EHC International Mother Language Day

The International Mother Language Day (February 21) was proclaimed by UNESCO in 1999 and has been observed every year to promote cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Because change starts at home, join us in celebrating the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Pacific Northwest by honoring our ethnic communities where languages other than English are spoken. If you are a community organizer, curriculum designer, language advocate or simply a multilingual individual, come find out about statewide initiatives such as “Speak Your Language” or “Languages without Borders” that can offer a long term solution for the preservation of endangered mother languages, as well as how you and your community can get involved.

GUEST SPEAKERS:
Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki, International Education and World Languages Advocate, having previously served as World Languages Program Supervisor at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, where she developed the World Languages Competency-Based Credit Program that lay the foundation for the State Seal of Biliteracy. She also served as International Education Administrator for Seattle Public Schools until she retired in 2019. Currently, Michele volunteers with the Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) Testing Team and on the Advisory Board of the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
Dr. Russ Hugo, Asst. Director at the UW Language Learning Center, leading several major grants for STARTALK, GenCyber and Cultural Blind Spots. He wrote his dissertation on Indigenous languages in Washington State.
Dr. Bridget Yaden, Professor of Spanish at Pacific Lutheran University and past President of ACTFL, newly appointed Executive Director of PNCFL (Pacific NW Council for Languages).
Dr. Veronica Trapani, Associate Director – Content, World Languages and International Education, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).