REACTinitiative

Is Language Subordination Lurking in Your Classroom? —
Quick Self‑Check

1. Do I celebrate the language(s) students bring with them?
✔️ Do I ask about their linguistic backgrounds and value them as assets?
2. Do my expectations insist only on the “standard” or dominant dialect/language?
✔️ Do I penalize or correct diverse linguistic codes without exploring their legitimacy first?
3. Are my teaching materials linguistically diverse?
✔️ Do texts and examples include multiple languages, dialects, or voices?
4. Do I allow space for translanguaging or use of students’ authentic voices?
✔️ Or do I push monolingual norms even when it silences students?
5. Do I consciously avoid tone‑policing or “correcting” students’ heritage codes?
✔️ Am I curious about what they’re saying before judging how they say it?
6. Do I support continued use and development of students’ home languages?
✔️ Or is the goal only to make them conform to the instructional language?

Language isn't neutral. How we treat it shapes students' identities and educational experiences. Being mindful of language practices helps make classrooms more equitable and empowering for all learners.

Read the blog post:
https://meglanguages.com/is-language-subordination-lurking-in-your-classroom/

North Texas Giving Day 2025 kicked off its early giving period on August 28! 🌟

At REACT, we’re dedicated to creating equitable spaces for students, educators, and communities through advocacy, culturally sustaining education, and linguistic justice. Your support helps us continue this important work in North Texas and beyond.

Give early and help amplify Black voices, stories, and leadership: www.iREACT.org/donate

DONATE | REACT Initiative, Inc. Join us in creating a more just and equitable future. Your donation empowers advocacy, education, and change through REACT Initiative, Inc.

Throughout my educational trajectory, yes, even during my *Ph.D. program in Educational Leadership* (think about that) these same tired thieves of equity were present. From microaggressions like “This one gets it” after I successfully delivered a presentation for my administrative project, to the casual use of n****r by a professor, to peers being pushed out of the program, to deficit frameworks running rampant when discussing communities of color, to the lack of acknowledgement and understanding when I lost my mother during my dissertation—I was told that my writing on my most recent draft wasn’t up to par…imagine that! Honorable mention: the “one, two, skip-a-few” selective content that was presented in my history of education course…ensuring that Black folks were only shown in servitude.

Academic programs that fail to incorporate equity work aren’t only negligent; they do real harm to real people. Academic feedback without humanity isn’t just ineffective, it perpetuates violence. It upholds notions that productivity is king. It reinforces stereotypical expectations of endurance in the face of real trauma.

If these are the lessons being taught in educational training programs, is it reasonable to expect the hidden curriculum in contemporary classrooms to be any different?

Nah, son!

Sadly, my experience isn’t rare. These are just a few ways educational spaces uphold inequity every day:
-Culturally unresponsive curriculum
-Standardized testing bias
-Underrepresentation of diverse educators
-Deficit-based mindsets
-Exclusionary discipline practices
-Lack of access to inclusive special education services
-Language bias and monolingual ideologies
-School funding disparities
-Limited family and community engagement
-Inadequate trauma-informed practices
-Teacher bias and low expectations
-Gatekeeping in gifted/talented and advanced programs

No student should have to shrink, suffer, or survive just to learn. Let’s build learning spaces that see us, hear us, and affirm us. Tag someone who’s part of that vision…or who needs to be.

Want support in this work? Contact our team today: www.iREACT.org | 682.777.2749

This blog post by highlights the experiences of Black students in CSD, shedding light on the challenges they face and the change they’re driving in the field. It’s an important read for anyone committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in speech-language pathology and audiology.

I'm deeply honored to be mentioned by my mentee. Witnessing her dedication to advancing in our field and her work as program coordinator of AffinityU has been truly inspiring. Jennifer Armstrong, I'm grateful to be a part of your journey! I can't wait to see the impact you will have on the profession.

Voices of Change: Black Students in CSD - NSSLHA Blog Black professionals are underrepresented in audiology, speech-language pathology, and communication sciences and disorders (CSD), highlighting a need for greater diversity in the disciplines. Underrepresentation can affect access to culturally responsive care and inclusivity in the field. Black stud...

January is National Mentoring Month!

What better time to launch Affinity U, a space designed to empower and support global majority CSD students?

Mentorship matters, and Affinity U is here to foster community, growth, and connection for students who are ready to lead and thrive.

Let’s celebrate National Mentoring Month by investing in the future—because representation and support make all the difference. 💬

Join us and be part of the movement!
Register for the upcoming Launch Party and Roundtable Discussion on at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/affinity-u-launch-party-and-roundtable-discussion-tickets-1123062583419?aff=oddtdtcreator

2024: A Year of Impact and Growth! 🌍🎉
As the year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on the incredible milestones achieved at REACT Initiative, Inc. From launching Affinity U to surpassing 2,100 downloads on our podcast, The Culture We Speak, we’ve been busy building equity in education and language justice.
We’re especially proud of:
✅ Empowering students globally with the resources they need to thrive.
✅ Expanding culturally sustaining advocacy in literacy.
✅ Strengthening partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and corporations.
💜 THANK YOU to our supporters, collaborators, and community for believing in our mission. Together, we’re making a difference—one story, one student, one milestone at a time.
Check out our 2024 Year in Review and stay tuned for more exciting developments in 2025! 🌟
Learn more at www.iREACT.org.
#2024 #2025