2025 MABE Dual Language Bilingual Education Conference

This panel will share highlights from the Coalition for a Multilingual Rhode Island’s Train the Trainer: Multilingual Education Advocacy program which launched in Fall 2025. Panelists will share outcomes from training in six areas, including bilingual and dual language programs, advocacy strategies, and parent and student rights. They’ll discuss how they’re driving systemic change for multilingual students, educators, and communities. Attendees will learn about the program’s impact, its role in fostering equity, and strategies for replication in other regions. Join us to explore how trained advocates are creating lasting change in schools, districts, and communities statewide.

This dynamic workshop is designed to equip educators with practical knowledge and a tool to help students recognize and utilize their cultural and linguistic resources. Participants will engage with the Community Cultural Wealth Framework through interactive activities that include reflective writing, drawing, and coloring. This hands-on session aims to provide educators strategies to foster students’ self-advocacy and leadership, emphasizing the value of bilingualism and cultural diversity as assets in both personal and community advocacy. Expect to leave with practical tools for nurturing student-driven advocacy in diverse educational settings.

"Organizando a los padres para una educación más bilingüe en Boston"
Esta sesión explora estrategias efectivas para involucrar y empoderar a los padres en la promoción de una educación bilingüe inclusiva y equitativa. A través de actividades dinámicas y discusiones prácticas, los participantes aprenderán a desarrollar iniciativas comunitarias, tomando en cuenta las campañas que estamos liderando en Boston, y cómo esto puede facilitar la comunicación entre familias y escuelas, y fomentar el bilingüismo como una fortaleza cultural. Los asistentes saldrán equipados con herramientas y recursos concretos para implementar cambios significativos en sus comunidades educativas.

Pura Belpré pioneered bilingual storytimes, using puppets and performances to resonate with her community. Through dynamic reenactments, we brought Belpré's inspirational biography to life and performed her beloved tale "La Cucarachita Martina." Students also participated in a creative puppet-making workshop.
This groundbreaking initiative addressed a critical gap in dual language education by providing kindergarten students with rare exposure to fluent academic Spanish outside the classroom setting. The event was designed as a multifaceted celebration that went beyond traditional language instruction. It combined literary appreciation with interactive activities, all conducted in Spanish, to promote language comprehension and cultural connection.
By showcasing a respected Latina author, the project provided students with relatable role models in the literature, reinforcing the value of their bilingual and bicultural identities. We drew inspiration from the pioneering work of Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian in New York City, who created an educational space where learners could see reflections of Afro-Caribbean culture.
This approach aimed to boost students' engagement with the Spanish language and enhance their academic Spanish proficiency. The project's significance lies in its potential to bridge the gap between classroom language instruction and real-world language application. By creating an immersive Spanish language environment centered around literature and cultural celebration, offered a unique opportunity for students to practice and expand their language skills in a meaningful context.
This research project not only contributed to the field of dual language education but also addressed broader issues of cultural representation and inclusivity in educational spaces. The outcomes of this initiative provided valuable insights for educators and policymakers, potentially influencing future approaches to bilingual education and multicultural literacy programs.