation.”

The partnership with Sobrato Philanthropies has enabled CEEL to make significant progress that will inform strategies to support English learners. Strategies include research; collaboration with education leaders, teachers and experts; policy and advocacy reform and influence; and development of best practices to support distance learning for English learners. 

“The Foundation holds a deep conviction that educational attainment can work as a powerful factor for any one individual to overcome the challenges and barriers associated with society’s racial, economic, and cultural inequities,” said Sandy Herz, President, Sobrato Philanthropies. “Our partnership with LMU’s CEEL helps English Learner students access high-quality educational opportunities, thereby increasing their economic mobility.”

To ensure that CEEL’s work endures as a much-needed entity to support English Learners, Sobrato Philanthropies has recently given an additional grant to ensure CEEL’s financial and leadership sustainability.

To learn more about CEEL and its important work, visit our website. To support CEEL, please visit LMU’s giving page.