Californians Together

Conversation with Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez

Posted on October 22, 2024 by isajubes in Politics, History, Opinion and related, Radio Show "Atenea Americana", SHOW ENG // 0 Comments

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In this episode, I have the honor of speaking with Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez, a tireless advocate for educational equity and the Deputy Director of Californians Together. Xilonin’s journey from her roots as a fifth-generation resident of Azusa, CA, and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, to leadership in statewide education advocacy is inspiring. With over two decades of experience serving on the Azusa Unified School District Board of Education, her passion for supporting all students, particularly English learners, shines through in every aspect of her work.

We’ll dive into the mission of Californians Together, a powerful statewide coalition dedicated to improving education for the 1.1 million English learners in California. Through promoting equitable educational policies, this organization strives to create better opportunities and outcomes for a community that has often been overlooked. As we explore the challenges and victories in advocating for these students, Xilonin will share how they work on literacy policy with a student-centered approach, ensuring that teaching methods are responsive to the unique needs of English learners.

Xilonin’s rich personal history and professional expertise give her a deep understanding of the barriers faced by immigrant and refugee students. She dedicated her career to providing educators with the tools and resources to create safe, inclusive learning environments for these students. From her leadership roles in the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and the California Latino School Boards Association (CLSBA) to her continued advocacy efforts, Xilonin is making waves in shaping policies that will impact future generations of students.

Join us as we learn more about the critical role Californians Together plays in fostering educational equity and why literacy, combined with student-responsive teaching, is a key factor in this journey. Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or passionate about improving public education, you’ll want to tune in to hear how Californians Together are leading the charge for California’s English learners.

Listen to the show to get more details about this event, its story and the institutions behind it.

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