I was thrilled to be in Springfield for Massachusetts Foreign Language Association’s 52nd annual conference. It was a special occasion for me to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Massachusetts is where I first moved in 1997 and coming back to give the keynote was truly an honor. I remember attending my first MaFLA conference 22 years ago, and this event has never failed to inspire me.

The conference theme this year was “Level up Your Language Education” which the conference chair, Beckie Bray Rankin, so brilliantly pushed forth in an event that drew together over 700 educators from all parts of the Bay State and beyond. My talk sought to engage all of them into leveling up dual-language education in a state that will most likely develop more dual-language programs in the near future.

Let’s level up dual-language education throughout the United States and beyond. Dual language education for all IS possible. Let’s build this model equitably and inclusive of all, and work towards empowering linguistic communities and providing pathways to understanding others and who we are, while fostering respect, tolerance, mutual understanding, and peace.