Today’s guest is Miguel A. Briones, an award-winning educator, community organizer, public speaker, and author. Miguel is also the founder of Know Culture Publishing, established in 2023 with the mission to empower marginalized communities impacted by generational trauma, systemic inequities, and cultural displacement. Through its work, Know Culture Publishing creates opportunities to share diverse stories, provide access to critical resources, and preserve local history, fostering a stronger sense of belonging through literature, performances, and heritage preservation. The organization also offers tailored content that addresses the social-emotional needs of individuals and families, providing practical strategies for building resilience and confidence while navigating life’s challenges. One of its upcoming projects, ¿Por qué Hoy?: Lupe Garcia and the East Austin IMOM’s, documents and honors the history and advocacy of grassroots changemakers, preserving their legacy for future generations.

Miguel Briones, who was born and raised in Central El Paso, Texas, credits his early life as a "travieso" with shaping the stories and cultural experiences that now inform his work. As the self-published author and illustrator of the bilingual children’s book Como Mi Padrino, Miguel has received the Honorable Mention Award for Best Latino-Themed Young Adult Book of 2023 from the International Latino Book Awards. His follow-up book, Macho No Machismo, has been widely acclaimed and added to over 30 public and school libraries across Texas. Through his writing and illustrations, Miguel’s hope is to inspire and empower future generations by uplifting the lived experiences, voices, and stories of Chicanos, Hispanics, Latinos, and all members of the Spanish-speaking community.

When he’s not writing or illustrating, Miguel enjoys writing music, volunteering with local and national organizations, and writing about himself in the third person. Whether through storytelling, publishing, or advocacy, Miguel is committed to amplifying voices, preserving culture, and helping communities heal and thrive.

Website: https://www.miguelbrioneswrites.com/

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Samuel Aguirre is the Senior Director of the Consortium and State Relations Department at WIDA. His team engages and supports WIDA Consortium member states to ensure successful implementation of all WIDA products and services. The Consortium and States Relations team also engages and facilitates state expertise within WIDA to deliver high quality products and services for multilingual learners and their educators. Sam’s life experiences as an immigrant and language learner in the U.S., work as a classroom educator, advocate working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and director of multilingual student services at a state education agency provide a strong foundation for his role at WIDA. Sam joined WIDA in fall of 2019 as director of WIDA Español and transitioned to his current role in August 2024.

Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Bicultural Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a masters in Second Language Studies with a concentration in Engaged Language Policy and Practice from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Sam is currently completing a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Bilingual Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

E-mail: saaguirre@wisc.edu

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WIDA Webinars

Explore how digital-age teaching strategies can transform learning for multilingual and multicultural students in this engaging podcast. We’ll uncover the advantages of flipped learning and discuss how to design equitable approaches that meet the needs of diverse learners. Dive into practical methods for balancing the six language domains—listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and visually representing—within innovative, tech-enhanced curricula.

Learn how to craft assessments that foster critical thinking and creativity, and discover the power of virtual communities in enhancing collaboration between students, parents, and educators. Finally, we’ll examine how schools can create holistic digital ecosystems that ensure equitable access while celebrating the linguistic richness of all students. Perfect for educators, administrators, and advocates committed to inclusive, forward-thinking education!

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Digital-Age Teaching for English Learners and Appendices & Resources