Support BESO's Journey to NABE Conference

Thank you to everyone who has donated and continues to donate! Although we have met our goal, donations are STILL welcome. The more support we have, we could send more than 10 BESO members to the 2022 NABE Conference.   

Who we are 

Saludos! My name is Paola Solano and I am the 2021-2022 President of the Bilingual Education Student Organization or BESO. We are a student organization composed of pre-service educators that promote and advocate for bilingual/bicultural education on the campus and in the Austin community.

First BESO Meeting of 2021 Fall Semester (Paola Solano, third from the right on the first row).

Why It Matters

About 60% of elementary school students who are U.S. born are classified as English Language Learners (ELLs). As the U.S. and even Texas population grows more diverse, Texas educators must be more mindful of students' backgrounds; as it pertains to their inclusion in the classroom. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic inequities related to language, income, and immigration status have become more apparent. Therefore, it is more important than ever for educators to provide access to equitable and quality education for our bilingual population. 

Why this Conference is Important?

After a year and a half of online instruction due to the pandemic, BESO members have returned to the 40-acres with more LUCHA (fight) than ever. Not only are we motivated to give back to the community because of the disparities that we have observed in the educational system, but we are also striving to grow as bilingual/bicultural educators as a whole. With that being said, attending the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference is an opportunity for our members to explore educational topics related to dual language education, second language acquisition, assessment and accountability, teacher training, grassroots activism, and more. Learning from NABE, leaders in the field of Bilingual/Bicultural Education will be beneficial for our member’s professional development, networking, while also being a resource to combat different challenges they may face as future educators. 

How Will YOUR Contribution Help

With your help, we can reach our goal of raising $7,000. These funds will help pay, for as many as 10 BESO members, to attend the NABE conference all expenses paid without incurring any debts. The following list will provide the expenses that will be paid with your contribution.

• Round trip airplane ticket to New York City
• Shuttle required to take members to the airport and hotel room
• 3 meals per day for each BESO member who attends
• Hotel room for 4 nights for each BESO member who attends
• 1 excursion activity

With your donation, we will be able to make our goal a reality by attending the 2022 NABE Conference. This opportunity will be one that not only affects the lives of our BESO members but the students that our pre-service teachers will be interacting with once they graduate. 

Thank you so much for supporting our journey as we raise funds to attend the 2022 NABE Conference. Choose a giving level that inspires you, or create your own.