Celebrating Our Heritage Languages and Global Connections | OSPI Heritage Language Grant Closing Ceremony Followed by Create Your Own Global Connections Club for Youth

Please join the World Affairs Council and our co-sponsors Tuesday, June 27th, 2023, in celebration of our OSPI Heritage Language Grant Global Competence Certificate program for heritage language speakers. As part of a unique grant from Washington State’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), heritage language speakers of Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian have embarked on a multi-year journey to develop their language proficiency and global competence.

As the World Affairs Council Global Classroom began engaging more students in earning the Global Competence Certificate, it seemed natural to create an opportunity for youth leadership for peer support in global engagement. WAC launched its new Global Connections Club for Youth in January, 2023 under the leadership of two high school seniors, Aditi Ajoy and Santoshi Pisupati. Aditi and Santoshi will share their experience developing this club where middle and high school youth can connect with interesting people, programs, ideas, and opportunities centered around world affairs and global current events. In addition, one of our instructors in the OSPI Heritage Language Grant, Larisa Shuvalova from Meridian School District near Bellingham, will share how she and her students created a local Global Connections Club at the high school, focused on high school students engaging weekly with elementary students who speak their home languages to build confidence in connecting their local community to the world at large. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please reach out to Global Classroom Director, Ryan Hauck, at rhauck@world-affairs.org with any questions!