Jen Stoops and Ashley Bolling, Parkview High School, Springfield, MO Intro This project included a 10-Day Artists-in-Residency with Rodrigo Alvarez and Isaac Tapia. These artists worked with students in our English Language Development (ELD) Program to design and paint a 10’x40’ mural, emphasizing the cultural and linguistic diversity of Parkview students both past and present. It will stand as a testament to the importance of diversity and inclusion for years to come.

Megan Horton, Branson High School, Branson, MO Intro Given the community's ties to the tourism industry, Branson High School serves a student population with diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This project advocates for multiliteracy through the creation of welcome banners and custom lanyard badges. By creating welcome banners for the school building and incorporating “welcome” in various languages, families will feel a connection immediately by seeing their n

Kayla Haynes, Monett Early Childhood Center, Monett, MO Intro In our community we recently had an increase in students who speak Burmese or Karen. As an Early Childhood Special Education teacher watching the referrals come through, I began to notice that home language literacy needed to be strengthened to develop age-appropriate communication skills. Many of our 3–4-year-old students did not have the language skills to say a complete sentence in their home language.