Bilingualism and Social Justice
As part of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations at SCU, Abel Cruz organized the "Bilingualism and Social Justice" event, which took place Oct. 7, in the St. Clare Room. The event program included the screening of the film "Translators" directed by Rudy Valdez (2023) and a lecture from Dr. Belem López. The audience, mainly students, had the opportunity to ask questions afterwards. The event aimed to raise awareness about the millions of children in the United States who act as interpreters and cultural mediators for their immigrant parents and community members. Dr. López addressed the potential social and cognitive benefits of language brokering (translation) among bilingual adolescents. Dr. López also discussed the consequences of the "English as the Official Language of the United States" policy for immigrant families and emphasized the role of bilingualism in advancing social justice.
