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The Habla Futures Bilingual Education Conference convenes an international community of researchers, policymakers, and educators for a rigorous examination of bilingual learning and dual-language immersion. Presented with the University of California, Irvine’s Bilingualism Matters California Initiative, and featuring speakers from the Orange County Department of Education, the California Department of Education, the California Association of Bilingual Education, and Californians Together, the conference unites leading voices in research, policy, and practice to advance multilingual education.
Attendees leave equipped with actionable, evidence-based strategies for their own classrooms and communities — and join a growing global network, spanning 12 countries and 12 U.S. states, committed to doing the same.
11 July 2026
9:00 AM – 1:20 PM PST
Key discussions and insights
Habla Futures Initiative began small — a community bilingual arts program bringing language and creativity together at the local level. As that work grew, it found a home in university-backed research measuring the real impact of bilingual education. Today, that research is shaping policy initiatives aimed at advancing bilingual education for learners everywhere.
The reach is surprising even us. Over 100 attendees and 12 speakers are joining from 12 countries and 12 U.S. states — proof that the movement for bilingual education is truly global.
Countries:
U.S. states
9:00 AM – 1:20 PM PST · Virtual
| Time | Duration | Session |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM PST | 10 min | Log in – Zoom Meeting ID: 819 850 4461, Passcode: HABLA |
| 9:10 AM PST | 10 min | Intro |
| 9:20 AM PST | 5 min | Dr. Bonnie Garcia — Opening remarks |
| Group 1 — Research | ||
| 9:25 AM PST | 15 min | Dr. Clara Amador-Lankster — What is the power of a multilingual mindset for monolingual and bilingual teachers in Dual Language Immersion? |
| 9:40 AM PST | 15 min | Dr. Elizabeth Perla — Bilingual children with DLD are NOT double delayed |
| 9:55 AM PST | 15 min | Reinaldo Cabrera Pérez — Bilingualism as a bridge: supporting families and communities |
| 10:10 AM PST | 10 min | Q&A / discussion — research group |
| 10:20 AM PST | 5 min | Break |
| 10:25 AM PST | 15 min | Dr. Kris Nicholis — Building a social justice and equity-centered bilingual teacher pipeline |
| 10:40 AM PST | 15 min | Sailee Charu — Habla Arte, translanguaging arts practices |
| 10:55 AM PST | 10 min | Q&A / discussion — research group |
| 11:05 AM PST | 5 min | Break |
| Group 2 — Policy and Systems | ||
| 11:10 AM PST | 15 min | Cecilia Gonzalez-Limas — Orange County multilingual support |
| 11:25 AM PST | 15 min | Alesha Moreno-Ramírez — California’s multilingual program and policy landscape |
| 11:40 AM PST | 15 min | Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez — The teachers we need: creating the policy conditions for a strong bilingual teacher pipeline |
| 11:55 AM PST | 10 min | Q&A / discussion — policy group |
| 12:05 PM PST | 10 min | Break |
| Group 3 — Education | ||
| 12:15 PM PST | 15 min | Maria Astero — The best of both worlds: culture, language, and the search for belonging |
| 12:30 PM PST | 15 min | Leanne Park — Translanguaging beyond translation |
| 12:45 PM PST | 15 min | Lee Salkowitz — When passion and identity meet: raising children and teaching as a nonnative speaker of Spanish |
| 1:00 PM PST | 10 min | Q&A / discussion — education group |
| 1:10 PM PST | 10 min | Closing remarks |
All times listed in Pacific Sstandard time.
Twelve researchers, policymakers, and educators join us for collaborative audience sessions across research, policy, and education.
Director, Multilingual Support Division, California Department of Education
Coordinator, Project GLAD and Multilingual Academic Services, Orange County Department of Education
PhD Candidate, Bilingualism and Language Development, University of California, Irvine
Professor, UC Irvine School of Education, Bilingualism and Language Disorders
Professor and Fulbright Specialist 2024-2027; Director, Master of Bilingual Education, National University
Twelve researchers, policymakers, and educators join us for collaborative audience sessions across research, policy, and education.
Dr. Bonnie Garcia, Statewide Literacy Co-Director at the California Department of Education (CDE), opens the Habla Futures Bilingual Education Conference with remarks on California’s commitment to literacy and multilingual education.
Leanne Park and Lee Ann Salkowitz speak on translanguaging and bilingual teaching, drawing on their classroom experience as Dual Language Immersion and Spanish educators.
Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, Deputy Director of Californians Together, breaks down AB 2325, a new bilingual teacher pipeline bill co-sponsored by Californians Together and Early Edge CA, backed by $10 million in the 2026–2027 state budget.
María Astete, Founder and CEO of Speak Taco, presents on the growing reality of heritage language loss among U.S. Latino families, noting that it often begins by the third generation.
