Dear ICIS community,

Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere and the time is ripe for putting into action our intentions for this year and beyond! The ICIS open meeting at the TESOL 2017 convention in Seattle, Washington, USA allowed us to discuss a variety of such topics of interest. A key theme that emerged was how we as TESOL professionals can best advocate for our students and colleagues, as well as the importance of intercultural education. We can all benefit from practice and strategies in how to analyze and articulate the crossroads of education, language, culture, race, and identity. We as intercultural educators can serve as guides in this process.

As intercultural educators, we also understand the value and need for diverse perspectives that represent a variety of experiences and contexts. This is why we need you to participate in the discussion. This year, we aim to continue to facilitate exchange and dialogue among ICIS and TESOL members through online resources, publishing, and webinars. These are all excellent opportunities for you to get involved and share your knowledge and story. Looking forward to TESOL 2018 in Chicago, Illinois, USA we are currently coordinating with other TESOL interest sections. Be on the lookout for calls for participation and proposals!

The importance of intercultural education within TESOL and our world(s) is perhaps clearer and greater than ever. Together, we can influence local and global narratives that value language and cultural exchange as well as diversity of perspectives and practice. Together, we do indeed rise.

Ramin Yazdanpanah, PhD

ICIS Chair