SRIS Newsletter - September 2021 (Plain Text Version)

Federico Salas-Isnardi

Sky Lantz-Wagner

It has been a distinct honor to serve as the SRIS co-chairs for the past two years. During such a turbulent time, we have found so much strength and comfort working alongside all of you. Via webinars, we heard about research and best practices related to social responsibility in TESOL. During informal social gatherings, we listened to kindred spirits from around the world share the ways in which they engage in social responsibility in the TESOL/TFL classroom. At the convention, we attended sessions that challenged us to think about social responsibility in the profession in new ways.

2020 was not a normal year, and that is putting it mildly. A devastating pandemic reminded us that we are indeed all in the same boat; we depend on each other, and problems that affect one country may quickly affect the rest of the world. The pandemic decimated poor and wealthy communities alike, and in the suffering of millions there were lessons for all of us.

In the United States, the murder of George Floyd triggered significant introspection about issues of race. The country saw racial protests more rooted in grief for our broken communities and wounded values than rooted in anger. But out of introspection and demonstrations grew a new sense of urgency for a serious conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in our nation and around the world. TESOL has not been a stranger to these issues, and our online conversations and 2021 convention were brimming with passion for justice.

These two events, one worldwide and the other primarily national, challenged us social-responsibility workers to review the lessons learned, acknowledging that we, the world, are not going back to the old normal. Also, we need to rekindle our commitment to social justice in all aspects of our association and, perhaps, even to redefine what it means to be an English language teacher with an interest in social responsibility.

Now that our year as co-chairs is past, this is the task that we pass on to the new leaders. As we prepare for the 2021-2022 school year and the TESOL convention in Pittsburgh, we shift from being hands-on in shaping the SRIS agenda to taking a more consultative role, but still committed to SRIS and to TESOL. We are proud of the work the new leaders have accomplished thus far and know that the interest section is in good hands.

In our professional lives, Federico continues to dedicate his time to developing adult literacy programs for the Mayor’s Office in Houston. Sky has recently defended his doctoral dissertation proposal and is preparing to collect data while also preparing for a return to in-person activities for international students, including orientation and classes, at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.

Federico and Sky