La Cosecha time again! The Country’s Biggest Dual Language HYBRID Conference!
This will be the 26th annual La Cosecha Dual Language Education Conference. Organized by teachers for teachers, this year’s program is filled with 195 professional presentations, networking opportunities and plenty for us to celebrate, together. We will gather this November 10-13 in Albuquerque, New Mexico! Our very first Hybrid La Cosecha, both virtual and in person participants will have safe access to a fantastic program that includes keynote stars Tony Baez, Kathy Escamilla, Gregg Cajete, and special guests Community Leader Dolores Huerta and US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
Encouraging each other during a very difficult time
In 2020 the pandemic forced us into a 100% virtual platform. Where we missed the face-to-face engagement, the energy on our virtual hosting platform was exhilarating pct and enjoyed by everyone who attended. We connected with colleague and friends, shared our promising practice, and encouraged each other in serving our communities during a most difficult time in our teaching careers. ¡Siempre en comunidad!
A new “hybrid” plan for our La Cosecha Community!
This year’s La Cosecha will be the same, yet different. For those who feel safe to travel, we will be gathering together in Albuquerque, New Mexico. We’re ready to safely support up to 1500 people in person, following a safety protocol that will require vaccinations, masks, safe distancing in our meeting rooms, networking lunches and in our beautiful Kiva auditorium. Practicing physical distancing and social solidarity, participants will be encouraged to engage in conversation, spread joy and hope, a celebrate our work together with old friends and new relationships we forge in the La Cosecha Family that continues to grow and serve the needs of our culturally and linguistically diverse communities that we serve.
Join us remotely where travel isn’t possible
Although we’ll miss you, we completely understand if you can’t be with us in person this year. That is why our virtual participation registration will give you access to all of our presentations, plenary and special sessions spread out over the four days of the conference. Most of the presentations will be available to you in real time (virtual and streamed) and the rest will be recorded and made available “On Demand” on our hosting platform. Everyone will have access to the recorded session through December 31st. This give us all an opportunity to go back and see the sessions that we weren’t able to be at in real time and to expand our learning.
Special Events and more opportunity to celebrate
This year’s La Cosecha will begin with school visits and day long pre-conference institutes designed to explore more deeply our program models and pedagogy, including how we deliver instruction in Spanish and implement our biliteracy models.
We’ll begin our La Cosecha Conference on Wednesday Evening with an Opening Session and Reception complete with light food, friends and entertainment from local student talent.
On Thursday evening will have our annual Dance Benefit with Las Cafeteras and local favorite Carlos Medina. More info at: lacosechaconference.org/benefit-concert-la-cosecha-2021
And on Friday evening we’re all in for a special treat as our local Tribal Language Communities have decided to organize a traditional pow wow with special presentations from top dancers, musicians and all lead by several of our honored elders.
Register now and don’t miss out on another great La Cosecha!
We want to see you there, whether in person or through our virtual platform. Where we continue to be distracted by the challenges of this Coronavirus Pandemic, we still need to be with our community, and we won’t leave anyone behind.
For more information and to register, please go to www.lacosechaconference.org
Author: David Rogers
David Rogers is Executive Director for Dual Language Education of New Mexico, a nonprofit that supports the effective design and implementation of dual language education in New Mexico (www.dlenm.org. The DLeNM family includes over 30 educational leaders who offer program and professional development services, through-out the year. A respected leader in dual language education, David collaborates with national partners like the Center for Applied Linguistics who co-authored a national standards document, "The Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education" in 2003, 3rd edition to be released Fall 2017. David's has served as Peace Corps volunteer program coordinator in Paraguay, South America, dual language teacher in South Bronx, NY and Albuquerque, NM, and school principal in Albuquerque's South Valley. David and his colleagues organized the first La Cosecha in 1996 (www.lacosecha.dlenm.org), the country's best dual language conference held each November. David chairs New Mexico's Hispanic Education Advisory Council, and is a member of the NM Coalition for the Majority. He has received many honors including La Medalla de la Orden de Isabel la Católica (2013), from the King of Spain, the Earl Nunn Recognition (2017) from the New Mexico Coalition for Educational Leadership. David has his M.A. in Bilingual, Multicultural Education from...