The bilingual revolution

The Bilingual Revolution tells the story of a grassroots initiative that emerged out of the dedicated involvement of motivated parents, educators, and community actors who share the belief that dual language education is a great public good that should be developed everywhere as it can positively transform a child, a school, a community, even a country. Although the roots of bilingual education in the United States can be traced back to the 1960s, a new phenomenon is emerging, with three objectives.

• First, to embrace families' and communities' own cultures and promote their linguistic heritages as important parts of our society's greater international mosaic.
• Second, to help facilitate community re-engagement with public schools.
• And third, to promote a social, economic, and cultural sense of community and help bridge gaps that continue to divide us to this day.

New York City provides the backdrop for the book, where parents have fought for access to various bilingual public school programs from preschool to high school. With the involvement of educators and families at all levels, these programs transform schools and empower communities in unprecedented ways. Similar programs have developed in hundreds of cities in the United States and around the world.

The Bilingual Revolution tells the story of successes and setbacks through vignettes of parents and educators who founded dual language program in their schools, created free, high-quality bilingual programs, and inspired others to do the same. In their diversity, these portraits paint a picture of a viable 21st century solution to preserve linguistic heritage and to raise a generation of young bilingual, bi-literate, multicultural citizens of the world. The book will inspire and engage parents who seek to create their own bilingual programs.

This work aims to bestow the benefits of bilingualism to as many children as possible, including cognitive enhancement, improved critical thinking, and a more profound sensitivity toward other people and cultures. The book's key message is reinforced by the belief that when these opportunities are available as early as preschool or kindergarten, children's chances to succeed will improve and communities will be strengthened. Being bilingual should no longer be the privilege of a happy few. Being bilingual can become the new norm, and it starts with our youth. A bilingual revolution has started, and it is for our common good.