About Us

Bilingual Learning Center (BLC)

We make this place feel like home!

The Bilingual Learning Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit enrichment program that is uniquely designed to meet the needs of students and parents alike through before and after school programming for students in PreK through 5th grade. Our program works within the city of Minneapolis with public, charter and private schools. Additionally, BLC is a fully bilingual program (English-Spanish) designed to foster a welcoming, multicultural, nurturing and fun environment, while promoting cultural experiences, a love for languages, successful academics, and leadership opportunities for our students. BLC’s core values are our welcoming environment, equity, responsibility and caring. Our programs goals are to decrease the achievement gap within a dual language immersion setting and to support the exploration of interests and the development of skills and creativity. We also support the needs of working families by offering scholarships to low-income students and by bringing awareness and recognition to the many different cultural backgrounds and traditions represented in BLC.

Thank you for all your support! BLC would not be possible without our amazing community. We look forward to another great year full of learning and fun! Sincerely, BLC Staff.

Our Vision

To prepare children from linguistically and ethnically diverse background for success in school and lifelong learning in a global society through after school programming.
Our Mission

The mission of BLC is to foster an enhanced learning environment for children that both honors and celebrates their diversity. Through innovative programming and cultural and language enrichment, BLC provides high quality, nurturing after school enrichment programming for all students.
Accreditation

BLC Bilingual Learning Center is accredited by Minnesota After school accreditation program (MN AEYC -MNSACA) to strengthen and improve the quality after school program for all our children and the community.
Program Goals

• Decrease the achievement gap within a dual language immersion setting to our “at risk” diverse students in grades PreK-5th.
• Support the Exploration of Interests and the Development of Skills and Creativity.
• Support the needs of working families and bringing awareness and recognition to their many different cultural backgrounds and traditions.

What parents are saying...

Testimonials

So happy this program is here! I love the fact my son is safe and learning Spanish. The program is also flexible and meets my family’s needs.

The programs at BLC are amazing opportunities for me to let my kids explore art, music, sports and community. The part I appreciate most about the WERC program is the fantastic staff that treats my kids as individuals and pushes them to be their best.

A mi me gusta como enseña, cuida y juegan en el programa de BLC . Tiene muchas ideas para nuestros niños. Muy buen programa y muy buen equipo.

The entire BLC staff is very dedicated to providing an atmosphere that promotes friendship and creativity. Perfecto for after a long day of academics!

Lo que me gusta de BLC es: las maestras me cuidan y me tartan con respeto, amor y son muy amables. Me encantan mis clases. Muchas gracias por todo.

BLC is amazing. The staff really cares about our kids and I love that. I also love that there is this wonderful mixed-age Spanish immersion after school opportunity. And so many great activities to choose from!

Staff

Blanca Raniolo

Executive Director and founder

Welcome to BLC Bilingual Learning Center!

My name is Blanca Raniolo and I am the executive director and founder of Bilingual Learning Center (BLC) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, which opened in 2011. I also work with Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church as their Children’s Ministry Director.
I am the author of a bilingual children’s book about mindfulness, “The Boy and the Blue Heron,” and I visit schools to encourage children to learn how to explore their emotions through the senses. The book is inspired by Blackhawk Lake in Minnesota, where a blue heron appears each year in a natural autumn landscape.

I earned a BA in Education in 1992 and a master’s in Social Communication with a specialization in social development in 2001, both with honors from Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela. In 2005, I received my Master of Education degree from Hamline University with a 4.0 GPA, when I won a scholarship from the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington DC.

My professional history includes working for twenty-four years consistently in the education field, in administration, and as a supervisor. As a leader, I have facilitated workshops for adults with a focus on Latinos in low-income communities. I am the author of two books about education, director of an instructional video on better parenting, and author of multiple articles on education in several Latino newspapers and magazines in the Twin Cities and in my original country, Venezuela. In 2008, I won the 25 On the Rise Award in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. In 2016, I received the Visionary Leadership Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. I have also worked as a Yoga Calm certified instructor at many dual immersion schools in Minneapolis.

My philosophy of Education is Constructivism. I believe in educating by reflecting on experiences in a learning environment and constructing an understanding of the world we live in. My passion is to work with diverse communities and create a welcome and safe environment in which everybody has the same opportunity to learn.

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Directora Ejecutiva, Fundadora

¡Bienvenidos a BLC Bilingual Learning Center!

Mi nombre es Blanca Raniolo y soy la Directora Ejecutiva y Fundadora del Centro de Aprendizaje Bilingüe (BLC) en Minneapolis, Minnesota desde 2011. También apoyo a la Iglesia Luterana de Nokomis Heights como Directora del Ministerio de Niños.

Soy autora de un libro infantil bilingüe de atención plena, "El niño y la garza azul," y realiza visitas a las escuelas para animar a los niños a aprender a explorar sus emociones a través de los sentidos. El libro está inspirado en el lago Blackhawk en Minnesota, donde una garza azul aparece cada año en un paisaje natural de otoño.

Obtuve una BA en educación en 1992 y una maestría en comunicación social con una especialización en desarrollo social en 2001 ambos con honores de Andrés Bello Catholic University en Venezuela. En 2005, recibí mi maestría de educación de Hamline University con una 4.0 GPA cuando gané una beca de la Organization of American States (OAS) en Washington DC.

Mi historia profesional incluye trabajar veinte cuatro años consecuentemente en el campo de la educación, en administración, y como supervisora. Como líder, he facilitada talleres para adultos con un foco en latinos en comunidades de bajos recursos. Soy autora de dos libros sobre educación, directora de un video instructivo de mejor paternidad y autora de múltiples artículos sobre educación en varios periódicos y revistas latinos en las Ciudades Gemelas y en mi país original, Venezuela. En 2008, gané el premio 25 On the Rise en las Ciudades Gemelas, Minnesota. En 2016, recibí el premio de Visionary Leadership del Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. He trabajado como instructora certificada de Yoga Calm en muchas escuelas de doble inmersión en Minneapolis.

Mi filosofía de educación es constructivismo. Creo en educar reflejando experiencias en un ambiente de aprendizaje y construyendo una comprensión del mundo donde vivimos. Mi pasión es trabajar con comunidades diversas y crear un ambiente acogedor y seguro en el que todos tengan la misma oportunidad que aprender.