Alesha Moreno-Ramirez, Director of the Multilingual Support Division at the California Department of Education (CDE), shares statewide data on Dual Language Programs in California for 2024–25, highlighting that three in 10 California districts now offer one or more multilingual programs.
Cecilia Gonzalez-Limas, M.Ed, Coordinator of Project GLAD and Multilingual Academic Services at the Orange County Department of Education, reframes bilingual education as an equity commitment that honors students’ languages, identities, and potential.
Dra. Kris Nicholls, Bilingual Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Program at UC Riverside, discusses the university’s commitment to preparing the next generation of Dual Language Immersion teachers as a critical contribution to social justice and equity.
Reinaldo Cabrera Pérez, PhD Candidate in Bilingualism and Language Development at UC Irvine, shares themes from Habla Arte’s community Charlas, from the “no sabo” experience to supporting bilingualism in children with diverse abilities and needs.
Dr. Elizabeth Peña, Professor in the School of Education at UC Irvine, challenges the false choice between English proficiency and multilingualism, presenting research affirming multilingualism as the natural human condition.
The following 109 attendees confirmed their participation in the Habla Futures Bilingual Education Conference, spanning 12 countries and 12 U.S. states.
| Name | Title and affiliation |
|---|---|
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Albrei Mudry | Teacher, William S. Hart School District |
| Alejandro Tafur | Undergraduate Student, Southern Utah University |
| Ambra | Academic Director |
| Ana Cuevas-Flores | Student Teacher, SBCUSD |
| Anna Aresi | PhD |
| Anna Curtis | Interventionist, Baltimore City |
| Annemarie Randle-Trejo | Trustee, Anaheim Union High School District |
| Arpitha Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Azucena Solis Davila | UC Riverside |
| Bignon Stella Manuela Hounsounou | Teacher |
| Bobby Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Carmen Talledo | Dual Language Instructional Aide, Quarry Trail Elementary |
| Cecilia Cummando | Spanish Teacher at the Orange County School of the Arts |
| Chantal Mendoza | Educational Consultant |
| Christina Estrada | ELD Coordinator and Teacher, Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School |
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Albrei Mudry | Teacher, William S. Hart School District |
| Alejandro Tafur | Undergraduate Student, Southern Utah University |
| Ambra | Academic Director |
| Ana Cuevas-Flores | Student Teacher, SBCUSD |
| Anna Aresi | PhD |
| Anna Curtis | Interventionist, Baltimore City |
| Annemarie Randle-Trejo | Trustee, Anaheim Union High School District |
| Arpitha Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Azucena Solis Davila | UC Riverside |
| Bignon Stella Manuela Hounsounou | Teacher |
| Bobby Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Carmen Talledo | Dual Language Instructional Aide, Quarry Trail Elementary |
| Cecilia Cummando | Spanish Teacher at the Orange County School of the Arts |
| Chantal Mendoza | Educational Consultant |
| Christina Estrada | ELD Coordinator and Teacher, Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School |
| Christina Ledford | Bilingual Literacy Coach, American Reading Company |
| Clare Allison | Development Officer, Home, Heritage and Community Languages, National Consortium for Languages Education |
| Claudia Holguin Mendoza | UC Riverside |
| Cynthia Elisa Martínez | Principal Consultant, Illinois State Board of Education |
| Dan Magill | Coach |
| Dani Judilla | TK Teacher, Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy |
| Daniela Castillo | CUNY |
| Danielle Fahey | Assistant Professor, University of Alabama |
| Danna Baldwin Moreno | CABTE Board of Directors; UC Santa Cruz (retired) |
| Danna Baldwin Moreno | Board Member, California Association of Bilingual Teacher Education |
| Diego Armando Márquez Armao | Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú |
| Donna Lizama | Instructional Aide, Dual Language TK, Quarry Trail Elementary, Rocklin |
| Dr. Luz Yadira Herrera | Assistant Professor of Teacher Education and Dual Language Learning, CSU Dominguez Hills |
| Edith Mancera de Gonzalez, EdD | Coordinator of Impact and Belonging |
| Elisa Fabian Linares | PhD Student and Teaching Assistant, University of California, Riverside |
| Elvia Towers | ESOL Teacher, Pickens County Schools |
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Emelia Ahmed | Doctoral Student, TWU |
| Emy Tomita | Bilingual District Literacy Coach, Aldine Independent School District |
| Eric Barrientos | Principal, Arovista Elementary |
