KUNM Call In Show 8/22 8a: New Mexico has been in the news recently as a result of language diversity issues and events.
The state Supreme Court ruled recently that non-English speakers can be jurors. The national chain Whole Foods Markets revised its language policy in the wake of employee suspensions in Albuquerque. High school athletes were warned and penalized for speaking Spanish during competition. And a civil rights complaint has been filed against the NM Department of Workforce Solutions for providing essential online registration documents only in English.
Can New Mexico be a bellwether for its handling of these issues when they arise? We'll look at organizational challenges, legal requirements and aspirations involving language diversity within our state.
We'd like to hear from you! Email callinshow@kunm.org, post your comments online, or call in live during the show.
277-5866 (locally in Albuquerque)
1-877-899-5866 (toll-free)
Guests:
- Maria Martinez Sanchez, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty
- James Lujan, Asst. Superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools
- Miguel Angel Acosta, former Albuquerque Public School Board member
- Mauro Mujica, U.S. English