Susan O'Rourke | August 14, 2024
August 2024
Dear Educators:
The renowned anthropologist Margaret Mead stated: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. The quote is powerful, and I personally would go one step further to recognize the impact of thoughtful, committed teachers. Teachers change the “worlds” of their students.
Education gives students the opportunity to make the world a better place, and UNC World View is committed to partnering with educators to create the next generation of changemakers and leaders by sharing global resources and expertise.
We invite you to join us in the collaboration so that together we can meet the needs of North Carolina students as they become “workforce ready” in a global marketplace.
As many educators know, North Carolina is connected to the world. Just a few ways we see that “local is global” include:
- More than 389 different languages spoken in the homes of North Carolina’s K-12 students[1]
- 303,600 workers in North Carolina are employed a direct result of international investment[2]
- Nearly 1,225 international employers have operations in North Carolina[3]
Our world is rapidly changing, but our mission at UNC World View remains constant: to equip K-12 and community college educators with global knowledge, best practices, and resources to prepare students to engage in our interconnected and diverse world.
To fulfill our mission, UNC World View is kicking off the 2024-2025 academic year with our UNC World View K-12 Global Education Symposium: Opening Classrooms to the World and the Community College Symposium: Thriving Globally, What’s Next for Community College Students. Open to educators across the state and beyond, the kickoff symposia’s plenary talks and smaller sessions will explore global themes that are relevant to various disciplines. Skills and strategies are woven throughout the concurrent sessions so that educators will leave with tools, resources, and knowledge to integrate global perspectives and content into their classrooms.
Please join us and send a team to the symposia to learn from experts and consult with peers on global content and ways to prepare your students for our ever-changing world. Since space is limited, we recommend you register today on our website.
We look forward to working together as we develop globally minded students and prepare them for the North Carolina workplace and the world.
With sincere regards for a productive and meaningful school year,
Charlé LaMonica
Director, UNC World View
[1] North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. (2023). 2023 Language Diversity Briefing.
[2] Office of the United States Trade Representative. (2023). State Benefits of Trade, North Carolina: North Carolina Exports & Foreign Investment.
[3] Global Business Alliance, Foreign Direct Investment Strengthens North Carolina’s Economy (2023). Retrieved 2024.