Tamy Barberana, a community leader and member of the Mountain Dreamers community committee, recognized a critical need among Spanish-speaking immigrants: learning English as a key step to thriving in Summit County. As an immigrant herself, Tamy saw that English skills could open doors to better job opportunities, stronger engagement with schools, and fuller participation in community life.

The idea began to take shape in 2023, when Tamy, in collaboration with Mountain Dreamers, reached out to her former teacher, Miss Jennifer Wescott, along with Risa Holmes and her nephew John, to bring the vision to life. On July 2nd of 2024, the pieces fell into place when the 10 Mile Music Hall, through the generosity of owner Todd, offered the space free of charge to support the effort.

Since then, the classes have succeeded thanks to the support of English-speaking volunteers, allowing for personalized instruction tailored to each student's needs. More than just language lessons, these classes provide a gateway to understanding local culture, connecting with community resources, and building a stronger, more inclusive Summit County. To date, the program has served over 100 students and included the support of the classes of Samantha Robertson & Risa Holmes, along with over 10 volunteers.