Welcoming the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) to Philadelphia for its' Professional Development Conference.

WHEREAS, The National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) is a non-profit national membership organization founded in 1975 to promote educational excellence and equality for language minority students; and

WHEREAS, NABE supports programs that teach children English while helping them attain continued academic excellence; and

WHEREAS, NABE has been in the forefront of fostering the establishment of language policies which meet the needs of a pluralistic society in an era of global interdependence and competition; and

WHEREAS, NABE has been a strong advocate for language-minority students to have equal opportunities for learning in both the first language and English, while maintaining a positive appreciation for cultural diversity; and

WHEREAS, The members of NABE are to be congratulated for their efforts in involving language minority parents in the process of education and in public policy decisions affecting them and their children through a comprehensive program of communication; and

WHEREAS, NABE is to be commended for its work in promoting and providing bilingual educators with more high-quality professional development opportunities relating to language and culture; now therefore

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Extends its warm welcome to the distinguished members of the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) as they celebrate 26 years of advocacy in promoting educational equity and excellence.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Jorge Garcia, President of the National Association for Bilingual Education as an expression of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

End