At this Pasadena club, moms learn English along with kids

For Maricela Ruiz, a trip to the store to pick up a few groceries or to her daughter’s school felt nearly impossible.

“I’d go home crying,” said Ruiz, 37.

She couldn’t speak English, and after a few failed attempts at communication, began to wait for her husband to come home to help her run errands. For Ruiz, who moved from Mexico to Pasadena two years ago, the language barrier proved isolating.

But a year ago Ruiz joined Mother’s Club Family Learning Center, a nonprofit in Pasadena that provides English classes to mothers and their children.

Today, Ruiz says she feels independent and no longer trapped by her inability to speak English. Now, she’s trying to improve her language skills enough to go to college.

“I feel fortunate to have a place here,” Ruiz says.

Mother’s Club, which was founded in 1961, serves more than 100 families — mothers and preschool-age children — who attend English classes every day.

Although there are other preschool programs for kids, Mother’s Club’s multi-generational approach is unique, said Executive Director Hector LaFarga Jr.

The philosophy of Mother’s Club revolves around the idea that the mother is a “child’s first and most

influential teacher,” he said.

Ruiz said her 4-year-old daughter, who used to cry when she heard TV in English, is now bilingual.

“Sometimes we see a movie in English and she translates for me,” Ruiz said.

Through the generosity of Times readers and a match by the McCormick Foundation, $424,500 was granted to local literacy programs this year as a result of the Los Angeles Times Holiday Campaign.

The Holiday Campaign, part of the Los Angeles Times Family Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, raises contributions to support established literacy programs run by nonprofit organizations that serve low-income children, adults and families who are reading below grade levels, at risk of illiteracy or who have limited English proficiency.

Donations are tax-deductible as permitted by law and matched at 50 cents on the dollar. Donor information is not traded or published without permission. Donate online at latimes.com/donate or by calling (800) 518-3975. All gifts will receive a written acknowledgment.

soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com