Our Story
The Need
Fort Bend County and Harris County are two of the most diverse counties in the United States. In Harris County, more than one-in-four individuals were born outside of the United States. In Fort Bend County, nearly one-in-three residents were born outside of the United States. With this great diversity also comes a rich diversity of languages.
In order to help individuals with diverse backgrounds unlock their potentials, The Language Harbor seeks to provide resources and opportunities for individuals in the Harris County and Fort Bend area develop their English language skills.
About Us
The Language Harbor is a 501(c)(3) organization governed by a Board of Directors. The members of the Board work with our volunteers to provide strategic direction for the organization, support our tutors and other volunteers, and identify English language needs within our community.
Board President
Petula Workman, J.D., MTESOL
Petula serves as Board President for The Language Harbor. She is a founding member of the organization, whose vision of the Harbor began years ago in a stuffy conference room during a deposition. As a newly minted attorney in the early 1990s, she was struck by a witness in a lawsuit who could neither read nor write English despite having lived her entire life in the United States. She realized then how much a lack of English-language skills can act as a barrier to success, and that people from humble beginnings---such as herself---or those without English-language backgrounds can have their opportunities limited by the lack of such skills. The Language Harbor is a thank you to the teachers, professors, and others who helped her learn to build a career, and thus, a life based upon words.
After retiring from the practice of law, Petula earned her Master's of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Arizona State University. Building on her training, she began to teach English to students from countries all around the world, including Ukraine, Colombia, Russia, Syria, Mexico, Ecuador, Belarus, Turkiye, Vietnam, and China. Springboarding from that rewarding experience, Petula and several other dedicated individuals began the Harbor to continue and expand the dream of helping others unlock their potential through English language skills.
Raised in a family that prioritized giving back to the community, Petula has long been involved in community service, including serving on the Governing Council of the International Society of Employee Benefit Specialists, the Young Friends of Ronald McDonald House Board, the Board of Directors of The Honor Roll School, and the Executive Committee for the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association as well as serving as a volunteer fundraiser for the Fort Bend County Women’s Center, the Stehlin Foundation, Ronald McDonald House, Women Helping Women, Avondale House, and Houston Aeros Charities. This wide-ranging experience forms the strong basis from which Petula guides the Harbor as it strives to grow in its mission of unlocking potential through quality adult and young adult English language education.
Beyond her teaching and work with the Harbor, Petula enjoys fiber arts, pickleball, Mahjong, traveling, and spending time with her husband, their two daughters, and their noisy, furry child.
Board Secretary
Robin Alston
Robin serves as Board Secretary for The Language Harbor, bringing an organized, detail-oriented approach to supporting the organization's mission. In her day-to-day work, she serves as an Administrative Assistant to an Assistant Principal, where she's honed the same skills of coordination and follow-through that she now brings to the Board.
Board services is not new to Robin. She served on the Board of Directors at The Honor Roll School, as a Board Member of the Fort Bend Junior Service League, as a member of the Strake Jesuit Athletic Board of Directors, and as Secretary for ONYX at St. Agnes Academy. This depth of experience gives her a strong foundation for supporting the Harbor's growth.
Robin joined The Language Harbor after being invited by the organization's founder, drawn by a simple but powerful belief: everyone deserves the right to learn English in a welcoming, supportive environment. She's proud to help build an organization dedicated to unlocking potential and breaking down language barriers for both adult and young adult learners.
Outside of her work with the Harbor, Robin enjoys running, pickleball, and Mahjong. She also loves volunteering alongside her family at Lunches of Love and Nery's Promise.
Board Treasurer
Jeff Manwaring
Jeff serves as the Board Treasurer and is a Senior Wealth Advisor with Avidian Wealth Solutions and a CFP® professional with more than 18 years of experience advising families, small businesses, and charitable organizations. In his professional role, he helps clients navigate complex investment, tax, and estate strategies. Jeff has also served on the advisory board of a retirement planning software company and is an active member of his local community.
Jeff graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a BBA. He also attended Rice University’s CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Program, obtaining his CFP® designation in 2012.
Tutor-Student Coordinator
Clari Dachman
As a first-generation American born to Mexican parents, Clari understands firsthand the challenges many families face when navigating everyday life with limited English proficiency. That experience has fueled her passion for serving others and makes her role on the Board of Directors especially meaningful.
As a Real Estate Agent by trade, Clari has the privilege of helping individuals and families through some of life's most important milestones. Coming from a family of educators, she has always believed in the power of education, advocacy, and community to create lasting opportunities.
Outside of work, Clari is the proud mother of four grown sons, grandmother to two wonderful grandchildren, and dog mom to her rescue pup, Luna. She is also an avid traveler who loves learning about different cultures and is fluent in three languages. She believes in embracing life with gratitude, curiosity, and joy.
Clari is honored to support The Language Harbor's mission and give back to the community that has shaped who she is.
Public Relations Coordinator
Jamie Parker
Jamie serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for The Harbor. As an IT professional, she blends technical expertise with strong organizational skills. She is highly professional, always curious, and able to turn "tech-speak" into understandable language for non-technical users.
She is also a long-time volunteer for the Scouts, serving in a number of roles, including the critical role of Merit Badge Counselor. She is also an avid archer and can often be found pursuing her fitness goals on the jogging paths of Katy.