Transforming Arizona Education: ALL In Education's Anaiis Ballesteros on Multilingual Power
September 30, 2024 | By Rose Charles
Who are Systemic Disruptors?
Systemic disruptors are leaders who challenge and transform unjust systems through creative, community-centered approaches. They combine cultural power with innovative strategies to address root causes, uplift marginalized voices, and create lasting social change. These changemakers don't just work within existing structures—they reimagine and rebuild them to benefit marginalized and historically underrepresented communities.
Introduction
As a leader at ALL In Education, Anaiis is transforming Arizona's educational landscape by elevating multilingual power and ensuring communities most impacted by education inequities are the ones making decisions. Through initiatives like Multilingual Minds, she champions language diversity as an asset rather than a barrier, working to create an Arizona where ALL students feel loved, valued, and supported in their classrooms.
Systemic Disruptor Feature
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Systemic Disruptor Feature •
Meet Anaiis Ballesteros, Vice President of External Affairs at ALL In Education, our Latinx Heritage Month Systemic Disruptor Feature! 🌟
Growing up on the border of Mexico and the US, she understands the transformative power of language and cultural diversity, shaping perspectives and fostering connections.
Anaiis celebrates the strength of multilingualism and challenges the narratives that hinder opportunities for Latino and BIPOC students.
Let’s honor our diverse identities together and join the movement to create a more inclusive future for ALL students in Arizona through the Multilingual Minds campaign!
About ALL In Education
ALL In Education is a transformative force in Arizona's education system, dedicated to ensuring that individuals from communities most impacted by education inequities are at the decision-making table. Through their three strategic pillars - Leadership, Influence, and Policy & Advocacy - they build pipelines for leaders of color, catalyze innovative initiatives, and advance policy reform that creates lasting change. Their work goes beyond traditional approaches, focusing on transformational rather than transactional relationships with communities to improve academic and economic outcomes for Arizona's children and families.
Our conversation:
Why is language justice important to you?
“As someone who has grown up on the border of Mexico and the US and having navigated both bilingual and bicultural worlds, I’ve experienced firsthand the power that language and cultural diversity bring to shaping perspectives, unlocking opportunities, and fostering connection.
For me, our leadership development and representation work is a reflection of my journey, my passion for equitable education, and my belief that every student, regardless of their language background, deserves the tools and support to succeed.”
Can you tell us about a campaign you are working on?
“Multilingual Minds - it is meant to celebrate and elevate the power behind being multilingual and language diversity. Join the movement to create a more inclusive future for ALL students in Arizona.
Learn more here: allineducation.org/multilingual-minds”
How can people support your work?
“They can engage in the campaign by becoming a partner in the work, recording a video showing support for multilingualism and multilingual learners and working with us to change policy and narrative that present challenges to ensuring multilingual learners succeed.”
What are the biggest systemic or social challenges you are addressing through your work?
“Economically disadvantaged, Latino, and BIPOC students are often seen as a challenge that needs to be solved instead of an asset worthy of investment. Our challenge is when policymakers and leaders choose to make assumptions about our community instead of bringing them along to create long-lasting solutions together.
Schools in economically disadvantaged communities often suffer from a lack of resources, investments, and leaders, which leads to lower quality.”
How has your cultural heritage shaped who you are today?
“It has taught me to be bold in my convictions. I feel that the Mexican part of my identity has also allowed me to explore a deeper connection to my indigenous roots which offer a lot of complexity. I am proud of the richness that the Mexican culture offers.”
Meet the Author
Rose Charles | Marketing Strategist at Neta Collab
Rose Charles is a creative communications professional based in Miramar, FL, who is passionate about amplifying voices for social justice and equity. She has five years of experience in communications, marketing, and non-profit. Rose's work is deeply personal, driven by a desire to uplift marginalized communities. Her passion for storytelling, crafting multicultural and campaign strategies for BIPOC communities, and writing is a testament to her commitment. As an immigrant, Rose's work is a reflection of her own journey, particularly in her efforts to bridge the gap between the Latinx and Haitian communities. Her advocacy for climate justice further underscores her dedication to marginalized communities.
