Let’s work collectively across the region to improve the educational experiences of immigrant youth and their families

How can Pittsburgh area schools better serve English Language Learners (ELL)? How can English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers help build community and cultivate cultural understanding within the school and across our region, and how can they be supported in this effort?

These questions will be addressed by those on the frontlines grappling with this very topic:

Student members of Global Minds Initiative, a for-youth, by-youth organization that brings together ESL students with youth who are native English speakers, and former refugees participating in the Alliance for Refugee Youth Support & Education (ARYSE).

Emerging programs like the Professional Learning Community (PLC) for ESL teachers hosted by All for All. Participants have come together since October 2017 to learn from subject-matter experts on Building Welcoming Schools, Cultivating Cultural Humility, Building Allies Across the School, and more.

Sevenzo, a community for educators who want to be inspired and take action in the classroom by engaging in dialogue about impactful practices that foster a more caring environment for students.

Format: Jackie Perlow, J.D., M.P.P., from the Education Law Center will start off our event with an interactive presentation on English Learners’ legal rights as well as legal requirements for ESL programs in the area. After highlighting what ESL programs should look like, we will move into a panel discussion including former ESL students, and ESL teachers, which will help attendees step into the shoes of non-native English speakers and see what English Learners are actually experiencing. By the evening’s end, attendees will have heard from youth, practitioners, and education advocates who will speak to the barriers and best practices in achieving positive change.

Who Should Attend: K-12 ESL teachers and general education teachers, school administrators, youth, and immigrant community leaders and allies. We seek to raise awareness for the experiences of students and to build new connections so that Pittsburgh can work collectively across the region to improve the educational experiences of immigrant youth and their families.

Free and open to the public, refreshments will be provided by Istanbul Sofra. This is a partnership between All for All, ARYSE, Education Law Center, Global Minds Initiative, and Sevenzo.