When Xuguang heard that poll workers who spoke Mandarin, Cantonese and English were needed for his local primary election, he leapt at the chance to help.
“In my country, the people, we no have this right. But in the United States, the people … you can go to the vote. You have this right,” said Xuguang. “I think the people, you have many rights.”
Just a year ago, working as a poll worker would have been impossible for Xuguang. He came to the United States from China speaking almost no English and enrolled at The ILC in fall 2021 in our Level 1 English class. Since then, he’s advanced a level every session.
He is now proud to speak English well enough to translate for voters who might otherwise be shut out of the civic process. In the future, Xuguang dreams of becoming a citizen so he can vote as well. Thank you for making stories like his possible.
Diane Portnoy
Founder and CEO
The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc.