History

History of International Black Professionals and Friends in TESOL Caucus (IBPFT)

and

Black English Language Professionals and Friends Forum (BELPaF)

Late 1980’s The Standard English as a Second Dialect Interest Section was dissolved because of low membership. Many of TESOL’s African-American members had belonged to this IS. As a result of its elimination, they started looking for a replacement and eventually formed IBPFT as an unofficial group that met at the annual convention every year.

1992 IBPFT was established at TESOL 1992 in Vancouver. The founder was Connie Perdreau.

1992-95 Connie Perdreau, first chair of IBPFT

1995-97 Dr. John Leach, IBPFT chair

1997 Mary Romney wrote the formal application to the TESOL Board of Directors for IBPFT to become an official membership entity in TESOL

1997 IBPFT was approved by the TESOL Board of Directors for provisional status

1997-1999 Mary Romney, IBPFT chair

1999 IBPFT was approved by the TESOL Board of Directors for full status as an official membership entity

1999-2001 Osmond Duffis, IBPFT chair

1999-2006 IBPFT was one of 6 caucuses in TESOL: LGBTF (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Friends in TESOL)

CETC (Christian Educators in TESOL Caucus)

NNEST (Non-native English Speakers in TESOL)

COPTEC (Caucus on Part-time Employment Concerns) CSR (Caucus on Social Responsibility)

Caucuses that preceded IBPFT were CETC, LGBF, and COPTEC. NNEST was formed at

about the same time. CSR was the last one to be formed.

2006 Caucus Review Task Force was formed to review the present and future role of caucuses in TESOL

2007 Caucuses ceased to exist as formal membership entities within TESOL. The term “caucus” was replaced with “Forum.”

Forums were designated as independent entities outside TESOL, however they were

granted one academic session and meeting space at the annual convention.

2007 BELPaF Forum was created

2007-2017 BELPaF held presented academic sessions and held meetings at the annual convention

2018 TESOL withdrew remaining support for Forums, i.e., the academic session and meeting space.

2019 BELPaF 2019 Inaugural Symposium Empowering Black English Language Professionals at Georgia State University

2020 BELPaF Symposium TESOL 20/20: A Vision For Coming Together Online

Forums were converted to electronic communities, “Professional Learning Networks”

(PLNs)

Lavette Coney - Chair (2016 -2020)

Tomeka Robinson, Danielle Harrison and Tiffiany Pleasants - Co-Chairs (2020 - )