She was born on a very boring Monday, on October 6, 2003, to a Mexican mother and Guatemalan father. Growing up, she didn't realize how much she was going to struggle with language and how it affected her education life.
by Nancy Gomez
How to pronounce my name using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
Nancy: /nænsi/
Gomez: /ɡoʊmɛz/
Communicative Competence: The ability to properly and appropriately communicate within respective communities.
Speech Community: A group of people that share the same language and/or linguistic norms.
Minoritized: A group of people who have been treated as a minority because of social, political, or cultural systems that exclude or marginalize them.
Tracy is the third oldest in her family. Her ideal career is to become a translator or interpreter. She is passionate about learning different languages and cultures. Throughout the years, she has embraced the challenges that learning another language and culture presents, as it is not achieved overnight.
by Tracy Tescum
How to pronounce my name using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
Tracy: /treisi/
Speech Community: People who share a common set of beliefs about language.
Prescriptivism: Having thoughts of how language should be used. Sticking to established rules that are empowered.
Descriptivism: Thinking outside the box, exploring different ways that language can be used. More flexible on language and wanting it to grow.
The middle child and first daughter in her family. She is a first-generation college student working to become a speech and language pathologist. She is trilingual in Spanish, English, and American Sign Language.
by Kassandra Moreno
How to pronounce my name using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
Kassandra: /kʌsæɳɖɹʌ/
Moreno: A Spanish language word describing people with Brown skin.
I was a Grand Marshal for the 2024 Long Beach Pride parade, a title that reflects a commitment I strive to uphold in every step I take moving forward.
I want to honestly and actually act with integrity and be integral to meaningful change.
Favorite word: nothing
by Kelly Melvin
How to pronounce my name using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
Kelly: /kɛli/
Melvin: /mɛlvɪn/
Allosexual: Someone who does not identify as asexual; a person who regularly experiences sexual attraction, regardless of what their sexual orientation is.
Social Norm: A behavior that is promoted as a regular way of being within a community.
I am a 22-year-old student originally from large family in Michigan. I am half African American and half Dominican. Growing up, I always felt a strong connection to my family, especially my mom and dad. My identity has been significantly shaped by my Dominican mom and my African American dad.
by Kevon Holland
How to pronounce my name using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA):
Kevon: /kivɑn/
Speech Community: A culture or background group that shares the same linguistic beliefs and communication level.
Communicative Competence: A depiction of how society can accept the way you use your communication to navigate and connect with others.
African American Language (AAL): This language variety is variously described as Black English, Black Talk, and/or African American English. This language can be used as a code of respect among members of African American speech communities.