Community Engagement
I am a founding member of RUBILINGUAL, the Rutgers chapter of "Bilingualism Matters". Co-founded in 2012 by graduate students from the Bilingualism and SLA program, we are committed to sharing the results of language research to the general public and promoting the benefits of multilingualism. We host workshops and forums in the New Brunswick area with the objective of informing, educating and dispelling myths with regards to bilingualism. Our primary audience are parents and educators of bilingual children, as well as families interested in knowing more about multilingualism. If you would like to receive more information about our activities, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail.
During 2021, we served as an Emergency Foster Family for unaccompanied youths that came across the boarder. Over that period, we were blessed to be able to care for 16 youths from ages 1-15 for 2-4 weeks at a time before the were reunited with a family member. They came from Ecuador, Honduras, and El Salvador.
I occasionally contribute to community blogs about bilingualism. Here are some of my posts.
The Effects of Short-term Immersion on Heritage Speakers of Spanish The Effects of Short-term Immersion on Heritage Speakers of Spanish -Update |
In 2016, I was the Director of Rutgers University Summer Service-Learning program in Rosario, Argentina. For three weeks each summer, Rutgers University students, from various backgrounds work closely with the Universidad del Centro Educativo Latinoamericano (UCEL) and El Centro de la Comunidad La Paz (La Paz) to experience first-hand the challenges and complexities facing impoverished schools and communities in Argentina. Students prepare lessons on social issues (e.g., bullying) and support teachers in the primary and secondary school classrooms. The schools are located in a marginalized neighborhood where many students live below the poverty line in unstable family situations. You can learn more about the program here.