Wow!  Changes have been happening this week with dizzying speed.  The Trump administration shut down the Spanish White House page and accompanying social media in the second most common US language.  News about immigration policies have been flooding our news outlets and social media accounts.  And these changes are being received with jubilee by many who are looking to go back in time.

So what do those of us in the multilingual world do in the face of these changes?  How do we keep our students safe?  How do we ensure that our bilingual programs thrive? And how do we keep breathing and not break down crying?

These are the million dollar questions we must answer. I cannot remember a time when a change in administration meant so many changes that would affect our day-to-day functioning.  I don’t have the answers and am feeling disheartened too. But here are 5 steps I have come up with to manage as we keep trying to navigate these trying times.

1. We have to know our rights and those of our students.  Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA) helps ordinary people understand immigrants’ rights.  While changes are constantly happening around us, we have to be well grounded in both our rights and the rights of our students and families.  Although MIRA focuses on Massachusetts, most of their webinars focus on federal laws.  Consider signing up for them. And have as many colleagues from administrators to staff members to families join you. Remember, knowledge is power.
2. Set up a course of action.  The district needs to have a unified course of action what to do in different situations.  How do you keep the trauma at a minimum?  Consider working with an agency like MIRA to help create this plan.  The sooner you do this, the better.
3. Be a source of support for your students.   You have students in your district/school/class who are scared.  Some fears come from a misunderstanding of what is happening.  For instance, there has been a lot of fear of losing one’s own citizenship due to the executive order ending birthright citizenship. However, the executive order only affects those who are born 30 days or more after the order.  As of now, nobody is retroactively losing their citizenship. But other fears are grounded in reality.  Be a safe place for students to talk.  For those who are confused by the news, explain what is actually going on.  Smiles and hugs may not solve problems, but they are needed now more than ever.  Be there for your kids the best you can.
4. Have strong Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) programs. The reality is that we have always vacillated between support for bilingual education and English-only movements in the US.  During the 1800s, many bilingual schools in German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, etc. thrived, but then, upon the English-only movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s, many families lost their languages.  Lyndon B. Johnson brought back bilingual programs during the 1960s, albeit Transitional Bilingual Education (TBE) programs.  During the Reagan-Bush administration, the pendulum swung again.  Today, both English-speaking families and minoritized-language speaking families are enrolled in DLBE programs.  People are recognizing the economic and cognitive benefits alongside identity benefits.  Families that lost their language during past English-only movements, such as those of French heritage in Louisiana, are enrolling their children in DLBE classes to get back their heritage. We need to keep this momentum going by providing the best programs we can.  When our data is strong, it’s hard to go against the work we are doing. Check out my 7 Sides of Dual Language Instruction™ to help strengthen your program and reach out as needed.
5. Take care of yourself. Whatever it takes to bring your anxiety down, engage in those self-care activities.  For me, walking (my step count goes off the charts when I am nervous) and intentional deep breathing help.  What does self care look like for you?  Exercise, meditation, long baths, a spa day, a night out with friends, holding your baby tightly, a day at the beach or building a snowman (whatever the weather may be)? Remember that you can only help others when you help yourself.

If you have any other suggestions, please add them to the comments either on this blog or on the social media app you have found this on.  Keep the conversation going.  And know that I am here for you.