| Ethan Kutlu | Assistant Professor, University of Iowa |
| Eva Ruiz | Educator, Fresno Unified |
| Evelyn Alonso | Student, Yale University |
| Francesca Smith | Multilingual Specialist, DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education |
| Freddy Castro | Assistant Principal, Quarry Trail Elementary, Rocklin USD |
| Genises Abe | Teacher, Rocklin Unified School District |
|
Geraldine V. Calo, Ma. Juliana P. Cayabyab, Crislyn T. Hoybia, Arianne B. Portrias, Aileen S. Quilino, Instr. Jayson P. Denaga |
Rizal Technological University, Boni Campus |
| Ginette Ballado Máynez | Registered Nurse and Teacher, Universidad Anáhuac |
| Gloria Soto | Professor, Penn State |
| Godiramang Motlhagodi | Lecturer, B.A ISAGO University |
| Gonzalo Aranda | Undergraduate Student, Southern Utah University |
| Griselda | Adjunct, University of North Texas |
| Hazel Harris | Teacher, NYC |
| Iryna | Teacher |
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Ivan Galicia | Admissions Counselor, Linfield University |
| Ivana Selwa | Spanish Teacher, Arroyo Seco Junior High |
| Ivonne Solano | Dual Language / ESL Coordinator |
| Jackeline Moraga | Teacher, Speak Taco |
| Jeannine Ortiz | Bilingual Education State Manager, Puerto Rico |
| Jesse Ramirez | Prospective PhD Student, UC Riverside |
| Jessica Hernandez | ELD Teacher, Glendale Unified |
| Joanna Morris | SLP Master's Student, CSU East Bay |
| John Chen | Undergraduate, University of British Columbia |
| Julia | Translator, Translation Studies |
| Julia Ullmann | Coordinator of Multilingual Learners, Volusia Schools |
| Kamila Alarcón Muñoz | Universidad de Antioquia |
| Karla Garza | Speech-Language Pathologist |
| Katherine Christoffersen | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley |
| Kaylah Saintil | Senior Research Assistant, Florida International University |
| Kim Tate | Dual Language Instructional Coach |
| Kris Nicholls | Bilingual Program Coordinator, UC Riverside Teacher Education |
| Kristen Berlant | Physical Education Teacher, Rocklin Unified; Graduate Student SLP, CSU East Bay |
| Laura Morales | Lajam Education Foundation |
| Leah Montano | CIA First International School |
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Leanne Park | KDLI (Korean dual language immersion) teacher, AUHSD |
| Leslie Witz | DLI and ELD Teacher |
| Lisa Wilson | National University |
| Lizbeth Moore | Director of Bilingual Education, Bastrop ISD |
| Lori Urquiza | Dual Language Specialist |
| Lucia Rocha-Nestler | School Board Member, Scotts Valley Unified School District |
| Luiz Torres | Legislative Assistant, California State Legislature |
| MacKenzie Johnson | PhD Student, Stony Brook University |
| Maira Covarrubias Álvarez | The Pennsylvania State University |
| Marcela Arredondo | Former Dual Language Elementary Teacher |
| Maria Astete | Founder and CEO, Speak Taco |
| Maria Camargo | Master of Management, University of Niagara Falls |
| Marina Bratcher | 6th Grade Math Teacher |
| Mario Palma | Literacy Coach, Tarrytown |
| Melissa Valladares | Second-Year Master's Student, Penn State University |
| Melissa Vasquez | Instructional Design Specialist |
| Merida Bautista | Dual Language Teacher |
| Miriam Gonzalez-Perez | Principal |
| Mirtha Castillo | English Teacher, ECA |
| Muriel Ortiz | Director, Ensemble Learning |
| Abhay Pratap Singh | DTHM, Mizoram University |
| Nirmala Singaracharlu | Adult Interested in Bilingualism |
| Opeyemi Akeredolu | Bilingual Educator |
| Paulina Elias | PhD Candidate, Penn State University |
| Rita Huitron | Teacher, Bernhard Marks Elementary |
| Romina Gauna | Teacher |
| Sandy Ma | Teacher, Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy |
| Saura Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Sebastiano Giannielli Viscardi | Undergraduate Student, University of British Columbia |
| Sophia Chan | PhD Student, University of British Columbia |
| Stephanie Morales Curiel | PhD Student, University of Oregon |
| Stephanie Ohannesian | Administrative Assistant, Orange County Department of Education |
| Suri Charlu | Interested in Bilingualism |
| Tania Torres Prieto | Undergraduate Student, CSU Fullerton |
| Tanya Garza | Dual Language Teacher, Del Valle ISD |
| Ulises Mata | Graduate Student (PhD), University of Rochester |
| Vero | Reception |
| Ya Yun Hsiao | General Education Teacher, Irvine Chinese Immersion Academy |
| Ylicia Montoya | SLP, Quarry Trail |
| Yousreya Alhamshary | Professor of Linguistics |
| Zeynep Aydogdu | University of British Columbia |
All participants were honored with a Certificate of Attendance for Professional Development, celebrating their dedication, growth, and accomplishment throughout the program.